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to יהוה, the incommunicable name of God,1 which the Hebrews wrote
but did not venture to pronounce, always using instead the word 'Lord'.
(3) When the Lord Jesus Christ was baptized, at about thirty years of age,2
higher testimony than even that of the angels was borne to His Deity; for it is
written: 'Now 3 it came to pass, when all the people were baptized,
that, Jesus also having been baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and
the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily form, as a dove, upon him, and a voice came
out of heaven, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.'
(4) On another occasion the Lord Jesus Christ took with Him Peter, John and
James 4 and went up a mountain to pray. 'And 5 as he was
praying, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became
white and dazzling. And behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses
and Elijah; who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he was about
to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and they that were with him were heavy
with sleep: but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men
that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they were parting from him, Peter
said unto Jesus,
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PROOF OF THE DEITY OF CHRIST
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53
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Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one
for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah: not knowing what he said. And
while he said these things, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they
feared as they entered into the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud,
saying, This is my Son, my chosen: hear ye him. And when the voice came, Jesus
was found alone.' Besides the testimony of the divine voice, there are two other
points of great importance in this passage. One is that the words 'Hear ye Him'
refer to the promise in the Taurat that a prophet like Moses 1 would
be sent and attached to that promise is the same command, 'Unto him ye shall
hearken.' Hence we see that the Lord Jesus Christ is the prophet there
promised.' The other important point is, that the 'cloud' which is mentioned is
that which accompanied Israel through the Red Sea and the wilderness, and which
was the sign of God's presence, being hence called the Shekinah
(السّكينة) 3
a word which means 'dwelling, presence'. What higher authority for calling the
Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God could we have them[than] is contained in this
passage?
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