Jesus denying His own divinity? Luke 18.18

[Madaglan]

And a ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.”

What does Jesus mean there? Is it an ironic statement?

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Madaglan:

What does Jesus mean there? Is it an ironic statement?

I don’t think Jesus came to the earth to be worshipped. God told us to listen to Him, not worship Him. He did everything He could to keep us from treating Him like diety. He rebuked John who did not consider himself worthy to baptize Jesus. He rebuked Peter who did not want his Lord washing his feet. He came to show us how to be a servant by being one Himself, not so that we could bow down and worship Him, the Creed (“together with the Father and Son He is worshipped and Glorified”) notwithstanding. He wanted all praise to go to His Father. He didn’t take credit for anything. This may change when we get into His kingdom, but I don’t know much about His kingdom.
Phil 2:5-8:

Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.

This has been something that’s bothered me for some time. I think Jesus was here to point us to His Father, not to call attention to Himself. It’s like if I throw a toy for a dog and the dog watches my hand when I say “there it is” instead of looking where I’m pointing. Jesus is trying to point to the Father but we humans want to cling to a physical image of God so we look at Him instead of through Him. When we mistake God for a representation of, or symbol of, or pointer to, God, that’s kind of like idol worship. I guess we’re off the hook, though, because of this mysterious thing called “Trinity.”

I don’t expect this to be a popular opinion, and it is subject to modification.

Alan

 

[mlchance]

Madaglan:

What does Jesus mean there? Is it an ironic statement?

Yes, Jesus is being ironic. He is trying to elicit a statement of faith from the questioner. IOW, Jesus is saying, “You call me good. Only God is good. Does that mean you recognize me for who I am?”

As to whether or not Jesus came to be worshiped, it is important to realize that Jesus didn’t reject worship (see the Apostle Thomas’s reaction to the Risen Lord) and Scripture itself as well Sacred Tradition enjoins us to such worship.

– Mark L. Chance.

 

[RMP]

Is it ironic? yes I think so. Jesus was not denying his divinity…because this person was not challenging it.

Jesus response is very revealing. First, he does not claim worship for himself, signs of humbleness. Second, he defers the person to worship GOD, for the fathers glorification, Jesus’ purpose. Third, Jesus is always amazed at people when they get close to the truth, sometimes he is amazed, or marvels, signs of humanity. Forth, He always has curiosity as to why or how someone chooses or thinks the way they do, signs of respect for free will. Jesus then usually responds to the person in love.

And last, the person has found some truth, Jesus is a good teacher. All goodness comes from GOD. This man has recieved grace allowing him to discern Jesus goodness. Jesus takes this mans observation and points him to his divinity. Even though it is very suttle. “Only GOD is good.”

Although Jesus is very kind and loving, some of his rsponses are quite humorus to me. Only because I have hindsight.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Dear RMP,

I like your idea that Jesus was curious about how the man came to that conclusion, and that the man might have been recognizing the goodness of God right through Jesus. That is, if I understood you correctly.

Alan

 

[AlanFromWichita]

AlanFromWichita:

I think Jesus was here to point us to His Father, not to call attention to Himself. It’s like if I throw a toy for a dog and the dog watches my hand when I say “there it is” instead of looking where I’m pointing. Jesus is trying to point to the Father but we humans want to cling to a physical image of God so we look at Him instead of through Him.

This analogy appears to be flawed. Jesus said “if you have seen Me then you have seen my Father.”

Alan