The Deity of Jesus

Skeptics of Jesus’ deity argue that the Gospels don’t say Jesus is God. In a sense, they are right; Jesus didn’t state His deity in a manner that English-speaking, Western minds would recognize. But He did make several claims to be God.

Jesus frequently engaged with Jewish leaders in debates over doctrine. Jesus quoted titles and phrases about God (taken from Old Testament Messianic prophecies) in reference to Himself—which enraged the leaders.

Because Jesus came into the world as the Jewish Messiah, it follows that He would use Jewish references to express His divine identity. To understand one of the boldest statements Jesus made about Himself, we have to go all the way back to Exodus 3. Moses, who at the time was a humble shepherd in the wilderness of Midian, met God in a burning bush. When Moses asked God to identify Himself, God said, “I am who I am.” This name for God became a foundational truth of Judaism, one marked by great honor and reverence.

Fast forward to Jesus in John 8, when Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees:

Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

“You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. (John 8:54–59)

Jesus was claiming the title of God for Himself. This was not the first time He had done this. Jesus also frequently used the title “Son of Man” (mostly in the gospel of Mark) as a reference to a prophecy in Daniel 7.

These were undeniable claims to divinity. Understanding the context of His engagement with the Jewish leaders reveals what He believed about Himself—and what He expected us to believe about Him.

Respond

What impact does the divinity of Jesus have on your life and faith that you could not experience if he were just a man?