According to the Watchtower, Jesus was “a perfect man—nothing more, nothing less—and the exact counterpart of the once perfect Adam.” (The Watchtower, “Appreciating the Salvation of Our God,” 8/1/73, p. 465)

Adam was created perfect and sinless and placed in a garden paradise, yet in a short time he failed miserably.

Jesus was born into a sin-infested world.

If, as the Watchtower claims, Jesus wasn’t God in human flesh, there would be constant risks that he might fail as well.

By the Watchtower’s own reckoning, in order to succeed, Jesus would have to:

  • Learn Jehovah’s will for his life
  • Live a completely sinless life / overcome temptations perfectly
  • Make Jehovah’s name known throughout Israel
  • Preach the good news of Jehovah’s Kingdom everywhere he went
  • Choose disciples wisely
  • Teach Jehovah’s words faithfully
  • Model obedience to Jehovah perfectly
  • Vindicate Jehovah’s sovereignty in the face of Satan’s challenge
  • Endure suffering perfectly to the end
  • Make the ransom sacrifice by going through horrendous suffering and death
  • Leave faithful, well-trained disciples to carry on

 Remember also that according to Watchtower doctrine, it wasn’t until he was baptized at age 30 that “the heavens were opened up” so that he could discern heavenly things.

“As Jesus prayed, the heavens opened, and the holy spirit descended upon him. Imagine the flood of memories that came to mind as he recalled the countless millenniums he had served alongside his Father, as master worker, spokesman, prince of God’s army, and as the archangel Michael.” (The Watchtower, “Jesus—The Ruler ‘Whose Origin Is From Early Times,” 6/15/98, p. 25)

It was only from that time forward that “… Jesus now fully remembers his life as a spirit son of God, including all the things God had spoken to him.” (The Watchtower, “Learning From Jesus’ Temptations,” 10/1/85, p. 24)

What if he had failed?

Would that have ended mankind’s hope for salvation?

If the Watchtower’s Christology were correct, I don’t see why it should.

Almighty God certainly wouldn’t just let Satan win, would he?

Remember, the Watchtower believes that Jehovah had a choice of possible saviors at the time he selected Michael / Jesus: “How did Jehovah provide the ransom? He sent one of his perfect spirit sons to the earth. But Jehovah did not send just any spirit creature. He sent the one most precious to him, his only-begotten Son.” (What Does the Bible Really Teach?, p. 50)

Well, if that didn’t work, why not try again by starting over with Gabriel?

And if Gabriel failed also, well, Revelation 5:11 tells us there are “myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands” of angels in heaven from which to choose.

I admit that I am saying many of these thing facetiously in order to show the bankruptcy of the Watchtower’s Christology.

Contrast that with what the Bible actually tells us about the uniqueness of Jesus.

  • John 1:1, 14 (ESV, not the Watchtower translation): “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
  • John 14:9 (Watchtower translation): “Jesus said to him: ‘Even after I have been with you men for such a long time, Philip, have you not come to know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father also. How is it you say, “Show us the Father”’?”
  • Hebrews 1:3 (Watchtower translation): “He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact representation of his very being, and he sustains all things by the word of his power. And after he had made a purification for our sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
  •  Isaiah 12:2 (Watchtower translation): “Look! God is my salvation.I will trust and feel no dread, for Jehovah is my strength and my might, and he has become my salvation.”