Jesus as God

“One of my friends said Jesus never claimed to be God. Is that true?”—Dan

We don’t know all that Jesus said, but we do know what those who were close to Him recorded of His sayings. In those records (the Gospels), Jesus uses phrases and clear statements which reveal His understanding of His divine nature and His oneness with God.

He referred to Himself as the “Son of Man” (Mt. 8:20, et al.), an ancient appellation for the Messiah, who would be both human and divine (see Daniel 7:13).

Jesus claimed He existed before “Abraham was born” and implied He was the same God who had appeared to Moses (in Jn. 8:58, He used the Hebrew title for God in reference to Himself, translated as “I AM”; cf. Ex. 3:14; 6:3).

Without equivocation, Jesus stated on numerous occasions His unity with God the Father (Jn. 17:22). “I and the Father are one,” He said (Jn. 10:30). “The Father is in Me, and I in the Father” (Jn. 10:38). “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father” (Jn. 14:9-11).

Beyond these direct claims by Jesus, we find in His words affirmation of His divine mission (for example, “to save the lost”, Lk. 19:10; to overcome death and bring “eternal life”, Jn. 3:16) as well as His triumphal return (Mt. 24:1-45).

His audience understood what He was saying about Himself—some who heard Him were ready to stone Him for blasphemy because He “claimed to be God” (Jn. 8:59; 10:33).