Some knots are difficult to untangle. From Mark 13:32, Jesus commented on the last days, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
I can accept that of that day and hour no one knows. The landscape of Christian history is littered with failed end-time predictions. Jesus even remarked that the angels in heaven were out of the loop. But here’s the kicker – the Son was also clueless? Jesus said, “. . . nor the Son, but only the Father.”
QUESTIONS SCRIBBLED ON MY HEART’S WALL
1. Jesus is the Son of God – fully part of the Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. He was present at the Creation of the world when God remarked, “Let us make man in our image.” John described Christ as the “Word made flesh and dwelt among us.” Through the incarnation, He was 100% man (Son of man); He was also 100% God (Son of God). So when Jesus says, “. . . nor the son” that seems to be a real knot in a rope. If Jesus is God, He should know everything – omniscient – all-knowing – right?
2. Someone remarked that the mystery of the God-head is sort of like the multidimentionalness levels of man – Id, Ego, and Superego. Each part of our humanness is connected, but sometimes disconnect can arise. Maybe that helps. I don’t know. It’s hard for me to imagine how there can be a disconnect within the God-head.
3. Someone else remarked that God didn’t share it with the Son because if He did, the Son might blab it to his followers – spoiling the surprise. Well, let’s face it, the Bible says that Jesus was tempted in all things, but did not sin.
4. Another suggested that just as God enacted self-limitations through not having full control over man (allowing free-will), He further limited Himself internally within the God-head by not allowing God the Son to have knowledge of just this one thing. If this is true, it probably shouldn’t be viewed as an outright disconnect; rather, it would be more of an internal measure of self-restraint which is not inconsistent with His omnipotence or omniscience. Maybe this moves us closer to understanding the Mark 13 statement. Maybe.
5. One commentator suggested that the translation “But of that day and hour no one knows . . .” might be better rendered from the original language as “But of that day and hour no one makes known . . . “. In this case, the exclusive, singular, legal prerogative to make known that day and hour belongs to God the Father alone. Even if a man had a clue (which he wouldn’t) it would not be his right to blab it. Even if the angels had some insider knowledge, it would not be their privilege to spill the beans. Even if the Son knew (which my gut tells me that He did), it would still not be His place to upstage the Father. This isn’t a bad theory, but perhaps there’s even a better explanation of why Jesus said what He did.
6. Could it be that when Jesus remarked, “ . . . nor the Son . . .” it was not a commentary about his ignorance, but rather a statement about his submission? The gospels offer plenty of documentation that Jesus only spoke what the Father told him to speak. God the Son was not autonomous to God the Father; however, He did exercise the divine attributes at the Father’s bidding. Consider John 4:34 “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.’” Next, check out John 8:26-29 “’I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.’ They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. Then Jesus said to them, ‘When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.’” Finally, notice what Jesus said in John 12:49-50 “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak." Even a Messianic prophecy from Isaiah 50:4 adds to this aspect of the Messiah’s submission: "The Lord God has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.
7. As the Word made flesh, Jesus is the mouth-piece of the God-head. He represents Himself as daily receiving His instructions about what to communicate for that day. When Jesus says in Mark 13, “. . . nor the Son . . .” it may just be that the precise time of His own return was not part of His instructions. Admittedly, this theory doesn’t entirely untangle the knot, but it sure loosens it for me.
8. There is one important take-away from this whole discussion. Moving from theorizing to personalizing, I marvel at the model of submission Jesus demonstrated for each of us. Each morning, He spent time with God the Father. And to be Christ-like, so must I. Here’s a prayer, “Father God, I begin this day asking You to lead, guide, and nudge me in the things that I can say and the ways that I can respond that would bring You the most glory. I recognize that I may not be able to fully wrap my brain around the mysteries of the Bible, the end-times or the trinity, but for that which You have granted understanding, lead me in a life of daily submission.”
