Jesus the Deceiver

Shawn McCraney emphasizes the importance of Jesus' role in revealing the nature and character of the true and living God, highlighting how Jesus, as an Israelite, adhered to the Law and identified the greatest commandment as loving God with all one's heart and soul, as stated in the Great Shema. By affirming these commandments, Jesus not only declared the singularity of God but also endorsed love as fundamental, highlighting its supremacy over all offerings and sacrifices, resonating with the scribe in the Gospel of Mark and underscoring His mission to teach eternal life through understanding God.

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus and a scribe discuss the foremost commandment known as the Great Shema, emphasizing the singular identity of God by stating, "The Lord our God, the Lord is one," which both agree means God is a single 'He' rather than a 'what'. This dialogue challenges the Trinitarian view, as it reflects that Jesus, as an observant Israelite, affirms and obeys the Shema by recognizing God as one person, highlighting a monotheistic understanding of God rather than a triune interpretation.

Jesus upheld the Great Shema by recognizing and worshiping only His Father as the one true God, demonstrating His obedience to the Law by loving Him with all His heart, soul, and strength. This teaching challenges the Trinitarian interpretation by emphasizing Jesus' clear understanding and living demonstration of this commandment, showing that He did not secretly perceive God as a trinity but rather as the singular "He" described in the Shema.

In this teaching, Shawn emphasizes that Jesus viewed and obeyed God as the One True God, consistent with the singular entity described in the Great Shema, rather than as a complex unity of multiple persons. He challenges Trinitarian interpretations by highlighting that Jesus' recorded life reflects a devotion to a singular, unified God, rather than a triune deity.