--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is impossible to read the Gospels or…" description: "\"“It is impossible to read the Gospels or Paul and come away with the impression that Jesus of Nazareth thought of Himself as a mere man. Jesus said muc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/rice-broocks-44244_heaven-and-earth_it-is-impossible-to-read-the-gospels-or_2507270.jpg" --- # It is impossible to read the Gospels or Paul and come away… ![“It is impossible to read the Gospels or Paul and come away with the impression that Jesus of Nazareth thought of Himself as a mere man. Jesus said much about Himself that would have been outlandish if He were just a man. “I am the light of the world.” —John 8:12 “Heaven and earth will pass away…” quote by Rice Broocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/rice-broocks-44244_heaven-and-earth_it-is-impossible-to-read-the-gospels-or_2507270.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/rice-broocks-44244_heaven-and-earth_it-is-impossible-to-read-the-gospels-or_2507270.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/rice-broocks-44244_heaven-and-earth_it-is-impossible-to-read-the-gospels-or_2507270.jpg) > ““It is impossible to read the Gospels or Paul and come away with the impression that Jesus of Nazareth thought of Himself as a mere man. Jesus said much about Himself that would have been outlandish if He were just a man. “I am the light of the world.” —John 8:12 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” —Mark 13:31 “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” —Matthew 18:20 NKJV The prophets who spoke for God prefaced their statements with the phrase, “Thus says the Lord.” But when Jesus spoke, He didn’t say, “Thus says the Lord,” but instead He made comments such as “Truly I say to you.” He spoke in such terms because the Lord was speaking. JESUS DEMONSTRATED HE IS THE MESSIAH”” [Rice Broocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rice-broocks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage argues that Jesus claimed divine identity, not merely human, using titles and statements that assert his eternal authority and presence. **In simple terms:** Jesus claimed to be divine, not just human. Key Takeaway Consider the divine claims of Jesus. Themes faith divinity scripture Mood reverent confident Type theological expository When to use this quote - personal study - teaching - evangelism Key Concepts Christology biblical authority prophecy Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports Jesus’ divinity? - How does this affect your belief? A Different Perspective Interpretations differ across denominations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Heaven and earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-and-earth/) [Jesus Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus-said/) [Jesus Spoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus-spoke-867536/) [Light of the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-of-the-world/) [Lord Speaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord-speaking-1120558/) [Says Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-lord-493266/) [Speaking Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaking-jesus-1120557/) ## Related quotes > [“The Bible offers plenty of metaphoric and poetic descriptions that would be rendered completely ridiculous if taken literally. For example, Jesus said Christians are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-p-gilbert/the-bible-offers-plenty-of-metaphoric-and-poetic-descriptions-that/) [Derek P Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-p-gilbert/) > [When a pastor continually makes light of the character of our Lord by speaking in scatological tones about the Son of Man's bodily functions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-camp/when-a-pastor-continually-makes-light-of-the-character-of-our-lord-by/) [Steve Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-camp/) > [I remember the Lord speaking into my heart and saying, 'Jeremy, I want you to stand up and worship me.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-camp/i-remember-the-lord-speaking-into-my-heart-and-saying-jeremy-i-want/) [Jeremy Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-camp/) > [One of my friends continued to ask me when was I going to start the group. One particular time she asked me, someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-willis/one-of-my-friends-continued-to-ask-me-when-was-i-going-to-start-the/) [Mike Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-willis/) > [“I am not going to apologize for speaking the name of Jesus... If I have to sacrifice everything... I will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-scott/i-am-not-going-to-apologize-for-speaking-the-name-of-jesus-if-i-have/) [Rachel Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-scott/) > [There is power in simply speaking the name Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/there-is-power-in-simply-speaking-the-name-jesus/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [In speaking of Jesus, I must speak about Christianity because I do not think it possible or profitable to divide the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/in-speaking-of-jesus-i-must-speak-about-christianity-because-i-do-not/) [Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/) > [I know that I have to move from speaking about Jesus to letting him speak within me, from thinking about Jesus to letting him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-that-i-have-to-move-from-speaking-about-jesus-to-letting-him/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I get a tremendous thrill out of speaking about Jesus and what He has done for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-bryant/i-get-a-tremendous-thrill-out-of-speaking-about-jesus-and-what-he-has/) [Anita Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-bryant/) > [“It is because in John’s Gospel we are not hearing two voices—the voice of Jesus and the voice of the narrator. We are hearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/it-is-because-in-john-s-gospel-we-are-not-hearing-two-voices-the/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [Jesus spoke in such a way that the people loved the things of God. That’s why they followed him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/jesus-spoke-in-such-a-way-that-the-people-loved-the-things-of-god/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“What’s clear to us is that Jesus is on the road to the cross.  From here on in, things don’t get easier for him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-s-clear-to-us-is-that-jesus-is-on-the-road-to-the-cross-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Make no mistake about it—Jesus extended his holy invitation for rest to you. You are not the grand exception in history that God cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-davis-jr/make-no-mistake-about-it-jesus-extended-his-holy-invitation-for-rest/) [Will Davis Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-davis-jr/) > [Jesus spoke to those who had turned their backs on history. He spoke to those who had blatantly ignored sign after sign, servant after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/jesus-spoke-to-those-who-had-turned-their-backs-on-history-he-spoke/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [I suspect that Jesus spoke many of his parables as a kind of sad and holy joke and that that may be part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/i-suspect-that-jesus-spoke-many-of-his-parables-as-a-kind-of-sad-and/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) ## More by Rice Broocks > [“Atheism and naturalism can’t account for reason. To say that reason came into being for no reason is unreasonable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rice-broocks/atheism-and-naturalism-can-t-account-for-reason-to-say-that-reason/) [Rice Broocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rice-broocks/) > [“Christ didn’t call us into religion but into relationship, relationship with Him and with one another.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rice-broocks/christ-didn-t-call-us-into-religion-but-into-relationship/) [Rice Broocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rice-broocks/) [Explore all 3 Rice Broocks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rice-broocks/) ## More Heaven and earth quotes > [Natural history is not taught in seminary. This is curious, as most people in pastoral ministry are about 567 times more likely to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-maitland/natural-history-is-not-taught-in-seminary-this-is-curious-as-most/) [Sara Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-maitland/) > [When black women are down with you and in your corner, you have an ally that will move Heaven and Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/when-black-women-are-down-with-you-and-in-your-corner-you-have-an/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [“Make peace with yourself, and both heaven and earth will make peace with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-isaac-the-syrian/make-peace-with-yourself-and-both-heaven-and-earth-will-make-peace/) [St. Isaac the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-isaac-the-syrian/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“I’ll move heaven and earth to make you happy, Evie. I want you there when I wake up every morning and there when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-raye-harris/i-ll-move-heaven-and-earth-to-make-you-happy-evie-i-want-you-there/) [Lynn Raye Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-raye-harris/) > [Do not like, do not dislike; all will then be clear. Make a hairbreadth difference and heaven and earth are set apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/do-not-like-do-not-dislike-all-will-then-be-clear-make-a-hairbreadth/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [There is a thing inherent and natural which existed before heaven and earth. Motionless and fathomless, It stands alone and never changes; It pervades…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/there-is-a-thing-inherent-and-natural-which-existed-before-heaven-and/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“Therefore the Tao is great;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/therefore-the-tao-is-great/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“This is what is called 'The mysterious Quality' (of the Tao).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/this-is-what-is-called-the-mysterious-quality-of-the-tao/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [They say that God lives very high! But if you look above the pines You cannot see our God. And why? And if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/they-say-that-god-lives-very-high-but-if-you-look-above-the-pines-you/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [Affection as a essential principle of relatedness is of the greatest importance of relationships in the world. For the union of heaven and earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/affection-as-a-essential-principle-of-relatedness-is-of-the-greatest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As regards the quietude of the sage, he is not quiet because quietness is said to be good. He is quiet because the multitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/as-regards-the-quietude-of-the-sage-he-is-not-quiet-because-quietness/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Ah, there are so many things betwixt heaven and earth of which only the poets have dreamed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/ah-there-are-so-many-things-betwixt-heaven-and-earth-of-which-only/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“We come to conquer this land by his command, that all may come to a knowledge of God and of His Holy Catholic Faith;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-diamond/we-come-to-conquer-this-land-by-his-command-that-all-may-come-to-a/) [Jared Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-diamond/) > [Heaven and earth, advantages and obstacles, conspire to educate genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fuseli/heaven-and-earth-advantages-and-obstacles-conspire-to-educate-genius/) [Henry Fuseli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fuseli/) [Browse all 635 Heaven and earth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-and-earth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is impossible to read the Gospels or Paul and come away with the impression that Jesus of Nazareth thought of Himself as a mere man. 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