Natures of Jesus Christ

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May 1, 2022
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156
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#1
From the Bible we see that Jesus Christ had two distinct natures in a way that no other human being has ever had. One nature is human or fleshly; the other nature is divine or Spirit. Jesus was both fully man and fully God. The name Jesus refers to the eternal Spirit of God (the Father) dwelling in the flesh. We can use the name Jesus when describing either aspect or both. For example, when we say Jesus died on the cross, we mean His flesh died on the cross. When we say Jesus lives in our hearts, we mean His Spirit is there.

Below is a comparative list that will illustrate what we mean when we say Jesus had two natures or a dual nature.

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We can resolve most questions about the Godhead if we properly understand the dual nature of Jesus. When we read a statement in Scripture about Jesus we should determine whether it describes His deity, His humanity, or both. Moreover, whenever Jesus speaks in Scripture we must determine whether He is speaking from His position as a human, as God, or both. We should not think of two persons in the Godhead or of two Gods, but we should think of the divine Spirit and authentic human flesh.

In every way that we humans can speak of our humanity and our relationship to God, so could Jesus, except for sin. Yet He could also speak and act as God. For example, He could sleep one minute and calm the storm the next minute. He could speak as a human and then as God, while being both simultaneously.

We must always remember that Jesus is fully God and not merely an anointed man. At the same time, He was fully human, not having just an appearance of humanity. He had a dual nature unlike anything we have, and we cannot adequately compare our existence or experience to His. What would seem strange or impossible if applied to a mere human becomes understandable when viewed in the context of One who is both fully God and fully human at the same time.
 

gb9

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2011
12,394
6,734
113
#2
also, during the when He stilled the storm, Christ the man was asleep , he was tired.

Christ , God in the flesh, stood up and spoke to the winds, the storm stopped.
 

Burn1986

Active member
Mar 4, 2024
918
212
43
#3
From the Bible we see that Jesus Christ had two distinct natures in a way that no other human being has ever had. One nature is human or fleshly; the other nature is divine or Spirit. Jesus was both fully man and fully God. The name Jesus refers to the eternal Spirit of God (the Father) dwelling in the flesh. We can use the name Jesus when describing either aspect or both. For example, when we say Jesus died on the cross, we mean His flesh died on the cross. When we say Jesus lives in our hearts, we mean His Spirit is there.

Below is a comparative list that will illustrate what we mean when we say Jesus had two natures or a dual nature.

View attachment 262592


We can resolve most questions about the Godhead if we properly understand the dual nature of Jesus. When we read a statement in Scripture about Jesus we should determine whether it describes His deity, His humanity, or both. Moreover, whenever Jesus speaks in Scripture we must determine whether He is speaking from His position as a human, as God, or both. We should not think of two persons in the Godhead or of two Gods, but we should think of the divine Spirit and authentic human flesh.

In every way that we humans can speak of our humanity and our relationship to God, so could Jesus, except for sin. Yet He could also speak and act as God. For example, He could sleep one minute and calm the storm the next minute. He could speak as a human and then as God, while being both simultaneously.

We must always remember that Jesus is fully God and not merely an anointed man. At the same time, He was fully human, not having just an appearance of humanity. He had a dual nature unlike anything we have, and we cannot adequately compare our existence or experience to His. What would seem strange or impossible if applied to a mere human becomes understandable when viewed in the context of One who is both fully God and fully human at the same time.
Good points, this might explain how he saw Nathaniel “under the fig tree, before Philip found you.” This would allude to the Father seeing/ hearing Nathaniel praying under the fig tree.
 
Sep 24, 2012
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#4
Good points, this might explain how he saw Nathaniel “under the fig tree, before Philip found you.” This would allude to the Father seeing/ hearing Nathaniel praying under the fig tree.
Or he might have just been being honest, and he saw him under the fig tree!
 

Burn1986

Active member
Mar 4, 2024
918
212
43
#5
Or he might have just been being honest, and he saw him under the fig tree!
Didn’t you just go into a long thing about Jesus’ two natures, with one being fully God? And then you reply with that? C’mon man lol

You know Nathaniel immediately started to worship Him after He said that right?
 
Sep 24, 2012
604
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#7
Didn’t you just go into a long thing about Jesus’ two natures, with one being fully God? And then you reply with that? C’mon man lol

You know Nathaniel immediately started to worship Him after He said that right?
Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. Maybe Jesus telling him that was enough for Nathaniel to believe?
 

Burn1986

Active member
Mar 4, 2024
918
212
43
#8
Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. Maybe Jesus telling him that was enough for Nathaniel to believe?
Well if God sees and hears all prayers and Jesus was God, then it would make sense, since the fig tree is where they prayed back then.
 
Sep 24, 2012
604
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#9
Well if God sees and hears all prayers and Jesus was God, then it would make sense, since the fig tree is where they prayed back then.
I think it might be because Jesus was just honest with him that he believed. Jesus said he is meek and lowly in heart, so maybe for Jesus to tell him that it was enough for him to believe?
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,643
5,906
113
#10
From the Bible we see that Jesus Christ had two distinct natures in a way that no other human being has ever had. One nature is human or fleshly; the other nature is divine or Spirit. Jesus was both fully man and fully God. The name Jesus refers to the eternal Spirit of God (the Father) dwelling in the flesh. We can use the name Jesus when describing either aspect or both. For example, when we say Jesus died on the cross, we mean His flesh died on the cross. When we say Jesus lives in our hearts, we mean His Spirit is there.

Below is a comparative list that will illustrate what we mean when we say Jesus had two natures or a dual nature.

View attachment 262592


We can resolve most questions about the Godhead if we properly understand the dual nature of Jesus. When we read a statement in Scripture about Jesus we should determine whether it describes His deity, His humanity, or both. Moreover, whenever Jesus speaks in Scripture we must determine whether He is speaking from His position as a human, as God, or both. We should not think of two persons in the Godhead or of two Gods, but we should think of the divine Spirit and authentic human flesh.

In every way that we humans can speak of our humanity and our relationship to God, so could Jesus, except for sin. Yet He could also speak and act as God. For example, He could sleep one minute and calm the storm the next minute. He could speak as a human and then as God, while being both simultaneously.

We must always remember that Jesus is fully God and not merely an anointed man. At the same time, He was fully human, not having just an appearance of humanity. He had a dual nature unlike anything we have, and we cannot adequately compare our existence or experience to His. What would seem strange or impossible if applied to a mere human becomes understandable when viewed in the context of One who is both fully God and fully human at the same time.
“From the Bible we see that Jesus Christ had two distinct natures in a way that no other human being has ever had. One nature is human or fleshly; the other nature is divine or Spirit.”

Man has always had flesh and a spirit and after they ate the fruit they began to be in conflict between good and evil

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We were created

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground,

and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;

and man became a living soul.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“All the while my breath is in me, And the spirit of God is in my nostrils;”
‭‭Job‬ ‭27:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

when we die

“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was:

and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬


Christian’s also have the same condition

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:16-17‬ ‭

“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:8‬ ‭

me hen they ate the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil , it created a duel nature within mankind through the flesh they we’re tempted and fell corrupting themselves

“And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man,

for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:3‬ ‭

The new testement deals alot with that duel nature in mankind of our flesh and spirit

“I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭7:21-23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

man wasnt created to be conflicted like tbat between good and evil flesh and spirit when they are the fruit it caused the conflict within mankind that Roman’s seven is discussing how we can truly want to do what’s right inside but then we can also be continually tempted to do evil though our flesh and from the world around us that the flesh belongs to

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:50‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Man is literally comprised of a body of flesh , and inside that body is a spirit of life that was given to us by God at creation. That’s what makes us a living soul the issue is the corruption that happened through Adam to our nature it made it a duel nature drawn to both good and evil through the corrupt and forbidden knowledge

were designed to just walk after what God tells us as truth and not decide between good and evil ourselves but just follow the good God sets before us now we’re consumEd with a conflict good and evil both trying to grasp at our souls

jesus came and partook of that duel nature and followed the spirit of God the whole time overcoming the flesh and temptations we fall to
 
May 1, 2022
565
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#11
Jesus Had a Complete, But Sinless, Human Nature
The truth lies somewhere in between these historical views expressed by various theologians. That Jesus had a complete human nature and the complete divine nature at the same time is the teaching of Scripture, but we cannot separate these two natures in His earthly life. It is apparent that Jesus was human in will, mind, spirit, soul, and body, but it is equally apparent that He had the fullness of the Godhead resident in His flesh. From our finite view, humanity and deity were inseparably joined in His one Spirit.

The divine Spirit could be separated from the human body by death, but His humanity was more than a human body—the shell of a human—with God inside. He was human in body, soul, and spirit with the fullness of the Spirit of God dwelling in that body, soul, and spirit. Jesus differed from an ordinary human (who can be filled with the Spirit of God) in that He had all of God’s nature within Him. He possessed the unlimited power, authority, and character of God.

Furthermore, in contrast to a born-again, Spirit-filled human, the Spirit of God was inextricably and inseparably joined with the humanity of Jesus. Without the Spirit of God there would have been only a lifeless human that would not have been Jesus Christ. Only in these terms can we describe and distinguish the two natures in Jesus; we know that He could act and speak from either role, but we also know that the two natures were not actually separated in Him. With our finite minds, we can make only a distinction and not a separation in the two natures that blended perfectly in Him.

Although Jesus had a complete human nature, He did not have the sinful nature of fallen humanity. If He would have had a sinful nature, He would have sinned. However, we know He neither had a sinful nature nor committed sinful acts. He was without sin, He did not sin, and sin was not in Him (Hebrews 4:15; I Peter 2:22; I John 3:5). Since He did not have a human father, He did not inherit a sinful nature from fallen Adam. Instead, He came as the last Adam, with an innocent nature like Adam had in the beginning (Romans 5:12-21; I Corinthians 15:45-49). Jesus had a complete, but sinless, human nature.

The Bible does indicate that Jesus had a human will as well as the divine will. He prayed to the Father, saying, “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). John 6:38 shows the existence of two wills: He came not to do His own will (human will) but to do the Father’s will (the divine will).

That Jesus was a human in spirit seems evident when He spoke on the cross, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). Although it is difficult to distinguish between the divine and human aspects of His Spirit, some references seemingly focus upon the human aspect. For example, “he sighed deeply in his spirit” (Mark 8:12), “waxed strong in spirit” (Luke 2:40), “rejoiced in spirit” (Luke 10:21), “groaned in the spirit” (John 11:33), and “was troubled in spirit” (John 13:21).

Jesus was human in soul, for He said, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death” (Matthew 26:38; see Mark 14:34), and “Now is my soul troubled” (John 12:27). Upon His death, His soul visited hell (Greek hades—the grave or the underworld of departed souls), just as all souls did before Calvary (Acts 2:27). The difference was that the Spirit of God in Jesus would not let His soul stay in hell (Acts 2:27, 31); instead He conquered hell (again, hades) and death (Revelation 1:18).

The human soul and spirit of Jesus was inseparably bound to the divine Spirit, so that He had one Spirit, not two. Otherwise, Jesus could have lived as a man even with the eternal Spirit taken away from Him. This did not and could not happen, since Jesus is God in flesh, and as God He never changes (Hebrews 13:8).

If we do not accept that Jesus was fully human, then the scriptural references to His temptations lose meaning (Matthew 4:1-11; Hebrews 2:16-18; 4:14-16). So does the description of His struggle and agony in Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-44). Two passages in Hebrews point out that since Jesus was tempted as we are, He qualifies as our High Priest, understands us perfectly, and helps us in our infirmities: “In all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren” (Hebrews 2:17). “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

Hebrews 5:7-8 says, “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared; though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” These verses do not present a picture of someone unaffected by the emotions of fears and doubts. Rather, they describe someone who possessed these human weaknesses; He had to subdue the human will and submit to the eternal Spirit.

As a genuine human, Christ prayed, cried, learned obedience, and suffered. The Spirit of God was in control and God was faithful to His own plan, but as a human Jesus had to obtain help from the Spirit and, had to learn obedience to the divine plan. Surely all these verses of Scripture show that Jesus was fully human—that He had every attribute of humanity except the sinful nature inherited from the Fall. If we deny the humanity of Jesus, we encounter a problem with the concept of redemption and atonement. Not being fully human, could His sacrifice be sufficient to redeem us? Could He really be a true substitute for us in death? Could He truly qualify as our kinsman redeemer?
 

Burn1986

Active member
Mar 4, 2024
918
212
43
#12
I think it might be because Jesus was just honest with him that he believed. Jesus said he is meek and lowly in heart, so maybe for Jesus to tell him that it was enough for him to believe?
Sure, if there was nothing special or spiritual about Jesus’s reply to Nathaniel, just one of Jesus’s off-handed neutral no-meaning replies. Like he said “Hey, saw you today.” Nathaniel should’ve just replied “Okay…”
 
Sep 24, 2012
604
160
43
#13
Sure, if there was nothing special or spiritual about Jesus’s reply to Nathaniel, just one of Jesus’s off-handed neutral no-meaning replies. Like he said “Hey, saw you today.” Nathaniel should’ve just replied “Okay…”
I read the surrounding verses. Jesus tells Nathaniel something about him and then when Nathaniel asks how Jesus knows him he said he saw him under the fig tree. Jesus knows all men so perhaps Nathaniel knew that he would have to be the Son of God to know that about him by looking at him.
 

Burn1986

Active member
Mar 4, 2024
918
212
43
#14
I read the surrounding verses. Jesus tells Nathaniel something about him and then when Nathaniel asks how Jesus knows him he said he saw him under the fig tree. Jesus knows all men so perhaps Nathaniel knew that he would have to be the Son of God to know that about him by looking at him.
Wow, you almost acknowledged some connection between Jesus and God.
 
Sep 24, 2012
604
160
43
#15
Wow, you almost acknowledged some connection between Jesus and God.
Huh? Sorry, I wasn't trying to feud with you or anything. I was just talking about the verses. I didn't pick up on the significance of what you were saying about people praying under the fig tree, I was just talking about the verses. Thanks for sharing that.
 

Burn1986

Active member
Mar 4, 2024
918
212
43
#16
Huh? Sorry, I wasn't trying to feud with you or anything. I was just talking about the verses. I didn't pick up on the significance of what you were saying about people praying under the fig tree, I was just talking about the verses. Thanks for sharing that.
Eh, you’re right. My attitude was a little argumentative. I appreciate your patience with my hard headedness:)
 
Sep 24, 2012
604
160
43
#17
Eh, you’re right. My attitude was a little argumentative. I appreciate your patience with my hard headedness:)
Thanks for sharing about praying under the fig tree, I would not have known that otherwise. I must have frustrated you by completely ignoring what you said about that, lol.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,643
5,906
113
#18
Jesus Had a Complete, But Sinless, Human Nature
The truth lies somewhere in between these historical views expressed by various theologians. That Jesus had a complete human nature and the complete divine nature at the same time is the teaching of Scripture, but we cannot separate these two natures in His earthly life. It is apparent that Jesus was human in will, mind, spirit, soul, and body, but it is equally apparent that He had the fullness of the Godhead resident in His flesh. From our finite view, humanity and deity were inseparably joined in His one Spirit.

The divine Spirit could be separated from the human body by death, but His humanity was more than a human body—the shell of a human—with God inside. He was human in body, soul, and spirit with the fullness of the Spirit of God dwelling in that body, soul, and spirit. Jesus differed from an ordinary human (who can be filled with the Spirit of God) in that He had all of God’s nature within Him. He possessed the unlimited power, authority, and character of God.

Furthermore, in contrast to a born-again, Spirit-filled human, the Spirit of God was inextricably and inseparably joined with the humanity of Jesus. Without the Spirit of God there would have been only a lifeless human that would not have been Jesus Christ. Only in these terms can we describe and distinguish the two natures in Jesus; we know that He could act and speak from either role, but we also know that the two natures were not actually separated in Him. With our finite minds, we can make only a distinction and not a separation in the two natures that blended perfectly in Him.

Although Jesus had a complete human nature, He did not have the sinful nature of fallen humanity. If He would have had a sinful nature, He would have sinned. However, we know He neither had a sinful nature nor committed sinful acts. He was without sin, He did not sin, and sin was not in Him (Hebrews 4:15; I Peter 2:22; I John 3:5). Since He did not have a human father, He did not inherit a sinful nature from fallen Adam. Instead, He came as the last Adam, with an innocent nature like Adam had in the beginning (Romans 5:12-21; I Corinthians 15:45-49). Jesus had a complete, but sinless, human nature.

The Bible does indicate that Jesus had a human will as well as the divine will. He prayed to the Father, saying, “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). John 6:38 shows the existence of two wills: He came not to do His own will (human will) but to do the Father’s will (the divine will).

That Jesus was a human in spirit seems evident when He spoke on the cross, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). Although it is difficult to distinguish between the divine and human aspects of His Spirit, some references seemingly focus upon the human aspect. For example, “he sighed deeply in his spirit” (Mark 8:12), “waxed strong in spirit” (Luke 2:40), “rejoiced in spirit” (Luke 10:21), “groaned in the spirit” (John 11:33), and “was troubled in spirit” (John 13:21).

Jesus was human in soul, for He said, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death” (Matthew 26:38; see Mark 14:34), and “Now is my soul troubled” (John 12:27). Upon His death, His soul visited hell (Greek hades—the grave or the underworld of departed souls), just as all souls did before Calvary (Acts 2:27). The difference was that the Spirit of God in Jesus would not let His soul stay in hell (Acts 2:27, 31); instead He conquered hell (again, hades) and death (Revelation 1:18).

The human soul and spirit of Jesus was inseparably bound to the divine Spirit, so that He had one Spirit, not two. Otherwise, Jesus could have lived as a man even with the eternal Spirit taken away from Him. This did not and could not happen, since Jesus is God in flesh, and as God He never changes (Hebrews 13:8).

If we do not accept that Jesus was fully human, then the scriptural references to His temptations lose meaning (Matthew 4:1-11; Hebrews 2:16-18; 4:14-16). So does the description of His struggle and agony in Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-44). Two passages in Hebrews point out that since Jesus was tempted as we are, He qualifies as our High Priest, understands us perfectly, and helps us in our infirmities: “In all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren” (Hebrews 2:17). “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

Hebrews 5:7-8 says, “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared; though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” These verses do not present a picture of someone unaffected by the emotions of fears and doubts. Rather, they describe someone who possessed these human weaknesses; He had to subdue the human will and submit to the eternal Spirit.

As a genuine human, Christ prayed, cried, learned obedience, and suffered. The Spirit of God was in control and God was faithful to His own plan, but as a human Jesus had to obtain help from the Spirit and, had to learn obedience to the divine plan. Surely all these verses of Scripture show that Jesus was fully human—that He had every attribute of humanity except the sinful nature inherited from the Fall. If we deny the humanity of Jesus, we encounter a problem with the concept of redemption and atonement. Not being fully human, could His sacrifice be sufficient to redeem us? Could He really be a true substitute for us in death? Could He truly qualify as our kinsman redeemer?
The flesh is the key to understanding temptation .

God is a spirit he cannot be tempted

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
‭‭John‬ ‭4:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Man has a body of flesh that can be tempted

“And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:38‬ ‭

before Jesus was born God hadn’t been in the flesh and had no kinship with sinners no fellowship with our infirmities had never been touched with temptations because he isn’t flesh

jesus took on the flesh that can be tempted and so he was tempted through the flesh just like we all are by the world around us that appeals to our flesh

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:15‬ ‭

He experienced the exact same feelings of the ration we all do it was genuine temptation the difference in us and him is that we’ve all sinned and fallen to temptations Jesus never did in all his days of his flesh he never once sinned or yielded to temptations

“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5:7-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

jesus time in the flesh , is different than before he was born or after he returned to heavens throne he tooo on mankind’s role in creation he took on adams role

“which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭3:38‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As the ruler of earth the man Jesus Christ and the ruler of heaven God the father one and the same but now we have an intercessors and high priest who knows our plight
 

Burn1986

Active member
Mar 4, 2024
918
212
43
#19
Thanks for sharing about praying under the fig tree, I would not have known that otherwise. I must have frustrated you by completely ignoring what you said about that, lol.
I did some checking and the fig tree was also a semi-meeting place for those waiting for the Messiah. :)