Master Of Divinity
I always chuckle, silently in my head, when Cory tells me he is working on his M. Div or Master of Divinity. I appreciate the hard work involved in courses, papers, and languages to get the degree. These studies in theology, philosophy, ministry, and church history equip him to do an even better job of ministering to the needs of our church family. However, the snarky side of me cannot help but think there has only ever been one Master of Divinity.
Our Wednesday Night Bible study got me thinking about this for the rest of the week. This week we talked about how Jesus is the “firstborn of creation” (Colossians 1:15ff) or preeminent over creation. We noted that if Jesus did not exist outside of creation and before, then in some ways it would diminish our appreciation for the commitment and sacrifice He made for us on the cross. This brought our conversation back to the Gospel of John where the divine nature of Jesus is evident throughout the book. From the start of the book in John 1:1-4, another passage in our study, it is revealed to us that the story of Jesus goes back way farther than the days of Herod, king of Judea. Jesus who walked this earth was there “in the beginning” and an active force in creation as part of the Godhead. After that creation shattering opening, we see the many witnesses of Jesus’ divine nature through the people He impacted and the miracles He performed (John 1:19-9). A shift happens in John 10 and the Spirit moves the writer to return to the divine nature of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. In heartbreaking clarity, Jesus tells us that He voluntarily came to earth in order to lay His life down for us, His sheep. We see Jesus declare His divinity in John 10:30 by plainly stating that He and the Father are one and equal.
Cory, my brother and my friend, I’m going to be very proud of you and your accomplishment when you achieve that Master of Divinity. However, I will probably still chuckle in my head when I think about it. That is because for me Jesus will always be the one and only Master of Divinity.