(18) Did Jesus Claim to be God?

I have heard people say that Jesus never claimed to be God. Did He? If so, what better argument is there for the deity of Jesus than the fact that Christ Himself claimed to be God? For if He did in fact claim to be God, and C. S. Lewis pointed out, either He would be a liar, a lunatic, or Lord.

One day, when Jesus was going about His business, doing what He did all the time, healing people, He got into some trouble. He healed a man on the Sabbath. This infuriated the religious leaders. They began harassing Jesus about it. Jesus responded, “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too am working” (Jn. 5:17). At this, John tells us that the Jews “tried all the harder to kill Him not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.” That’s right, they recognized Jesus’ statement as a bold claim of equality with God.

This was not the only time the people intended to kill Jesus because of who He claimed to be.

You aren't greater than our father Abraham who died, are you? And the prophets died too! Who do you claim to be?" Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory is worthless. The one who glorifies me is my Father, about whom you people say, 'He is our God.'  Yet you do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey his teaching. Your father Abraham was overjoyed to see my day, and he saw it and was glad." Then the Judeans replied, "You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!" Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out from the temple area. (John 8:53-59 NET)

Jesus here claims to have existed before Abraham. What’s more, He also claims the title “I Am” which was reserved exclusively for God (Ex. 3:14). Jesus was claiming to be Yahweh-Jehovah. Again, they knew exactly what Jesus was claiming. So, they tried to stone Him to death.

Again, in John 10, Jesus boldly declares, “The Father and I are one (v. 30)." We watch cautiously for the response of the Jewish leaders. What will they do? “The Jewish leaders picked up rocks again to stone him to death (v 31).” Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many good deeds from the Father. For which one of them are you going to stone me (v.32)?" "We are not going to stone you for a good deed but for blasphemy, because you, a man, are claiming to be God." Once more, the Jewish leaders, the ones well versed in the scriptures, recognize that Jesus is claiming to be God!

Let’s look at one more time Jesus claimed to be God. Fortunately this time there are no Jewish leaders around to try to stone Him. This time it is in the upper room, just before Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus says,

Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say,'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.” (John 14:9-10 NIV)

Do you see it? There it is again. If you see Jesus, you see God! “I am in the Father, and the Father is in me.” The Father is “living in me.”

Wow! Is there really any way to reasonably doubt that Jesus did in fact claim to be God? I don’t think so. Everyone around Jesus when He made these statements knew exactly what He was claiming. We should too. Did Jesus claim to be God? That’s what His friends and enemies understood Him to claim . . . repeatedly.

Before we rest our case, we should bring in one last body of evidence. Several times in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ ministry his miracles are referred to as “signs.” The point was that the miracles Jesus did authenticated who He was. So, let’s look at a few of these signs and what they prove about Jesus.

Jesus demonstrated power and authority to manipulate matter and control nature in several miracles. Jesus demonstrated power and authority over physical diseases of all kinds. Jesus demonstrated power and authority over death, rasing people from the dead on three different occasions. Jesus demonstrated power and authority over demons several times. What does all this power and authority over creation prove? It proves Jesus is God! But don’t miss the fact that, for the most part, these miracles were done on behalf of people in need. Jesus is God miraculously working in the lives of people
 
Next:  (19)  Jesus: Not Just Your Friend

(8) Conclusions From Isaiah's Witness

The evidence we have heard from the Old Testament witnesses for the deity of Jesus is compelling. When this evidence is put together with facts about Jesus and the witnesses of the New Testament, the case for the deity of Jesus is quite impressive. We are well on our way to establishing a very strong case to prove the deity of Jesus!

Yes, you can read about it in fairy tales and novels. You can see it in cartoons and movies. Jasmine did fall in love with Aladdin, the prince did switch places with the pauper. But the reality is far more amazing. God did come near. Jesus, the eternal Son of God did become one of us. This is not a fairy tale. This is not the idea of a great novelist. This is not fiction. This is fact. This is truth. This is reality. Meet Jesus . . . Up close & personal.

Are you amazed? Are you overwhelmed with the glorious truth that Jesus, the God who created the entire universe stepped down into humanity and time? You should be.

It would be one thing for a great king or president to show up at your home to spend some time with you. But the glorious unimaginable reality is that GOD showed up. GOD came to walk, talk, eat, live with us. How incredible is that? That’s greatness. And the descent to greatness is absolutely breath-taking.

That’s right, the descent to greatness. The true greatness of this story is that God descended from heaven to come to earth, to become human. That’s the great glory of Jesus: up close and personal. Jesus, being God did not try to stay exalted and isolated from man in heaven. He became man. He didn’t distance Himself from the great plight of man, dying in his sin. He became man. He did not remain in the beauty, perfection, and comfort of Heaven. He became a man. He came to earth. He stepped down. Way down. For you. That deserves worship. Passionate, authentic worship from the heart.

So, how do you measure greatness? How do you assess your own greatness? By how far you’ve ascended, or how far you’ve descended? Take a fresh look at true greatness and be humbled, be broken. Worship the King of Glory who became a man like you so He could save you from your humanity to reign with Him. Choose to humble yourself to even the most undesirable task to serve even the most untouchable. That’s true greatness!

Next:  (9) The Deity of Jesus in the New Testament - Introduction

(7) The Gory of Jehovah-Jesus

If you’re a courtroom drama fan, you’ve probably seen numerous times when one attorney or another holds on to his best evidence until late in the case. Perhaps in our discovery of evidence for the deity of Jesus in the Old Testament, we have saved some of the best evidence for last.

Most of us are familiar with Isaiah’s life defining vision of God, recorded in Isaiah six.  Let's look at it again.

In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD [Yahweh/Jehovah] of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory." And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.

Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven."

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

He said, "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.'  "Render the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed."  Isaiah 6:1-8 (NLT)

Notice, Isaiah sees Yahweh or as we say it, Jehovah. What an incredible experience! To see Yahweh, the glorious God of the universe in all His glory! Our minds can only begin to imagine what Isaiah saw and experienced. This must have been an amazing experience.  But, what is equally amazing is what the Apostle John said about this vision. Look at what John says about Isaiah's vision and how it relates to Jesus.

Though he [Jesus] had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them." Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. (John 12:37-41 )

Do you see it? This is extremely important. John says that in Isaiah’s vision, he saw Jesus! Don't miss this incredibly important testimony to the deity of Jesus.  Isaiah says he saw Jehovah, John says he saw Jesus. What does this mean?  It clearly means that Jesus is Jehovah! Jesus is God! Now that's what I call some pretty good evidence for proving the deity of Jesus.

Next:  (8)  Conclusions from Isaiah's Witness

(6) Is Jesus Jehovah?

Our witness continues to testify. And Isaiah continues to declare to us the very words of God. "You are My witnesses," declares the Lord, "And My servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me. I, even I, am the Lord; and there is no savior besides Me (Isa. 43:10-11)." God says that He alone is God, there is no other. And, there is no other savior besides Him. Yet, God declares through His angel messengers, "for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11)." On the one hand God says He alone is savior and on the other, He identifies Jesus as savior. This is not water-tight, irrefutable proof of the deity of Jesus, but the evidence is mounting.

In Isaiah’s testimony, He again shares the words of Jehovah.

Isaiah 48:11-17

"For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another.  "Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last.  "Surely My hand founded the earth, And My right hand spread out the heavens; When I call to them, they stand together.  "Assemble, all of you, and listen! Who among them has declared these things? The LORD loves him; he will carry out His good pleasure on Babylon, And His arm will be against the Chaldeans.  "I, even I, have spoken; indeed I have called him, I have brought him, and He will make his ways successful.  "Come near to Me, listen to this: From the first I have not spoken in secret, From the time it took place, I was there. And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit."  Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go.

Now, notice a few of the statements that Jehovah (Yehweh) makes in this passage and let’s also hear from some other New Testament witnesses concerning Jesus.

Once again, we are not presented with an iron-clad indisputable argument for the deity of Jesus. But, we do have more evidence mounting that adds to the case. This evidence is leading us toward the inescapable conclusion that the testimony of the witnesses strongly supports the deity of Jesus.

Are Jesus and Jehovah one and the same? Certainly there is something here that bears closer investigation. We need to allow Isaiah to continue his testimony.

Next:  (7) The Glory of Jehovah-Jesus