Have you considered that Jesus was only a prophet?

Question

Have you considered that Jesus was a prophet of G-d, a man like Moses, and that worship of this Jewish man is heresy and idolatry? Following what he said is fine, but he called himself a prophet and forbid others to worship him. He taught with authority and was born, like Isaac, as a miracle from G-d - but does that make him G-d? No, we are all sons of G-d, who follow His Commandments.

Reply

“The reason you go astray is that you are ignorant both of the Tanakh and of the power of G-d.” (Matthew 22:29; Mark 12:24)

Actually, to answer your question directly, I have spent the past 40 years of my life very carefully considering whether Yeshua (or Jesus, as you call him) is HaShem come in the flesh, or whether he was merely “a man like Moses” because where you and I spend eternity depends completely upon the answer to that question.

The Bible declares Him to be both Mashiach ben Yosef and Mashiach ben David, Israel’s Messiah and Redeemer, and the Son of the Most High. In the following brief discussion I have quoted just the most significant words of the passages in question (to save space on this page), but I have provided a link to the appropriate section of Scripture. The reader is strongly encouraged to read the complete section in context.

He called himself a prophet because the word “prophet” simply means “one who speaks for another.” He claimed to speak for his Father, the Most High.

“I say these things so that you might be saved. … For the things the Father has given me to do, the very things I am doing now, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. … moreover, His word does not stay in you, because you don't trust the one He sent. You keep examining the Tanakh because you think that in it you have eternal life. Those very Scriptures bear witness to me, but you won't come to me in order to have life! … I do know you people — I know that you have no love for G-d in you! I have come in my Father's name, … ” (John 5:31-46)

The Jewish leaders of His day understood perfectly that He claimed to be G-d.

This answer made the Judeans all the more intent on killing him—not only was he breaking Shabbat; but also, by saying that G-d was his own Father, he was claiming equality with G-d. (John 5:16-18)

“I AM” is about as near as we can come to a translation of the divine name hwhy (YHWH). Yeshua claimed to be “I AM.”

After Yeshua was born in Beit-Lechem in the land of Y'hudah during the time when Herod was king, Magi from the east came to Yerushalayim and asked, “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2)

“As he was starting on his way, a man ran up, kneeled down in front of him and asked, "Good rabbi, what should I do to obtain eternal life?” (Mark 10:17)

A week later his talmidim were once more in the room, and this time T'oma was with them. Although the doors were locked, Yeshua came, stood among them and said, “Shalom aleikhem!” Then he said to T'oma, “Put your finger here, look at my hands, take your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be lacking in trust, but have trust!” T'oma answered him, “My Lord and my G-d!” Yeshua said to him, “Have you trusted because you have seen me? How blessed are those who do not see, but trust anyway!” (John 20:26-29)

The crowds ahead of him and behind shouted, “Hoshia`na!” [“Yahweh deliver us!”] to the son of David; “Baruch habah b'shem ADONAI!” [“Blessed is he who comes in the name of ADONAI!”] “You in the highest heaven, Hoshia`na [Yahweh deliver us!]” (Matthew 21:9) [The title “Son of David” is the title of Mashiach ben David, the Redeemer of Israel.]

A woman from Kena`an who was living there came to him, pleading, “ADONAI, have pity on me. Son of David! My daughter is cruelly held under the power of demons!” (Matthew 15:22)

Two blind men sitting by the side of the road heard that he was passing by and shouted, “Son of David! Have pity on us!” The crowd scolded them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “ADONAI! Son of David! Have pity on us!” (Matthew 20:30-31)

You said, “We are all sons of G-d, who follow His Commandments.” But to the Torah-observant Parushim (Pharisees, the most Torah-observant sect of all Israel, who followed the Mitzvot with extreme care) Yeshua said:

“If you are children of Avraham, then do the things Avraham did! … You are doing the things your father does.” … They said to him. “We have only one Father — G-d!” Yeshua replied to them, “If G-d were your Father, you would love me; because I came out from G-d; and now I have arrived here. I did not come on my own; he sent me. Why don’t you understand what I'm saying? Because you can’t bear to listen to my message. You belong to your father, Satan, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. From the start he was a murderer, and he has never stood by the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is speaking in character; because he is a liar — indeed, the inventor of the lie! But as for me, because I tell the truth you don’t believe me.” (John 8:39-45)

It is not enough to merely follow the teachings of Moshe and Yeshua. Yeshua said, “Most assuredly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see the kingdom of G-d.” … unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into the kingdom of G-d! That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. …” (John 3:3-8)

Shalom b'Mashiach,
Ari