(March 30, 2013 at 7:18 am)Tonus Wrote: Jehovah's Witnesses hold that Jesus is a separate person from Jehovah God. As far as the price of atonement, I cannot recall that they ever considered the question. He gave up life as a perfect flesh-and-blood human, which is what Adam "sacrificed" when he sinned. It's one of those things that I didn't think about until much later, the notion of what was really lost. Jesus did two things-- dirtied his hands by becoming a human, and gave up a human body. Given his long life to that point (presumably thousands, if not billions of years already) and that he had eternity ahead of him, neither seems like much of a price to pay. If his status in heaven is somehow lowered by the act, it might almost be considered a sacrifice, but what does that lower status amount to?
Jesus as god (highest on the ladder) or as god's son (second on the ladder) is about as high as status gets. Did someone else supersede him? Does Gabriel get the pick of biscuits from the breakfast tray before Jesus now? Does Jesus only get the second best harp to play? Is it that he has to stand there, red-faced, and pretend that he doesn't hear the angels giggling when he walks past? I don't know of any tangible loss that isn't based on something (status) that we're told doesn't really matter as Christians. The lowest among you shall be the most exalted, after all. By humbling himself, Jesus could only gain status. I don't see that he really sacrificed anything of value.
From what I have read, Christ's jobs include: Final Judge, General of the Angel armies (As He leads them to usher in the final battle) He also described as ruling "New Earth." Meaning He is Physically Here with those of us who make it to Heaven/New Earth. (Not with the other members of the God Head in Heaven.)
What did He loose? Before He was God, now He is a servant of God. The difference is the one between being the store Manager and owning said store. Or a 5 star General vs President.. Jesus is said to preside over this world, God is still Master and Maker of the rest of Creation. That's a pretty big demotion if you think about it. Going from Ruler/Creator of everything, to managing the 1/2 monkeies who cost you your job.
