The Identity Disclaimer

Jesus made famous disclaimers. In previous articles, we have emphasized some of Jesus' most famous disclaimers (such as the fact he came not to destroy the Law or the Prophets). (Matthew 5:17-20, Luke 16:17) In this article we want to emphasize his identity disclaimer.

Jesus closely managed his identity. Neither he nor his disciples actively and openly proclaimed that he was the Christ during his earthly ministry. Therefore, his identity was effectively disclaimed until later. We are not saying that no one knew who he was. We are just saying that he guarded and even timed the revelation of his true identity with concealed language, alternate names and with the admonition to his disciples not to reveal his true identity that he was the Christ.

This fact was prophesied in Isaiah 53:2 where he is depicted as a “root out of dry ground.” That is, salvation came from a very unexpected person in a very unexpected place. When Philip introduced Jesus to Nathanael, Nathanael asked in complete amazement: “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip responded with “Come and see.” (John 1:46) Although Nathanael quickly believed who Jesus really was, this was not something that was generally known. That is, Jesus was paradoxically famous and obscure at the same time. This is a miracle in and of itself. People did not know (or did not believe) who he was. His opposition knew at times, from all the evidence he presented, and they even called him a blasphemer; but they did not believe him. They were not about to become his advocate or his disciple. However, they certainly had heard about him.

In this sense, Jesus was like God's secret weapon. Jesus was a polished shaft hidden in God's quiver. (Isaiah 49:2) He was the mysterious and lethal blow to Satan's dominion. Jesus openly, and yet mysteriously, defied the most subtle creature in all of God's creation. He openly defied Satan. Without a doubt, this is one of the greatest testimonies that Jesus is the Christ. “He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.” (Isaiah 42:4) Satan could sometimes see and feel his opposition; but there was nothing he could ever do about it.

In fact, the whole of the majestic Psalm 2 is a great testimony to the complete superiority of the Son. People raged against him and imagined that they could defeat him. But it was vain for them even to imagine that Jesus could be defeated. Although they did their best to stand against the Lord's anointed, it was such a wasted endeavor that “...the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.” (Psalms 2:4) They simply had no offense, defense, plan or response. In spite of their best efforts, God still set his holy king upon his holy hill of Zion. God still decreed “Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” (Psalms 2:6-7) There was simply no stopping him. That is why this Psalm ends: “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” (Psalms 2:11-12)

Gamaliel was later wise enough to admit how pointless it is to fight against God. When Peter finally became converted enough to openly defy his adversaries, he said: “We ought to obey God rather than men …. Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” (Acts 5:34-39) We suspect that Gamaliel, the grandson of Hillel the Elder, was wise enough to give this assembly some very good advice. But as we see in his student Saul of Tarsus, he was probably not wise enough to take it. In all good conscience, his student Saul killed and persecuted Christians. But Jesus' success is testimony that we can never successfully defy God. As Jesus told Saul (later the apostle Paul) on the road to Damascus, “it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” (Acts 9:5-6) Therefore, Saul went into the city of Damascus where he was told by Ananias to arise and to be baptized and to wash away his sins calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16)

One of Jesus' designations was Emmanuel which means “God is with us.” (Matthew 1:23) This name helps to explain the dual nature of Jesus as the “Son of God” and the “Son of man.” Jesus often referred to himself as the “Son of man” to emphasize his fleshly side. We believe this term helps to explain Jesus' heavenly coronation after his ascension. Daniel describes his night vision this way: “I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14) Those who were astute may have caught the significance of this code name “Son of man.”

Isaiah also uses the term Immanuel over a sequence of chapters (Isaiah 7 through Isaiah 9) to lead us to the Son of man by a miraculous birth. First, in referring to Jesus' miraculous birth, Isaiah 7:14 reads: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Immanuel or “God with us” comes from a miraculous birth and results in a strong presence and a reliable counsel. “God is with us.” (Isaiah 8:10) Therefore, Isaiah says that God is either our sanctuary or a rock of offence. “Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 8:13-14) There is no remedy for those who stumble at this stone. Then Isaiah reveals the wonderful dawning of a new government from this birth. “The people that walked in the darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined (referring to Jesus' ministry).” (Isaiah 9:2) “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7) All three of these chapters (Isaiah 7 through 9) are connected by the concept of Immanuel or “God with us.” As John said: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, 1 John 1:1-2)

Evidentally God has appeared in the flesh more than a few times. Therefore, the birth of God should not be foreign to us. For example, the Lord (Yahweh) appeared to Abraham. “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” (Genesis 17:1) There is no doubt who was saying this. First, the term “Lord” or Yahweh (I am) is used in this passage. Second, the Lord declared himself to be the “Almighty God.” Third, he is visible. He “appeared” to Abram. Abram “fell on his face” and talked with him. (Genesis 17:3) Unless Abram was prostrating himself before a mere mortal, the Lord appeared to him in some bodily form. In the next chapter, the Lord (Yahweh) appeared again to Abraham in the plains of Mamre as Abraham sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. (Genesis 18:1) This gives us some detail about the Lord's appearance. “And he (Abraham) lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground.” (Genesis 18:2) Evidentally the Lord was one of these three men. Furthermore, these men actually ate a meal that Abraham ordered for them. In Genesis 18:13 the Lord (Yahweh) heard Sarah laugh within herself when he told Abraham that Sarah would have a son. She was way too old to have a son. Therefore the Lord asked Abraham “Is any thing too hard for the Lord (Yahweh)?” When Sarah heard the Lord ask this, she was afraid and actually denied (lied) that she had laughed. But the Lord knew she had. He said: “Nay; but thou didst laugh.” (Genesis 18:15) We may be encouraged to know that the Lord did not give her a strong rebuke for this. In fact, the Lord had already named their child Isaac or “he will laugh” from the fact Abraham had also laughed in the previous chapter. The Lord knew that Sarah was afraid of him; and it was an incredible thing to happen to those who were considered dead as far as having children were concerned. (The humanity of this entire account seems self validating. Most people would have laughed. This account also prefigures God's power to resurrect the dead.)

When Jesus was on the earth, did he tell anyone who he was? Yes, he did. For example, he told some of the Samaritans. In John 4, Jesus met a certain Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. He started a conversation. In that day, it was unusual for Jewish men to even acknowledge a strange woman in public. They certainly would not have engaged them in any extended conversation. Worse yet, this woman was a Samaritan woman. Therefore, it was understandable this woman should ask: “How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” (John 4:9) After Jesus reviewed her life with her, giving her knowledge that only God could have, we read: “The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.” (John 4:25-26)

It is obvious that Jesus admitted that he was the Christ. This article is not about Jesus never disclosing that fact. This article is about Jesus managing that fact. There is a big difference. No doubt Jesus was laying some groundwork for such evangelists as Philip who would later have great success in Samaria. Jesus' work in this area was also having an immediate impact. He spent several days with the Samaritans. His work caused many of the Samaritans to believe. Nevertheless, this outreach and the knowledge that Jesus was the Christ was contained because these people were Samaritans and the Jews, as the woman had already said, “have no dealings with the Samaritans.” They had some things in common with the Jews; but for the most part they were considered to be outcasts. But this fact would soon change. (John 4:23-24)

Did Jesus' opposition know that Jesus was “the Christ”? Well, they did not believe that he was; but they believed he was making this claim. In John 10:24-36 the Jews surrounded Jesus on Solomon's porch in the temple. They asked: “How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus knew that it would have been futile, even detrimental, to make this claim among them even though they requested a plain statement. Why? Did they want this statement so they could believe? Did they want it so that they could become his advocate? No, they wanted it so they could accuse him of blasphemy and kill him. Every time he gave them any knowledge about himself, they did their best to use it against him. No wonder Jesus was reluctant to identify himself to them.

The Pharisees made it very difficult for important people to acknowledge him. In John 12:42-43 we read: “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” To acknowledge that Jesus was the Christ among them was more than difficult. It required great courage. Therefore, the knowledge that Jesus was the Christ was contained. First, it was contained because of unbelief. Second, it was contained because of envy. The Pharisees, the Priests and the Sadducees did not want to lose their place. Third, it was contained because the Pharisees did everything they could to make it difficult for those who believed and would confess Jesus. They actively suppressed and opposed Jesus' identity. They would not hesitate to put his believers out of the Synagogue. This was likely the reason that Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, “came to Jesus by night.” (John 3:2) He may have been afraid to come by day. Fourth, it was a serious crime to make any leadership claims before the rulers of Rome. Any leadership role must not be perceived as opposition to Rome.

It was also not proclaimed because it was a part of God's great plan. Certain types of people were not privileged to know this. Therefore, Jesus did not have the reputation for making this claim. At times he was asked; but he did not proclaim it in the streets. This is obvious from Matthew 16. “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13-16) It was a great blessing for Peter to be able to know this. It was not part of Jesus' general reputation. Therefore, Jesus said to Peter: “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” (Matthew 16:17-21)

There are several significant ideas presented in Matthew 16. First, Peter did not learn this from “flesh and blood” or men. Second, the fact that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the living God” was the absolute bedrock upon which the kingdom would be established. Some who believe in ecumenism, which is unity between different religious groups and denominations, claim that this is the only real basis for unity. Ultimately we can only be united upon the fact that “Jesus is Lord.” For example, they claim that belief in immersion for baptism can never be a real basis for unity. It is just too hard for some people to accept immersion. But some people today are even saying we cannot be united with people upon the concept that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God. For example, the Jews and Muslims will never confess that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Therefore, each must come to know God in their own way. The essential that Jesus is Lord is no longer an essential. Nevertheless, Jesus said: “...unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24) (As it has been said: “That which proves too much proves nothing.”) Jesus will not cease to be Lord just because we cannot psychologically accept the fact that many people in this world will die in their sins. The Gospel addresses that issue. The entire world may perish, but blessed are those eyes that can see Jesus. Third, Jesus said that his death would not prevent him from building his church (equating the church with the kingdom). Fourth, Peter and the disciples would bind “church doctrine.” The same idea is repeated in Matthew 18:18 where Jesus instructed his disciples about church doctrine and church discipline. In fact, Jesus used the very same words about binding and loosing in Matthew 18:18 that he did in Matthew 16:19 when he told Peter that he would give him the “keys of the kingdom of heaven.” There is an obvious connection between these chapters and these passages. Fifth, the disciples were instructed to “tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.” Therefore, we get this title, “The Identity Disclaimer.” The basic identity tenet upon which Jesus would build his church (that he was “the Christ, the Son of the living God”) was not to be preached as church doctrine until after the cross. Sixth, Jesus began to show his disciples how he must die on the cross and be raised again the third day. This was not explicitly preached either. Jesus gave the Pharisees signs like the “sign of Jonah.” But he would not give them any other signs. They did not understand or believe these signs unless they happened to understand them in retrospect. The disciples of Jesus (his close inner circle) also did not understand that Jesus would die even after Jesus plainly told them so. In fact, Jesus could not have been more specific. But his disciples could have not been more blind.

Jesus indirectly made another identity disclaimer in Matthew 17. Jesus took his closest disciples (Peter, James and John) upon this secluded mountain to show them what no other man had ever seen before. He was transfigured before them. His “...face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” (Matthew 17:1-5) This has been explained to us like this. Jesus is the Son of God and represents the New Testament. Moses represents the Old Testament. Elias, as a great prophet, represents the Prophets. We are to “hear” Jesus or the New Testament instead of Moses and the Prophets. Special emphasis is often given to the words “hear him”; and we have detected at times that we ought to hear Jesus in opposition to Moses and the Prophets in such passages as Matthew 19:9. We have also been advised that Jesus taught the Gospel in Matthew 18, on church doctrine and church discipline; therefore, we ought to be able to understand that Jesus taught the Gospel in Matthew 19:9 on marriage, divorce and remarriage. However, we do not get the connection. In Matthew 19:9 Jesus was presenting a Jewish answer to a Jewish question. But he was not presenting a Jewish answer to a Jewish question in Matthew 16, 17 or 18. Therefore, we do not get the connection. As we have already said, “That which proves too much proves nothing.” We can often find examples where Jesus taught the Old Testament and the Prophets. In fact, Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount that they which “do and teach” the Law and the Prophets would “be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” This also applied to Jesus. (Matthew 5:17-19) Therefore, we cannot rightly be accused of building a tabernacle to the Law of Moses or of building a tabernacle to the Prophets. We can also find examples where Jesus taught the Gospel. We believe that he taught a nondestructive Gospel. For example, Jesus gave a “new commandment” that his disciples should love each other. (John 13:34-35) Their love certainly did not violate the Law and the Prophets. This “new commandment” was nondestructive. When we can find examples where Jesus taught the Law of Moses, we certainly cannot make the blanket assertion or assumption that Jesus taught the Law of Moses elsewhere too. Likewise, when we can find examples where Jesus taught what we consider to be a nondestructive Gospel, we cannot make the blanket assertion that Jesus taught the Gospel elsewhere also. It has never been an either/or situation. Jesus taught the Law of Moses and he taught what we consider to be a nondestructive Gospel. We see Jesus appearing with Moses and Elias. He was not appearing against them. We have always seen Jesus as a friend to the Law and the Prophets. Nevertheless, the suggestion of Peter on this occasion to make three tabernacles was wrong. Jesus superseded Moses and the Prophets just as a man who has become dead to his old marriage can be married to another. (Romans 7ff.) Therefore, we readily agree that there is substance to the analogy which we have been given about the proper interpretation of his transfiguration on the mount. When Jesus lifted up his disciples from their great fear of God's wonderful pronouncement from heaven, they saw “Jesus only.” But Jesus also gave his disciples another disclaimer. It is a tribute to his planning, to his humility and to his great ability to manage his identity. “And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.” (John 17:8-9)

Methodically and majestically Jesus managed his identity to the very last. As the King of the Jews, Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on this young colt and the crowd began to cry out “...Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” However, the leaders were very displeased. (Matthew 21:7-16) As the President of the United States said the other day in Israel about those who would deny Israel's right to exist, “they might as well deny the sky above them or the earth below.” Many in Israel applauded his comment. Likewise, the Pharisees asked Jesus to keep his disciples quiet when they confessed him as their king during his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, but Jesus said: “...if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:38-40) The Pharisees might as well have endeavored to deny the heavens above or the the earth below.

The high priest wanted Jesus to confess his identity under oath. However, Jesus would not volunteer this information because he “is brought as a lamb to the slaughter.” (Isaiah 53:7, Acts 8:32) Matthew says: “But Jesus held his peace, And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.” (Matthew 26:63-66) We see plainly why they wanted Jesus to volunteer this information about his identity. It was not because they wanted to confess him and to become his disciples. They wanted to accuse him of blasphemy and to kill him. Therefore, they pronounced their judgment upon him; and they also pronounced their judgment upon themselves. Surely at their judgment, when they would see Jesus coming again at the right hand of God in the clouds of heaven, they would confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. But at their judgment their confession would be too late.

The last thing the leaders of Jerusalem desired to see was Jesus proclaimed to be their king. They had fought this revelation throughout Jesus' earthly ministry. It was not something they desired to see acknowledged at any time. However, at the very last, it was written in three different languages. Therefore, to their dismay, it could not be hidden; and it could not be suppressed. “And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was Jesus Of Nazareth The King Of The Jews. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.” (John 19:19-22) And thus it shall ever be written.

Therefore, we come to our final reason why Jesus managed and disclaimed his identity. As Paul said: “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:7-8) Again we read in Acts 4: “And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. …. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. …. And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.” (Acts 4:1-28)