The more familiar I become with the Old Testament, the clearer New Testament references to Jesus as Hashem (Y—-h) become. In 1 Thessalonians 3 Paul quite clearly identifies the risen Jesus with Hashem by borrowing from the language of the prophet Zechariah. In verse 11 Paul clearly makes a distinction between the Father and the Lord Jesus. And then speaking of Jesus, Paul continues, “May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” Paul is invoking the same language that the prophet Zechariah used to speak of Hashem: “Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him” (Zech 14:5). This idea continues to develop in subsequent Pauline epistles as Jesus continues to be identified as the God of Hebrew scriptures and with the coming day of the Lord that the prophets anticipated.
In the gospels, the historical Jesus is also identified as Hashem. The gospel of Mark, the earliest of the synoptic gospels, is no exception. My favorite example of this is in the fourth chapter when Jesus calms the storm. I have written here before about Jesus’ followers worshiping him after the account of Jesus walking on the water in Matthew’s gospel. Likewise in Mark, Jesus exhibits power over the elements of the earth. This passage not only depicts Jesus as doing that which only God can do in a Hebraic understanding but also reminds the reader of Old Testament examples of sailors turning to Hashem when in danger because of a storm. The Psalmist depicts merchants on the mighty waters that “cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress” (Psalm 107:23-28). One is also reminded of the narrative in the first chapter of Jonah. Jonah is running from God and God sends a mighty storm. When the sailors cry out to the Lord and relieve themselves of Jonah, the Lord calms the storm and “the men greatly feared the Lord” (Jonah 1:16). Likewise, when Jesus calms the storm in Mark the disciples “were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”” (Mark 4:41).
Indeed that is the question.
Shalom,
Wayne
