First: Christ has all the Divine characteristics [God’s epithets]

In this edition, I will continue stating the epithets of Christ that confirm his full divinity. In the previous article, I discussed how our Lord Jesus Christ has absolute authority over nature, angels, devils and Law. In this article,  tackle His authority over illness and healing, death and life, and over Himself.

He has the absolute authority (continued):

5- Over illness and healing.

Christ used to heal through a word, a touch and sometimes a far distance. For example, what happened with the paralyzed man: "Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk. And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked” (John 5:8,9)  or with son of the king's servant: "Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way" (John 4:50). Another remarkable example is the man with the unclean spirit in the country of the Gadarenes, who was crying out, breaking the shackles in pieces and cutting himself with stones. When Christ healed him and freed him of the devils troop, the people in the city  " came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid" (Mark 5:1-20).

6- Over death and life.

We all know that Christ raised many of the dead, but it is also important for us to remember that He said with power before leaving Lazarus, addressing Martha and the whole world: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die" (John 11:25,26).

St. Paul the apostle tells us about Christ’s act of salvation through His death and resurrection, that He broke the sting of death and its authority over us, and lighted for us the path of  eternal life. This is the essence of heralding the Christian faith. He says: "but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Tim. 1:10).

Christ also has authority over life to grant it to all who keep His words, so that death would have no authority over them. He asserted for us: "if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death" (John 8:51).

7- Over Himself.

This means that no one has authority over Him. This confirms that He is God, the creator, the perfect in His divinity. If He was created, He would be subject to the authority of his creator like us, human beings, who are under the authority of God our creator. Since Christ confirms that He has authority over Himself, this undoubtedly means that He was not created. During His dialogue with the Jews: "My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father" (John 10:17-18).

[To be continued]