Would Jesus Win a Nobel Prize?

No doubt, it is a great honor to receive a Nobel Prize. Every year since 1901 the Nobel Prize has been awarded for achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and for peace. The Nobel Prize is an international award administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank established The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Prize. Each prize consists of a medal, personal diploma, and a cash award.Each year the respective Nobel Committees send individual invitations to thousands of members of academies, university professors, scientists from numerous countries, previous Nobel Laureates, members of parliamentary assemblies and others, asking them to submit candidates for the Nobel Prizes for the coming year. These nominators are chosen in such a way that as many countries and universities as possible are represented over time.

The Nobel Laureates take center stage in Stockholm on 10 December when they receive the Nobel Prize Medal, Nobel Prize Diploma and document confirming the Nobel Prize amount from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. In Oslo, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates receive their Nobel Peace Prize from the Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in the presence of King Harald V of Norway. An important part is the presentation of the Nobel Lectures by the Nobel Laureates. In Stockholm, the lectures are presented days before the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony. In Oslo, the Nobel Laureates deliver their lectures during the Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony.

Among 777 individuals and 20 organizations such notables as Martin Luther King (Peace in 1964), Desmond Tutu (Peace in 1984), Elie Wiesel (Peace in 1986), Toni Morrison (Literature in 1993), and Albert Gore (Peace in 2007) have all received Nobel Prizes.

As these honored prizes were being awarded this week I was wondering if Jesus would receive such a prize?

He might receive the award in Physics. In 1901 the very first Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Wilhelm Röntgen for his discovery of X-rays. In more recent years, the Physics Nobel Prize has been awarded for both pioneering discoveries and groundbreaking inventions. Jesus held physics within the palm of his hand when he multiplied five loaves and two fish to feed five thousand (Lk 9.12-17). The disciples were amazed when he calmed the storm and said, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!” Jesus created atoms, protons, neutrons, quantum optics and so on. So perhaps Jesus would be nominated for the Nobel Prize in the area of Physics.

Perhaps Jesus would win the prize in Chemistry. In 1901 the very first Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Jacobus H. van ‘t Hoff for his work on rates of reaction, chemical equilibrium, and osmotic pressure. The book of Hebrews tells us God, “through His Son…made the worlds” and “upholds all things by the word of His power” (Heb 1.2-3). In other words, Jesus created chemicals, chemical reactions, DNA, The Periodic Table of Elements, and the like. Jesus holds all elements together by His power. Psalm 102.25-27, which refers to God as the Creator can be applied to the Son-for the Son is God. So he says in verses 10-12, “And, “Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of thy hands. They will perish, but thou remainest, and they all will become old as a garment, and as a mantle thou wilt roll them up, as a garment they will also be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will not come to an end.” So, maybe since He created Chemistry, Jesus would be nominated for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Maybe Jesus would win The Nobel Prize in Medicine. This prize has subsequently highlighted a number of important discoveries including penicillin, genetic engineering and blood-typing. In Luke 7 Jesus raised a widow’s son from the dead. In Matthew 8 Jesus heals a leper just by touching him. In Mark 5 a man by the name of Jairus sees his daughter healed and raised back to life. God created man in His own image. Therefore, Jesus created blood, cells, organs, eyes, hearts, etc… Therefore it is likely Jesus would receive a Nobel Prize in the area of Medicine.

What about Literature? The very first Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded in 1901 to the French poet and philosopher Sully Prudhomme, who in his poetry showed the “rare combination of the qualities of both heart and intellect”. The words of Jesus have been read by more people in history around the world than any other person. His words have changed lives, healed broken hearts, set people upon a path called straight. Yes, the words of Jesus have personally changed my life therefore, He must be nominated for this prize. The beloved disciple John said, “There are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (Jn 21.25).

Would Jesus win the prize for peace? The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded for work in a wide range of fields including advocacy of human rights, mediation of international conflicts, and arms control. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah said, “His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9.6). Therefore, the government of Jesus will perpetuate peace among the nations of the world. Looking forward to this peace Micah says, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nations shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore” (Micah 4:3). Jesus is our peace. Apart from Him, we do not have His peace (Eph 2.14, 17). Surely, Jesus would win this prize!

Finally would the Nobel Prize in Economics be awarded to Jesus? In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden’s central bank) established this Prize in memory of Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Prize. The first Prize in Economics was awarded to Ragnar Frisch and Jan Tinbergen in 1969. I turn to Isaiah 9.6-7, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.” All nations, governments, presidents, kings and patriarchs will bow before Him and worship. So yes, Jesus should also win the Nobel Prize in Economics.

However, John says, “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (Jn 1.10-11). As Creator, the world belongs to Jesus as His property but the world did not even recognize Him due to spiritual blindness; and still doesn’t. “He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him” (Is 53.3). Jesus is rejected by the world and they do not honor Him as God. As honored and respected as the Nobel Prize is for one to receive, Jesus sits in Heaven enthroned in glorious splendor and light with crowns of righteousness and justice upon His head (Rev 4). The rewards of this earth will one day be reduced to dust and the memory of them fade, but Jesus says, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last” (Rev 22.12-13).

Filed under: Cultural Issues, Jesus