Nah, no ruffled feathers, I don’t think. Can’t speak for others, of course.

Empathy is what separates us from animals, full stop. The ability to feel as others do - no, the ability to know that others *feel* and *think* and *act* - and to factor that into our decisions, that is what makes us human, I believe.

I do suspect that Yehoshuah (You don’t need to call him the Anointed One if you don’t believe He is, after all, I don’t insist on it ;)) cried not only out of empathy, but also out of grief. Christ is undeniably human; he ate, slept, got tired, got angry - grieving, I believe, is also a human thing, although some animals appear capable of it.

Indeed, just today I talked to my son about that, because one of his teacher’s has a funeral to attend — her friend’s child died. My son was pretty sure that the teacher didn’t know the dead child. It was something of a revelation to him that his teacher could feel her friend’s grief as if it were her own. Children have some natural empathy, but a lot of it needs to be developed, or at least recognized. And, as I said, I think empathy is one of the things that distinguishes fully realized human beings from damaged ones.

Really? OK. He sure sounded like it, though.

jj, if you were wanting to yank someone’s chain, congratulations! you managed to yank mine. Quite a professional job, I must say. (btw, why is it never just *one* congratulation?)

I freely admit that I still don’t get what he was driving at, though. Was it Lazarus who faked death? Was it Jesus? Or both? I mean, if the very bones of the prophet Elisha could raise the dead, well, anything’s possible, right? I will further admit his wit, erudition and sophistication whizzed right past my head in that post.

That is as may be; nevertheless, it should not be. Paul clearly states, well before the Council you speak of, paraphrased;

“though in very nature God, did not consider equality with the Father something to be grasped, but instead emptied Himself and took the form of a man Therefore God raised Him up…”

Hence, Jesus is both God and Man, and was so from the beginning of time.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… and the Word tabernacled among us.”

God does not possess people. He does not confer divine status on anybody. There is only one God.

“Shema Israel, El*h*m adonai, El*h*m echod”

Logically, therefore, ah well, you know.

Dear Ymaskar;

Thank you for letting me know what jj might have been suggesting. I suggest instead that jj was quite possibly drunk, stoned or otherwise not in his right mind when he posted that. Imagine two Jewish men outwitting the crowds, authorities, the Romans, His own disciples… quite a feat.

I find the history of that debate fascinating and hoped a discussion would ensue here. Evidently I was mistaken. I shall bow out with no further comment that may unintentionally offend.

To Christians, Jesus was the Messiah who “by the power of the Holy Spirit became incarnate from the Virgin Mary and was made Man”. This is a matter of faith, not library research. Faith is a tough nut to define - explaining faith to those that have none is a bit like explaining colors to the color-blind. It appears to be and is totally illogical. How do I know? Been there, done that.

Even today there is debate among theologians about when he became divine. elc, since you take the position that divinity was revealed at baptism, I take it that you are in the “received at birth” camp… immaculately conceived and God from birth. You’re certainly not unique nor alone, but there are others who believe otherwise and prefer to stress the humanity of Jesus during his life.

My point to Book was simply that the lesson of Lazarus might change a bit with differing perspectives on the humanity/divinity of Jesus. With very little effort one can find all sorts of material on the discussion of the humanity and divinity of Jesus. No I am not looking for any definitive answer… theologians much smarter than I haven’t found it and I don’t expect an answer in this thread. But I am surprised at the less than cordial tone, and I’m surprised at the vehemence of your assertion. Please take that as a compliment on the depth of your faith.

On the miracles… I made my point poorly. I have heard some argue that Jesus’ miracles are proof of his divinity. I would counter with the thought that Moses was certainly on a par with Jesus in the miracle performance category. In other words Jesus did not have to be divine to raise Lazarus. I’m afraid I’m unfamiliar with “God-assuming,” and don’t know if it affirms or hedges on the “miracles as proof of divinity” point.

I do not mean the discussion as an affront, I only meant to bring the debate to this thread. Let’s just say I was surprised at the assumption/assertion there is no debate among Christians on the how and when of Jesus’ divinity.