@hippyjoe1955: Again sir, you STILL didn't explain [Matthew 19:17].
“If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”
Because you know, if you explain it, your whole belief system will collapse!
Anyways ....
If anything, these verses you mentioned prove clearly that Jesus was a prophet of God. And I don't know why you use the term "simply prophet". Being a prophet is the greatest honer a human being can have. It's not for every and anyone, it's only for the best of the best of mankind.
"My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all."
Jesus is saying that God is greater than everything.. which means, including himself. If he was god, nothing should be greater than him. But he was a prophet who received a message from God.
Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
Jesus over here is rebuking the Jews for how they don't understand scripture. Jesus then says that if he does the works of the Father (obviously because nothing he does is of his own authority and he is doing what God is commanding) then they should believe that he is God's son (son of God in the sense that he is serving God) and that they will know that the Father is in him and that he is in the Father (this shows ONENESS OF PURPOSE).
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”
Here, Jesus is exposing the REAL REASON they wanted to kill him, it was because they didn't want to listen to his message. He didn't defend himself to be god.. he is clearly defending the message he received FROM God!!
“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.”
This is as clear as the sun!
Jesus said that he was a MAN sent by GOD!!
In other words, a Prophet of God. A great prophet of God.
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Jesus here said that he did not come ON HIS OWN but was SENT BY GOD!.. a true god should be able to do things on his own.. otherwise, he is not God!!
It seems that Jesus' language is not clear to you either sir!!!
Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”
Jesus (peace be upon him) said that he OBEYS the word of God.. which means that he submits his will to God.. Anyone who SUBMITS HIS WILL TO GOD is called (in Arabic) MUSLIM!!
before Abraham was born, I AM!
Hmm .. is "I AM" really "the holiest name of God"? Or is it also used for other people in The Bible?
[John Chapter 9, verses 8-9]
“The neighbours and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, ‘Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some said, ‘It is he’; others said, ‘No, but he is like him.’ He said, ‘I am.’”
No one has ever suggested that the blind man above is claiming to be God!
P.S. I still don't see where did Jesus say that he "died for your sins".
Hmm.. wait! I know why!!
Just go back to [Matthew 19:17] and you will have your answer.