Didn’t Jesus Really Know?

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (Matthew 24:36).”

Here’s a very controversial verse about the extent of Christ’s knowledge regarding the end of the world. Didn’t Jesus really know? How come?

The question is deeper than that, actually. If Christ didn’t know, doesn’t that mean that He is less than God? How can He be God and not know? Isn’t God supposed to be all-knowing?

You see, this verse, along with Mark 13:32, has been used by many people in the past to prove that Jesus isn’t God.

The simplest explanation for the interpretation of this verse is this: Jesus was referring to His human self, not His divine self.

When Jesus spoke this controversial words, He was in his physical body. His divinity was veiled by His humanity. Most of His divine powers and knowledge were intentionally hidden behind the limitations of the human flesh.

So it is true that He didn’t know at that time but it’s only because He Himself suspended His own omniscience (because He wanted to be fully human, remember?). Philippians 2:6-7 says Jesus “emptied” Himself when He took the form of a human being. But His period of “not knowing” expired as soon as He was resurrected. When He came back from the dead, His restored to Himself the fullness of His divinity, including, among others, His knowledge of all things.

So if you ask now, “does Jesus know when he is coming back and when the world is going to end?” The answer is a big yes. Of course He does.