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Does Jesus Claim To Be God? For Jesus to say
that he was God without qualification would have meant that he was claiming
to be the same Person commonly referred to by Jews as the Father. Yet Jesus
was not the same Person as the Father, but was personally distinct from him,
although sharing the same essence and nature with him. As a matter of fact the question was never asked of him; at most he
was asked about his relationship to God. The Bible never
records Jesus saying the precise words, “I am God.” That does not mean,
however, that He did not proclaim that He is God. Take for example Jesus’
words in John 10:30, “I and
the Father are one.” We need only to look at the Jews’ reaction to His
statement to know He was claiming to be God. They tried to stone Him for this
very reason: “You, a mere man, claim to be God” (John 10:33). The
Jews understood exactly what Jesus was claiming—deity. When Jesus declared,
“I and the Father are one,” He was saying that He and the Father are of one
nature and essence. John 8:58 is another example. Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth … before
Abraham was born, I am!” Jews who heard this statement responded by taking up
stones to kill Him for blasphemy, as the Mosaic Law commanded (Leviticus 24:16). Did Jesus ever say the exact words "I am God?" No, Jesus
never said the exact three words, "I am God." But Jesus also never
said the exact four words, "I am a prophet," or the exact four
words "I am a man," but we know he was both a prophet and a man. It
is not necessary for Jesus to say the exact phrase "I am a man,"
for us to know that he was a man. Likewise, it is not necessary for Jesus to
utter the exact three words "I am God," in order for us to
determine whether or not he is divine. Jesus may not have said the exact
sentence "I am God," but he did claim the divine name for himself (Exo. 3:14 with John 8:58), and he also received worship
(Matt. 2:2; 14:33; 28:9; John 9:35-38).When Moses was up at the Mount
speaking to God, Moses asked God what his name was. God said, "I AM WHO
I AM"; and He said, 'Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel,' 'I AM
has sent me to you.' (Exodus 3:14). In John 8:58 Jesus said, "Truly,
truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." Right after this
the Jews picked up stones to throw at him. Later, in John 10:30-33 Jesus
claimed to be one with the Father; and the Jews wanted to stone him again
because they said to Jesus, "You, being a man, make yourself out to be
God." Jesus had claimed the divine name for his own, and the Jews wanted
to kill him for it. Therefore, from Jesus' own mouth we see that he was
claiming to be God. The
words "I am" Now please
understand that anyone can say the words "I am," and it does not
mean that he is claiming to be God. Someone could say, "I am over
here." That is not claiming the divine name. Likewise, someone could
say, "I am hungry," or "I am sick." Neither example is
claiming divinity because the use of the term "I am" in context
clearly shows us that is not what is occurring. But, in John 8:58 when Jesus
said "before Abraham was born, I am," the Jews knew exactly what he
was saying. Notice that he says before Abraham was born (using the
past tense), and then he switches to the present tense when he says "I
am." Jesus switches tenses of the verbs on purpose, so that when he
does so in the context of referencing Abraham, Jesus is clearly drawing the
Jews' attention to the Old Testament Scriptures and then using a present
tense form of the verb "to be" by saying "I AM." Someone
who says "I am hungry" is not drawing attention to the Old
Testament Scriptures for context. Jesus was clearly
causing the Jews to reflect upon the divine name "I am" that Jesus
used for himself. We know that they understood this because as is said above,
they said, "You, being a man, make yourself out to be God." (John
10:33). The
Muslims agree with the Jews But what is
noteworthy is that the Jews, like the Muslims, deny that Jesus is God in
flesh. Therefore, the Muslims are united with the Jewish people in denying
who Jesus claimed to be, the "I am." Conclusion It is not necessary
that Jesus say a certain phrase in order for the truth of who he is to be
made clear. The issue is not if he speaks a certain sentence that we
construct in present terms in order to satisfy our theological demands. The
issue is what did Jesus say in the context and
culture of the time in which he spoke. Finally, we know that Jesus is
God in flesh because the Bible tells us so. John 1:1,14,
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God . . . 14And the Word
became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the
only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." Hebrews 1:8, "But of the Son He says, 'Thy throne, O
God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His
kingdom.'" Who does the Bible
claim Jesus is: Revelation
1:7-8 says that Jesus Christ is the Almighty. John
8:58 says that Jesus Christ is the "I
Am" Acts
3:14 says that Jesus Christ is the
"HOLY ONE" John
8:24 says that Jesus Christ is the "I
Am He" Revelation
22:13 says that Jesus Christ is the "First
and the Last" I
Corinthians 10:4 says that Jesus Christ is "The
Rock" John
5:21 says that Jesus Christ raises the dead. John
8:12 says that Jesus Christ is the Light Matt
25:31-46 says that Jesus Christ is the Judge Colossians
1:16 says that Jesus Christ is the Creator
of angels: Hebrews
1:6 says that angles worship Jesus Christ II
Corinthians 11:2 says that Jesus Christ is the "One
HUSBAND" Matthew
23:8 says that Jesus Christ is the "ONE
MASTER" John
10:16 says that Jesus Christ is the "One
SHEPHERD" Acts
4:12 says that Jesus Christ is the "ONE
SAVIOR" Luke
1:68 says that Jesus Christ is the "ONE
REDEEMER" But Isaiah
41:14 says that the "ONE REDEEMER" is God Revelation
19:16 says that Jesus Christ is "LORD OF
LORDS Philippians
2:10 says that Every Knee must bow to Jesus
Christ John
1:3-10 says that Jesus Christ is the "ONE
CREATOR" John
1:49 says that Jesus Christ is "KING OF
ISRAEL" 1 John
4:15 says that Jesus Christ is "GOD’S
SON"
John
4:24-25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah comes," (he who is
called Christ). "When he has come, he will declare to us all
things." Jesus said
to her, "I am he, the one who speaks to
you." John
5:18 For this
cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only
broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making
himself equal with God. John
10:30-33 “I and the Father are one." Therefore Jews
took up stones again to stone him. Jesus
answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my
Father. For which of those works do you stone me?" The Jews answered him,
"We don't stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy: because you,
being a man, make yourself God." John
14:8-9 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and that will be
enough for us." Jesus said
to him, "Have I been with you such a long time,
and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do
you say, 'Show us the Father?' Don't you
believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell
you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; John
20:28-29 "Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus
said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed?
Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." Revelation
1:8, 12-18 “ I am the ‘A’ and the
‘Z,’” says the
Lord God, who is and who was and
who is to come, the Almighty. ... I turned around to see who was speaking to me;
and when I had turned, I saw seven gold menorahs; and among the menorahs
was someone like a Son of Man, wearing a robe down to his feet and
a gold band around his chest. His head and hair were as white as snow-white wool, his eyes like a
fiery flame, his feet like burnished brass refined in a furnace,
and his voice like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars,
out of his mouth went a sharp double-edged sword, and his face was like the
sun shining in full strength. When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. He placed his
right hand upon me and said, “Don’t be afraid!
I am the First and the Last, 18 the Living One. I was dead, but look! — I am alive forever and ever! And
I hold the keys to Death and Sh’ol. Why Did
Jesus Not Openly Reveal Did
Jesus really say He was God? If you want to receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ,
then call on Him, asking Him for this gift right now. HERE iS A SUGGESTED PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, I know I am a sinner and do not
deserve eternal life. But, I believe You died and rose from the grave to purchase
a place in heaven for me. Lord Jesus, come into my life;
take control of my life; forgive my sins
and save me. I repent of my sins and now place my trust in you for my
salvation. I accept the free gift of eternal
life. If this prayer is the sincere desire of your heart, look at what Jesus promises to those who believe in Him. Most assuredly, I say to you ... he who believes in Me has everlasting
life. John 6:47 But as many as received Him, to them He gave
the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. John 1:12 WELCOME to God's Family!
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