God's Hybrid Son: The Human Element in Jesus

Walking on water or changing it into wine may point to divinity, but alone, these incidents set up a distance from people more than redemption. The humanity of Jesus is down to earth, but we keep it at bay, as if it would damage his reputation. In this book his dual nature - especially his humanness - is given careful attention, focusing on what the creeds identify as true God and true man. We celebrate both his oneness with God and his oneness with us, thereby connecting the Incarnation with reality.There is an assumption that everything Jesus said in the Gospels is divine, including threats of punishment. But wrath is not Good News. Instead, it distorts his divinity and his humanity goes missing. In this book, his outbursts of rage are ascribed to the human nature that he incorporated as God's Hybrid Son. Mercy is the heart of divinity. That is the Good News reaching its deepest level in Jesus' passion, where anger abruptly ceases. The guest appearances of mercy in his ministry become an unconditional mission on Thursday and Friday of Holy Week. We assume that God supports the mercy of Jesus, but proof comes on Easter, when Jesus is raised from the dead. He did not resuscitate himself.Paul G. Johnson has been writing for over 50 years. A retired pastor who taught college sociology for 20 years, he lives in Stoughton, Massachusetts, where he is writing his next book.Publisher's Web site: http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/GodsHybridSon.html