I think people get bogged down with this 'Jesus is God' stuff. Church Fathers have even gone to war over this and murdered each other. The Orthodox Church split with Rome over a related squabble.
To be more pragmatic, it's important to realise this:
1. Jesus was called Rabbi by his followers and his fan club at the time. Jesus was seen as a Teacher. A holy man that taught. He then got a reputation as a healer. Because in those days people believed in the spiritual power to heal, and God sent Jesus with that power.
2. Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the light. No one comes to 'The Father' (ie Yahweh. aka God), except through me.
So right away, Jesus is saying: He is the embodiment of 'truth'. Much like the pagans whose Gods embodied virtues, Jesus was the embodiment of 'The way', 'The Truth' and 'the light'.
But more important, is that Jesus is the 'doorway'. He connects a person, via him, to 'The Father'. People pray and use Jesus' name to command things. Like: "In Jesus' name, I pronounce you healed!".
So.... just on the very off chance, Jesus is not God... it doesn't matter, Because Jesus is 'the way', 'the truth' and 'the light', and the embodiment of truth says he is the only way, through, to The Father.
So we conclude, That Jesus, who is the doorway, is an emanation of God, just like the Holy spirit. aka, is God.
To be more pragmatic, it's important to realise this:
1. Jesus was called Rabbi by his followers and his fan club at the time. Jesus was seen as a Teacher. A holy man that taught. He then got a reputation as a healer. Because in those days people believed in the spiritual power to heal, and God sent Jesus with that power.
2. Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the light. No one comes to 'The Father' (ie Yahweh. aka God), except through me.
So right away, Jesus is saying: He is the embodiment of 'truth'. Much like the pagans whose Gods embodied virtues, Jesus was the embodiment of 'The way', 'The Truth' and 'the light'.
But more important, is that Jesus is the 'doorway'. He connects a person, via him, to 'The Father'. People pray and use Jesus' name to command things. Like: "In Jesus' name, I pronounce you healed!".
So.... just on the very off chance, Jesus is not God... it doesn't matter, Because Jesus is 'the way', 'the truth' and 'the light', and the embodiment of truth says he is the only way, through, to The Father.
So we conclude, That Jesus, who is the doorway, is an emanation of God, just like the Holy spirit. aka, is God.