11. Sinless Jesus Christ

Perfect Sacrificial Lamb

Jesus Face The sinless nature of Jesus Christ allows him to state categorically and definitively that he had never sinned. Jesus says in John 8.46, "Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me?" Jesus challenges those friends, family, and others who know him personally to point out any sins they remember him committing. Of course, they cannot think of any. Jesus knows he has not sinned, and therefore, his purity makes him uniquely qualified to be the perfect sacrificial lamb of God. ✞

Paul and Peter Confirm

Christ in Glory The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5.21, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him, we might become the righteousness of God." Note here that the phrase "he who had no sin" may mean "him who was a sin offering." It pictures Jesus as the perfect sacrificial lamb. Jesus' family, friends, and colleagues could not remember a single lie that he had told. ✞

No Sin i8n Jesus

Saint Peter confirms this truth in 1 Peter 2.22, "He committed no sin, and his mouth contained no deceit." The prophet Isaiah prophesies in Isaiah 53.9, "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth." Again Saint John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, confirms in 1 John 3.5, "But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin." ✞

Ancient Roman Coin

Ancient Roman Coin Jesus' omniscience or "all-knowing nature" parallels his sinless nature when he raises the thorny subject of taxes to the government. Jesus responds with Peter's miracle of catching a fish with a four-drachma coin in its mouth, sufficient to pay the taxes for both Jesus and Peter. When the disciples come together in Galilee, he later says to them in Matthew 17.22b-23a, "Men will betray the Son of Man. They will kill him, and on the third day, he will rise from the dead." Jesus knew in advance what was going to happen to him. His omniscience allows him insights and knowledge of his sinlessness that others did not have. ✞

Jesus Transfiguration

Fish Peter's fish caught with a coin in its mouth causes him to believe in Jesus. He realizes at that moment the truth of Jesus' transfiguration. After Jesus and his disciples arrive in Capernaum, the collectors of the taxes come to Peter and ask, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" "Yes, he does," Peter replied. "What do you think, Simon?" Jesus asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes, from their sons or others?" "From others," Peter answered. "Then the sons are exempt," Jesus replies in Matthew 17.24-27, "But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch, open its mouth, and find a four drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours." Here Jesus is encouraging Peter's faith in him not making a case for who should and who should not pay taxes. Jesus, I believe, is preparing Peter for the shock of Jesus' transfiguration. ✞

His Appearance Changed

Jesus Transfiguration About eight days after Jesus said this, his transfiguration took place. In Luke 9.28-36, he takes Peter, John, and James with him and goes up to a mountain to pray. As Jesus is praying, his face changes appearance, and his clothes become as bright as a flash of lightning. It is "Jesus' transfiguration glory!" Two important Old Testament heroes, Moses and Elijah, also appear there in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They speak about his departure, which is about to happen in Jerusalem. ✞

Jesus is Alone

Peter and his companions are initially very sleepy, but they see Jesus' transfiguration glory, and two iconic figures standing with him and they become fully awake. As they leave Jesus, the disciples say to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters - one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." The text explains that the disciples do not know what he is saying. While he is speaking, a cloud appears and envelops them, and they are afraid as they enter the cloud. A voice comes from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to him." When the voice spoke, they find that Jesus is alone. Jesus transfigured glory excels all other experiences they had ever had! ✞

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