Jesus Uniquely Reveals God – Despite Chopra or Opra, Tulle or Dali
In an age that takes pride in the diversity of ideas and a plurality of religions, the claim of Jesus in Luke 10:22b is striking and bold. “No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Luke 10:22b).
The opening words are clear. “No one” is all-inclusive and excludes….well “no one.” If someone knows Jesus, then necessarily they know who God is. Alternatively, anyone who does not know Jesus cannot know who God is. This is a stunning rebuke to anyone who suggests all roads lead to God.
So, what about Islam, Judaism, or other world religions that claim to reveal God? In what sense can they reveal God if they bypass Jesus?
You see, Jesus stands in a unique relationship to God and, as such, is uniquely qualified to reveal who God is. It is impossible for anyone else to stand in the same unique place and be the sole mediator of knowledge of God. Therefore, all forms of religious pluralism fall flat (see my The Mystery Of God Incarnate for a critique of religious pluralism. See also Paul Copan’s fine article “Not Letting Jesus Be Jesus: Some Responses to Religious Pluralism”). Any teaching antithetical to Jesus’ revelation of God fails, including the teachings of Deepak Chopra or Opra, Eckhart Tulle or the Dali Lama.
On a more personal note, if Jesus has not revealed God to you, then you do not know God. This is because only those to whom Jesus reveals God are those who rightly know God. Did you get that? If Jesus has not revealed God to you, then you do not know God. This is hard…hard…HARD teaching! But don’t be angry with me because I told you so. Take it up with Jesus.
The implications are clear:
- To know God we must know Jesus.
- To know Jesus is to be known by him.
