[Timotheous]

Sure, Jesus ‘did many things that the greatest human teacher or doctor could not do.’ But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t also the ‘greatest human teacher or doctor’ as well. The fact is a Sanhedrin government member addresses Jesus as Rabbi + Doctor. (John 3:2). This is early in Jesus’ public ministry. Nicodemus would not have given those titles to an uneducated itinerant. If Jesus was indeed a great Rabbi and Doctor as a human (rather than an uneducated person) it gives his rejection by the Jewish authorities (which is what Isaiah is prophesying) even greater significance. It would be logical for the teachers at the Temple who recognised Jesus’ brilliance to recruit him. If you read the Mishnah it taught that Rabbis could go public age 30. Is that a coincidence? Jesus was fully human as well as fully God. Thanks for the debate.

[throwback]

I'll give this one last thought. Whether this Adam Bradford or you intend it or not, it seems to me that this whole line of argument is to explain events that seem plausible from a human perspective. As a human, that has a natural appeal. The problem is that it discounts the supernatural and divine nature of Christ. You can make an argument well Christ must have only been allowed to overturn the money changers tables without penalty because he was a great Rabbi, but could it be because he was G_d and he had authority that no one dare confront in that moment. You say yes, but he was human and he functioned as human. Yes he did human things like eating, but he also fed 5000 with a few fishes and loaves. It's an enigma that I can't really understand I admit. The author seems to always focus on his humanity, however. He mentions Jesus remarking that he had to be in his Fathers house and claims that it has a double meaning. That's a stretch. I recall Jesus being informed that his mother and brothers were wondering about him, and he replied “who are mother and brothers”. I doubt the reference to his Fathers house in any way refers to his stepfather that didn't even have a blood link to his human side. Time and again this author focuses on the earthly to explain Christ. Whether he or you intend it, you are purposely ignoring the inexplicable divine nature of Christ. The author claims that Jesus’ high ranking was purposely written out of history. Really, the living Lord of all creation is unable to bring us an accurate accounting of events or has purposely brought us a flawed
accounting of events down through the ages until now? Maybe, but I'm not convinced. I'm sure you aren't convinced otherwise either. Regardless, one day we'll both find out who was right, or maybe both, or neither entirely.