“Jesus thought he was the person appointed by God to bring in the climactic saving act of God in human history. He believed he was the agent of God to carry thatout- that he had been authorized by God, empowered by God, he spoke for God, and he was directed by God to do this task. So what Jesus said, God said. What Jesus did was the work of God.

Under the Jewish concept of agency, ‘a man’s agent is as himself.’ Remember how Jesus sent out his apostles and said, ‘Whatever they do to you, they’ve done to me’? There was a strong connection between a man and his agent whom he sends on a mission.

Well, Jesus believed that he was on a divine mission, and the mission was to redeem the people of God. The implication is that the people of God were lost and that God had to do something- as he had always done- to intervene and set them back on the right track. But there was a difference this time. This was the last time. This was the last chance.

Did Jesus believe that he was the Son of God, the anointed one of God? The answer is yes. Did he see himself as the final Messiah? Yes, that’s the way he viewed himself. Did he believe that anybody less than God could save the world? No, I don;t believe he did.

And here’s where the paradox gets as quizzical as it can possibly get: the way God was going to save the world was by his Son dying. The most human of all human acts- to die.

Now, God, in his divine nature, doesn’t die. So how was God going to get this done? How was God going to be the Savior of the human race? He had to come as a human being to accomplish that task. And Jesus believed that he was the one to do it.

Jesus said in Mark 10:45, ‘I did not come to be served but to serve and give my life as a ransom in place of the many.’ This is either the highest form of megalomania or it’s the example of somebody who really believes, as he said, ‘I and the Father are one.’ In other words, ‘I have the authority to speak for the Father; I have the power to act for the Father; if you reject me, you’ve rejected the Father.’

Even if you eliminated the fourth gospel and just had the synoptics, this would still be the conclusion you would come to. And it is the conclusion that Jesus would have led us to if we had a Bible study and asked him this question.

We have to ask, why is there no other first-century Jew who has millions of followers today? Why isn’t there a John the Baptist movement? Why, of all first-century figures, including the Roman Emperors, is Jesus still worshipped today, while the others have crumbled into the dust of history?

It is because this Jesus- the historical Jesus- is also the living Lord. That’s why. It’s because he’s still around, while the others are long gone.”

– Ben Witherington III, PH.D [Master of Divinity (Summa Cum Laude), Doctorate of Theology (New Testament)]

“The Case for Christ.” Lee Strobel, 187-189 Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House 1998