Ch. 4 - Ana

Chapter 4

1. How do the names of Jesus in the New Testament help us to see God’s character? Which of these means the most to you and why.

The names of Christ help us to see His character first, I believe, because they talk about a close relationship between God the Father and the Son as well as a unity; as such they help us understand better God’s love, mercy and desire to reestablish the relationship with His creation by sending His Son, who himself shows God’s glory as His name, own character, words and works revealed to us.
The one that means more to me is that Jesus is our “shepherd” because He gives me the assurance of God’s care, provision and protection.


2. How does the rest of the New Testament reveal Christ as a relational Savior?

Many of the names attributed to Jesus imply a relationship with God and with His people; such as: The Son of God, Savior, The Mediator, The High Priest, The Reconciler and The Son of Man among others. A son title implies a relationship or belonging to a father, a High Priest and a Mediator are intercessors between people, one in authority or superiority or to solve a disagreement or a separation, he reconciles to parties in conflict or separation; that is exactly what Jesus does for us before the Father since sin causes a permanent separation from God.

3. What do you think of the statement on page 82 that Jesus was not really divine but functioned in that role (“Functional Christology”)?

I completely disagree with the functional Christology; as well as Cullmann, I believe that not just Jesus’ names but His works, miracles, character and His very relationship with the Father are a testimony of His divinity. His life, from His birth fulfill the OT prophesies confirming the fact that He proceeded directly from God and is God. Many passages from the NT speak of Him being recognized as sent by God such us: when He was baptized, the demons recognized Him, Peter in the Spirit revealed who He was. We also find Him in every book of the Bible being part of creation, revelation, the perfect plan of Salvation, etc. The prophesies He spoke about Himself and different future events also showed His Deity. The fact that He was able to foresee the future tells us that He was more than doing a role, He is, was and will always be God.

4. Does the New Testament say anything about the background and nature of Jesus? If so, what?

The New Testament has a lot of information about who Jesus was and where He came from. For example in Revelation we find that He is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, that everything was created for Him. John also tells us He was that Jesus existed from the beginning with God and that He is God. His names also give us a lot of information about His nature. He is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, this tells us He came to save us, to rescue us from an eternal separation from God and by His sacrifice we who believe in Him are co-heiress with Him and children of God’s eternal family.