Did Jesus Risk?
PrintCould Jesus have failed when He came to earth as a man? In other words, could He have succumbed to sin and as a result all mankind, including Himself would have been lost? Simply put, did Jesus risk?
This question has been at the center of considerable debate in God’s Church for several years. Additionally, numerous articles advancing a wide range of opinions have been written on the subject. However, as God’s people struggle to understand this question, the answer may have been with us all along. Is it possible that God presented it to us in a great prophecy that took place over 2500 years ago?
Before going to this remarkable pronouncement let us examine this issue that has gripped so many in God’s Church today. What follows are the two opposing positions related to this extraordinary debate and the scriptural evidence each employs when advancing their argument. After presenting these points we will present what appears to us to be the answer to this great riddle.
At this point it is important to understand that we at Blow the Trumpet believe that both positions have been honestly advanced by well-intended believers. Therefore, although this article will take a firm stand on this issue, it does so with a deep respect for those who may disagree. We will present both positions beginning with the case for Jesus having risked failure.
A Case for Jesus Having Risked Failure
Those who contend that it was possible for Jesus to fail in His mission on earth base their argument on four principle arguments.
Argument #1
Jesus was human
Jesus was undeniably human and he had He all the physical weaknesses that come with this state. Jesus could tire and even become exhausted. He could suffer hunger and thirst as well as pain. Furthermore, all the love and mercy He possessed could not insulate Him from the excruciating agony He would experience at the end of His life. His body was literally going to be ripped apart in a brutal ritual called “scourging.” He was then going to be crucified and ultimately bleed to death. He unquestionably had to bring His body into subjection in preparation for this. He had to discipline His life. In other words, He was not a robot. He was a man. Furthermore, the scriptures warn against thinking otherwise.
And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 Jn. 4:3)
Jesus was very physical. He was born of a woman. He was called the son of man. And His death stands as incontrovertible proof that He was very human.
Argument #2
Jesus was tempted like we are
Just as sin is very real to us, it was very real to the Messiah. He fought against it and the fight was not some walk in the park. Jesus was so spent after being tempted by Satan in the wilderness that angels were dispatched from heaven to minister to Him (Mt. 4:11).
The scriptures reveal that Jesus experienced the pulls of sin in order to relate to man and what he experiences. This truth is affirmed at two different times in the book of Hebrews.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Heb. 4:15)
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. (Heb. 2: 18)
If Jesus suffered real temptation as we do and we can sin then it would seem inconceivable that He could not have failed. After all, we fail.
Argument#3
Jesus was Vulnerable
There were moments in the life of the Messiah that spoke loudly about His humanity. The scriptures reveal that He was at times very vulnerable. The gospel of Luke records that as the Messiah spent the last evening of His life in the garden of Gethsemanae He prayed so hard to His Father that His sweat “became as it were great drops of blood” (Lk. 22:44). During that prayer Jesus appealed to the Father to remove the horror of His impending crucifixion. He did this three times during that night. One leading evangelist in the COG suggested that this was “a moment of doubt” in the life of the Messiah. Although we don’t concur with that assessment, this was certainly a time of HUGE personal stress for Him.
Argument #4
Jesus Overcame Sin
The Bible is totally clear that Jesus had to overcome in order to assume His position as King of Kings. By the very nature of this word a struggle must be involved. The Greek word for overcome is nikao (nik-ah-o) Strong’s 3528. It means overcome, conquer, prevail, and get the victory. Each of these definitions implies struggle. It is the same word used by the Messiah when exhorting His end time Church.
To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Rev 3. 21
At the end of His life Jesus offered words of great consolation and hope. He revealed to His disciples that they should be encouraged because the very world that besets them with trials has been overcome by the Messiah.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Jn. 16:33
The world was not handed to the Messiah. He had to win it. This required effort on the part of our Savior. The great victory God’s people honor every Passover was won through blood. To suggest that this wasn’t a trial with genuine risk appears to be totally inconsistent with the real events surrounding the life of our Savior.
Note from Blow the Trumpet:
We attempted to be very fair in representing the position of those who argue that it was possible for Jesus to sin in his life as a man on earth. Although He did not sin, which is a point all sides can agree on, its possibility loomed great on His life and was something He was very aware of.
Now in the interest of fairness we offer to you another view. There are those who believe that the infinite sacrifice of the Messiah is not diminished by the fact that there was no chance of failure in this endeavor. They even make a case for why this great act of love was more profound because of this fact.
A Case Against Jesus Risking Failure
Those who contend that it was impossible for Jesus to fail in His mission on earth also base their belief on four principle arguments.
Argument #1
Jesus was Divine
Jesus was the God of the Old Testament. This is a fact that even He asserted (Jn. 8:58). Additionally the scriptures declare that Jesus was the very God who created all things.
For by Him [Jesus Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. (Col. 1:16-17)
All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. (Jn. 1:3)
Although He divested himself of His glory (Jn. 17:5), He did not surrender His virtue. The book of Hebrews says that Jesus is the same yesterday and forever (Heb. 13:8). What could this be referring to? It certainly was not His composition. That did change. He was flesh during His physical life. The thing that did not change was His character. When Jesus walked the earth He saw sin the same way he saw it as the Great God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There was nothing appealing about it ever.
Argument#2
God Cannot be Tempted
It is true that Jesus was tempted in all things, but what does that mean? Although many argue that Jesus felt an attraction to sin just as man does, this couldn’t be the case. At every moment in His life He rejected sin without hesitation. He did so because he saw it for what it really was. Sin is evil and destructive. The Bible likens it to vomit. There was never a second in the Messiah’s life that He failed to understand that fact. Furthermore, He knew that he would bear the penalty for all sin. Imagine having that understanding. Imagine knowing what sin would cast you. . Clearly there was nothing about it that was the slightest bit attractive to Him.
The mistake many people make when quoting Hebrews 4:15 is in failing to understand that the temptation that presented itself to Jesus is one thing, how He handled it is another thing altogether. Although sin came to Him as it comes to us, Jesus never saw it as we do. That is why his life was flawless.
To better understand this point it is important to grasp what the word “tempted” means. This word as recorded in Hebrews 4:15 comes from the Greek word peirazo. It can have several meanings including scrutinize, test, examine and prove. It also can mean, “entice.” The question for us to answer is what definition is most applicable with respect to Jesus’ life? The Messiah was clearly tested and proved. But was He ever enticed? There is no hint that he ever grappled over sin like we do. Even when he was “tempted” in the wilderness by Satan, He never hesitated in responding. This is because he was totally tethered to His Father in heaven. Now consider what the apostle James wrote about God being tempted.
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man: (Jas. 1:13)
Putting these verses together it is clear that Jesus was tested and proved, but never enticed. Furthermore, the Messiah’s life revealed the only way sin could be undeniably overcome.
Argument #3
Jesus Had Perfect Righteous Character
When writing to the church at Philippi, the apostle Paul once exhorted Christians to put on the mind of Christ.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Phil. 2:5)
The mind that Paul was speaking of was the one that overcame this world. If it was possible for Jesus to fail with that mind, then it is possible for God’s people today to fail with it. This is simply not possible. The scriptures reveal that every time we overcome sin it is not us but Christ in us that does it. We have His promise that if we yield ourselves to Him, He will not fail us. Do you hear those words? HE WILL NOT FAIL US. There isn’t a chance of failure.
Argument #4
Prophecy Already Declared His Victory
Throughout the Old Testament, God’s Millennial Kingdom is described in great detail. Ruling over that Kingdom is none other than Jesus Christ. If it was possible for Jesus to fail, then it was also possible for every one of those prophecies to fail. This is because every one of them was predicated on Jesus’ success as the Christ. Imagine asking God when He inspired Isaiah to write of the Messiah’s righteous judgement over the nations (Isa. 11:1-5), if there was a chance that this judgement would never take place because Jesus succumbed to sin. In other words, “Father, could you be wrong here?”
At this point, it is important to understand something about the infinite God of the Bible. The scriptures reveal that God’s ability to plan and to carry out His plans is something that sets Him apart from every being in existence. The great prophet Isaiah once wrote that God’s power extends far beyond simply creating the universe. God also has power over the very destiny of this creation. At one point, Isaiah actually quotes God Himself regarding His absolute SOVEREIGNTY over the future and His ability to accomplish what He sets out to do.
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (Isa. 46:9-10)
The ramifications of Jesus risking failure goes far beyond His, or even mankind’s future. It would call into question God’s power and authority over His creation, both physical and spiritual.
The Mystery Solved
We at Blow the Trumpet believe the question of whether Jesus risked was answered over five hundred years before the Messiah walked the earth as a man. That answer was captured in the dream of a powerful king.
"A King and a Dream"
Over one hundred years after the nation of Israel was routed by Assyria, the southern kingdom of Judah met with a similar fate. They were defeated and led into captivity by the great Chaldean Empire under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar. During this captivity, certain young Jews were taken to Babylon to serve at the pleasure of their new king. These men were chosen because of their extraordinary knowledge and wisdom (Dan. 1:3-4). This “Babylonian captivity” is described extensively in the book of Daniel.
A Troubling Dream
At one point while these captives were in Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar had a very troubling dream, causing him considerable distress. To remedy this problem, he summoned the leading magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers throughout his kingdom and demanded that they explain what his dream meant. In order to be sure this religious “brain trust” wasn’t simply guessing at their interpretation, Nebuchadnezzar would not disclose what the specific dream was. He actually informed his religious advisors that the dream was “forgotten.” However, despite this lapse in memory, he insisted that these wizards conjure it up again and explain its significance. In other words, the king wanted these men to explain what the dream WAS, as well as what the dream MEANT. Failure to accomplish this task would constitute a capital offense and would result in their death.
Suffice it to say sheer panic filled the heart of virtually every soothsayer in Babylon. If they couldn’t figure out what Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was, they would find themselves on the wrong end of an execution. These men knew all too well that their king was not simply issuing an idle threat. He was “dead” serious.
When word of the king’s decree reached the Jewish captive Daniel, he appealed to Nebuchadnezzar to be patient and promised that shortly he would tell the king both the dream and its meaning. But how would he do such a thing?
Clearly, this was going to be a daunting task. But Daniel had extraordinary resources, not the least of which was God Almighty. He immediately informed his fellow Jewish exiles of the king’s decree, and appealed to them to ask God to reveal his dream, so that they would not suffer at the hands of the royal executioner (Dan. 2:17-18). The scriptures indicate that God heard their prayers and made known the king’s secret to Daniel in a dream of his own. Daniel then acknowledged God as the Source of all wisdom as well as the One who reveals every mystery.
Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His: And He changes the times and the seasons: He removes kings, and He sets up kings: He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He reveals the deep and secret things: He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. I thank you, and praise you, O thou God of my fathers, who has given me wisdom and might, and has made known unto me now what we desired of you: for you have made known unto us the king’s matter. (Dan. 2:20-23)
Shortly after his prayer, Daniel appeared before Nebuchadnezzar and informed him that only the true God could do what the king had demanded. He then told him that such a God does exist and that He would now make known to Nebuchadnezzar both the dream and its meaning.
At this point, Daniel described the king’s dream in striking detail. He began by informing him that the dream was prophetic and revealed a picture of world events that would come to pass down through the centuries.
As for you, O king, your thoughts came into your mind upon your bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and He that reveals secrets makes known to you what shall come to pass. (Dan. 2:29)
Nebuchadnezzar must have been stunned as he listened to Daniel reconstruct every facet of his vision. No detail was omitted, including where the king was when the dream first came to him. The precision of Daniel’s words left no doubt that his God was real and that He was aware of man’s most private thoughts and intimate secrets.
Daniel began by explaining that the image in the king’s dream symbolized a series of kingdoms that would rule the earth. The first kingdom, pictured by the head of gold, was Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon. In Daniel’s words, “You are this head of gold” (Dan. 2:38). He then informed the king that other rulers and nations would follow the great Chaldean empire. These kingdoms would be inferior to Babylon, but would nevertheless be great in their own right.
And after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to you, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: for as iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things: and as iron breaks all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. (Dan. 2:39-40)
History reveals that God’s word, through Daniel, had pinpoint accuracy. Great world-ruling empires fell just as he had predicted. The Babylonian empire was ultimately conquered by a less sophisticated Medo-Persian kingdom under the leadership of Cyrus the Great and King Darius. However, this kingdom would also fall and eventually be supplanted by the Greco Macedonian empire under the rule of Alexander the Great. His empire would extend its influence to all the known world, just as Daniel had said. Finally, as powerful as Greece was, it too would fade into the pages of history and be replaced by the Roman empire under the rule of the Caesars.
The Greatest Kingdom
But Daniel wasn’t finished interpreting the king’s dream. He would now reveal the true identity of the rock that would destroy the last generation of these kingdoms. This generation was symbolized by the feet of this great image. These feet were made of a mixture of iron and clay and were an extension of the Roman Empire. This “resurrected” Roman Empire would exist in the very last days of man’s reign on earth and exert tremendous influence throughout the world.
Daniel explained that at this time, God Himself was going to subdue all the kingdoms of the earth and set up a Government that would be presided over by a Great Deliverer. Furthermore, this new Government would never be destroyed.
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a Kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the Kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the Great God has made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter... (Dan. 2:44-45)
The stone that was “cut out without hands,” is none other than Jesus Christ. The scriptures reveal that it is He who will subdue all the nations of the earth when He returns to establish God’s Millennial Kingdom (Rev. 11:15). At that time, the misery and suffering created by a world that believes it can decide for itself what is “good” and what is “evil” will be replaced by a Government that will judge righteously. This was the message Daniel proclaimed to this “head of gold.” However, there was one more thing he would declare.
“The Dream is Certain”
At the end of his meeting with the king, Daniel made one final pronouncement concerning what he had just spoken regarding Nebuchadezzar’s dream. The words that would follow leave no doubt that Nebuchadnezzar’s nocturnal vision was inspired by none other than God Himself – for it would reveal how the Great Creator and Sustainer of the universe would accomplish a critical part of His Plan for man. As Daniel prepared to leave, he indicated that what Nebuchadnezzar had witnessed in the privacy of his bedchamber would play out publically for the entire world to see. He then informed the king that the dream was a one hundred percent certainty. It was going to happen and nothing was going to stop it.
“And the dream is certain and the interpretation thereof is sure.” (Dan. 2:45)
Here, God is revealing a profound truth through His servant Daniel. He is declaring that the Great Kingdom He envisioned before the world began is an absolute certainty. No power in the universe can stop it from coming into being. God was not speculating when He inspired Daniel to utter these words. Every syllable reflected His intention concerning how human history would play into His hands.
The Bible reveals that God does not speak idle words. Every one has meaning and strength. The prophet Isaiah understood this truth and expressed this understanding.
So shall My word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isa. 55:11)
The point here is that when God makes a pronouncement, His word goes forth and makes it come to pass. In other words, God’s word CANNOT be thwarted. With this in mind, consider the implication of Daniel’s declaration. Imagine all the things that would have to come to pass in order for this dream to play out just as Daniel had said. Not only would these great nations have to rise and fall, but Jesus Christ Himself would have to succeed in His mission on earth. He would have to overcome the world and live a sinless life.
While man may argue if Jesus risked failure when He walked the earth as a man, God clearly never considered that as a possibility. His words through Daniel are unqualified: “the dream is CERTAIN and the interpretation thereof is SURE.”