Revisiting the Omniscience of the Lord Jesus Christ
A Markan Perspective
The Holy Bible emphatically testifies that the Lord Jesus, in respect to his Deity, is omniscient:
"Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man." John 2:23-25
The NT goes so far as to say that all of God’s wisdom and understanding are in Christ and that he has all the fullness of Deity – that which makes God what he is – dwelling within him bodily, a rather astonishing assertion:
"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge… For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form," Colossians 2:2-3, 9
The inspired Scriptures also use the same language to describe Christ’s omniscience that the prophets and apostles use in relation to God’s knowledge.
For instance, much like God,
"whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything." 1 John 3:20
Christ knows everything,
"‘Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.’ ‘You believe at last!’ Jesus answered." John 16:30-31
"The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’" Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’" John 21:17
Like God,
"then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of all men)…" 1 Kings 8:39
Jesus knows the hearts of men, knowing what people were thinking within themselves:
"And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, ‘This man is blaspheming.’ But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts?" Matthew 9:3-4 ESV
"An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, Luke 9:46-47 ESV
"When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?’ But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, ‘Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.’ (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.’ After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him." John 6:60-66 ESV
And like God,
"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever." 1 Chronicles 28:9 NASB
Christ even knows the very secret intents and motives of everyone’s hearts:
"Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God." 1 Corinthians 4:5
Lest there be any doubt that Paul is speaking of Christ here, notice what he says elsewhere:
"Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 1:7-8
"If anyone does not love the Lord—a curse be on him. Come, O Lord! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you." 1 Corinthians 16:22-23
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:10
It is the Lord Jesus who is coming, and therefore he is the One who will judge the motives of every person’s heart.
Finally, like God,
"If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?" Proverbs 24:12
"The LORD has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: ‘Say to the Daughter of Zion, "See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him."’" Isaiah 62:11 – cf. 40:10-11; Psalm 62:12
"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." Jeremiah 17:10
"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the fathers' sins into the laps of their children after them. O great and powerful God, whose name is the LORD Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men; you reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve." Jeremiah 32:17-19; cf. 11:20; 29:23
The Lord Jesus searches the hearts and examines the minds in order to repay everyone according to what their conduct and deeds deserve,
"For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done." Matthew 16:27
"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze… I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. Revelation 2:18, 23
"‘Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.’ … He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." Revelation 22:12, 20
However, there are some who reason that this is not the position of the very earliest tradition or Gospel, but a theological view that evolved over time. These skeptics argue that the material that is found in Mark’s Gospel, being the earliest of all the Gospels, doesn’t depict Christ as God, let alone as being omniscient. They claim that Mark’s Jesus is a supernatural empowered human being, One who is anointed by the Holy Spirit to carry out the will of God, no more no less.
In light of this assertion we will examine (in fact we have already done so) Mark’s Gospel in order to document that even this writer believed that Jesus is the Divine Son of God who has all the essential attributes of Deity. We will focus on passages from Mark where Jesus is depicted as clearly knowing all things, as having knowledge which only God has.
Mark records an episode where the Lord Jesus healed a paralytic and forgave his sins:
"When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ‘Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, ‘Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven," or to say, "Get up, take your mat and walk"? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins....’ He said to the paralytic, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’ He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’" Mark 2:5-12
Christ not only knew what the teachers of the law were thinking in their hearts, which we saw was a Divine prerogative according to the OT, he also has the power to forgive sins and heal diseases, all of which are functions that only Yahweh carries out:
"When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to his own land, far away or near; and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their conquerors and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly’; and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their conquerors to show them mercy;" 1 Kings 8:46-50
"Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion," Psalm 103:2-4
"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." Isaiah 43:25
"Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea." Micah 7:18-19
Other examples of Jesus knowing people’s hearts include:
"They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.’" Mark 9:33-35
Despite the fact that the disciples didn’t tell him Christ already knew what they were arguing about and went on to tell them what they needed to do in order to be the greatest!
On more than one occasion the Lord knew and announced what was going on or would happen in places and vicinities that he wasn’t physically present at. For instance, he informed the Syro-Phoenician woman that the demon had left her daughter:
"Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. ‘First let the children eat all they want,’ he told her, ‘for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs.’" ‘Yes, Lord,’ she replied, ‘but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.’ Then he told her, ‘For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.’ She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone." Mark 7:24-30
Not only does Jesus have the ability to see what is occuring somewhere else he even has power to cast out demons from a great distance, without having to be in the presence of these unclean spirits to do so!
On another occasion the Lord told his disciples that they would find a colt that was tied whom no one had ever ridden, and told them what to say in case someone asked them why they were untying the animal:
"As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, "Why are you doing this?" tell him, "The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly."’ They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, ‘What are you doing, untying that colt?’ They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go." Mark 11:1-6
Jesus even told them where to go to set up for the passover meal and what they would see once they got there:
"On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, ‘Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, ‘Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, "The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?" He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.’ The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover." Mark 14:12-16
These last three examples not only imply that Christ is omniscient but that he is also omnipresent, both of which are exclusive attributes of Deity.
The Lord made specific predictions concerning future events, such as the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple taking place within that very generation:
"As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!’ ‘Do you see all these great buildings?’ replied Jesus. ‘Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down… I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.’" Mark 13:1-2, 30
Messianic Jewish Scholar Dr. David Stern records the stunning fulfillment of this amazing prophecy:
"Not one stone will be left on another, absolutely everything will be demolished. This prophecy was fulfilled literally in 70 C.E., when Rome overwhelmed the First Jewish Rebellion by capturing Jerusalem and sacking the Temple. Excavations made after the Six-Day War revealed enormous stones from the Western Wall of the Temple Court (of which the still-standing ‘Wailing Wall’ is part) lying helter-skelter, not one left on another." (Stern, Jewish New Testament Commentary [Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc., Clarksville Maryland, Fifth edition 1996], p. 98)
Christ also announced that the Gospel would be preached throughout the world and that the story of the woman anointing him would be included as part of that proclamation:
"While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, ‘Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor.’ And they rebuked her harshly. ‘Leave her alone,’ said Jesus. ‘Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.’" Mark 14:3-9
Christ repeatedly foretold his death and resurrection:
"He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again." Mark 8:31
"They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.’" Mark 9:30-31
"They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. ‘We are going up to Jerusalem,’ he said, ‘and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.’" Mark 10:32-34
Fulfillment:
"They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law came together… Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?’ But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ ‘I am,’ said Jesus. ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ The high priest tore his clothes. ‘Why do we need any more witnesses?’ he asked. ‘You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?’ They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, ‘Prophesy!’ And the guards took him and beat him." Mark 14:53, 60-65
"Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ asked Pilate. ‘Yes, it is as you say,’ Jesus replied. The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, ‘Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.’ But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed. Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. ‘Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?’ asked Pilate, knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead… Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. It was the third hour when they crucified him." Mark 15:1-11, 15-25
"When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, ‘Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?’ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. ‘Don't be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, "He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you."’ Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid." Mark 16:1-8
The Lord further announced his betrayal and abandonment:
"When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, ‘I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.’ They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, ‘Surely not I?’ ‘It is one of the Twelve,’ he replied, ‘one who dips bread into the bowl with me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.’" Mark 14:17-21
Fulfillment:
"Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: ‘The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.’ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, ‘Rabbi!’ and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him." Mark 14:43-46
And:
"‘You will all fall away,’ Jesus told them, ‘for it is written: "I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered." But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.’ Peter declared, ‘Even if all fall away, I will not.’ ‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘today — yes, tonight — before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.’ But Peter insisted emphatically, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the others said the same." Mark 14:27-31
Fulfillment:
"Then everyone deserted him and fled. A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind… Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire… While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. ‘You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,’ she said. But he denied it. ‘I don't know or understand what you're talking about,’ he said, and went out into the entryway. When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, ‘This fellow is one of them.’ Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, ‘Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.’ He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, ‘I don't know this man you're talking about.’ Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.’ And he broke down and wept." Mark 14:50-52, 54, 66-72
Concluding Remarks
It is evident from our discussion that Mark, like the rest of the NT, ascribes Divine characteristics and functions to the Lord Jesus, such as omniscience and omnipresence. What this suggests is that no matter how far back we go, no matter how early the tradition happens to be, one will not find a mere human Jesus emerging. All the earliest Christian traditions that we have emphatically portray Jesus as more than a man, depicting him as the unique Son of God who has all the essential attributes of Deity.
Further Reading
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/jesus_walks_on_sea.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/jesus_above_creation.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/christology_evolution2.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/q_jesus_forgives.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/qsayings.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Shabir-Ally/omnipotent.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/q_jesus_changing.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/q_spirit_omniscient.htm
http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Osama/zawadi_omniscience.htm
Articles by Sam Shamoun
Answering Islam Home Page