Expert: x - 4/9/2006

Question
Hi there,

my friend and are are discussing who is right in our debate.. How old would jesus be today?

Thanks

Answer
Hello Karl,

That's a great question. But it's got 2 answers- both of which are correct. First of all- Jesus, being God Himself has existed since before (our) time even began. Jesus wasn't "born" in that sense, that is to say- He didn't come into existence on His bithday here on earth- like us.

"This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time..." 2Timothy 1:8-9

However, not only is Jesus God--

"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." Colossians 1:15-19.

-He is also human, and came into our world- into our time frame and became one of us. He lived for approximately 33 years, and was killed, and was ressurrected.

Now, what is interesting is- when Jesus was ressurrected- when He came back to life, He still had His wounds with Him. The wounds in His hands and feet and side--

"He said, "Peace be with you."  27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!" 28 "My Lord and my God!" Thomas exclaimed" John 20:27-28

So Jesus exited Heaven which exists outside of our normal spacetime. He entered linear time, lived here for 33 years, was murdered, and came back to life still bearing the marks of His death. Jesus will always, for eternity, have these marks. In fact it has been said that the only manmade things in Heaven are Jesus' wounds. His physical human body stopped aging when he was ressurrected. He will have that body forever.

Now that Jesus has reenterd timelessness, a place outside of time, in Heaven, He will always have the body of a (wounded) 33year old male. If you saw Him walking down the street right now, you would think you were looking at a normal 33 year old man. In fact, once after Jesus was raised from the dead, he walked up behind some of His disciples and had a conversation with them, and they spoke to Him, not recognizing Him, thinking he was just another person.--

17: And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad.
18: Then one of them, named Cle'opas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
19: And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.." Luke 24:18-19

Over and over again in the Bible, Jesus is called- "holy". This word, holy, has many meanings, but one of them is complete, mature, whole. Jesus, at the age of 33 was mature. He wasn't a child, he wasn't an old man. So I think it is a safe bet that God considers 33 to be the perfect physical age for maturation- anything before that is young, anything after is older. So it's been speculated that, physically at least, all of us will appear to be 33 years old in Heaven. The old concept of babies playing harps in Heaven is outrageous. God would never keep someone as a baby forever, neither would he put us in aged bodies that were falling apart forever. There is no time in heaven.

So, Jesus would appear to be 33, forever, and yet, he has always existed, even before time began- before the universe was created He existed. In fact, God's name given to Moses in the Bible-- "I AM" in Hebrew implies 3 different tenses all at once- I WAS, I AM, and I WILL BE. Jesus in that sense, is timeless. He had no beginning like us. Before I was born, for example, before I was conceived- I didn't exist.

Hope I answered your question.