Perhaps the most incredible claim ever made is that a man who walked, talked, and lived on this earth is also the God who created the universe. This is the claim of the Bible. How is this possible? And is it true? As we examine this declaration, we will find this amazing claim is found both in the prophecies of the Old Testament and in the apostles’ writings in the New Testament.

The Bible tells us that the man, Jesus Christ who lived 2,000 years ago, was indeed God incarnate. The Old Testament points to a Messiah who will be born to a virgin and therefore will be a man, who is also “Emmanuel, God with us.” The New Testament announces the arrival of this Messiah and provides evidence that Jesus Christ is truly Him. From these teachings we understand that Jesus Christ was truly human and truly Divine, one person with two distinct natures.

 

Geisler and Turek list some of the characteristics of the coming Servant-Messiah found in Isaiah, chapters 42 – 53, as provided by Larry Helyer. The Messiah is to be chosen by God the Father, anointed by the Spirit of God and is promised success in his mission. He has humble origins, is sinless, is concerned with justice, is a gifted teacher, ministers both to Jews and Gentiles, experiences strong opposition – even violence, endures suffering and affliction, is zealous to complete his mission, accepts “substitutionary suffering” for his people, “is put to death,” “comes back to life, and is exalted above all rulers.”¹Geisler, Norman L. and Turek, Frank. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004, p 332 – 333. These descriptions fit Jesus Christ perfectly, even though they were written about 700 years before he lived.

Other Old Testament passages give us additional information about the Messiah.

1. As long ago as the Garden of Eden, God tells us the Messiah will be born of the “seed of a woman.” Genesis 3:15. This is unusual because the Bible describes every other person as being born of the seed of a man. Of course the reason for this is that God even at this early date is predicting the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.

2. As the Bible story continues, God specifically names those who will be in the lineage of Christ. After the Great Flood which destroyed the people of the earth, except for Noah and his family, God names Shem, one of Noah’s three sons. Genesis 9 and 10.

3. Later, around 2,000 BC, God calls Abraham and promises him that Messiah will be one of his descendants. Genesis 12:1-3; 17:19; 22:17,18.

4. Abraham had two sons. God names Isaac to be in Christ’s lineage. Genesis 17:19; 21:12.

5. Isaac had two sons. God names Jacob to be in Christ’s lineage. Genesis 28:14,15; 35:10-12 and Numbers 24:17-19.

6. Jacob had 12 sons from whom the 12 tribes of Israel came. God names the tribe of Judah to be in Christ’s lineage. Genesis 49:8-10.

7. Then God names a particular family in the tribe of Judah, the family of Jesse. Isaiah 11:1-5.

8. We are now at around 1,000 BC. Jesse had 8 children and God named David to be in the lineage of Christ. 2 Samuel 7:5-16.

9. In addition, we learn that Messiah will not only be the son of David, but also, he will be called “The Lord our Righteousness,” which means he is also God. Jeremiah 23:5-6

10. The Messiah is called God in two other important passages.

1. “Behold, the virgin will conceive and bear a Son and his name shall be called Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14.

2. And: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:6-7

11. The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem, and he will come from days of eternity. That is, the Messiah will be born as a man, in Bethlehem, and be the eternal God. Micah 5:2.

12. The astonishing prophecy of Daniel tells us the precise year the Messiah will die – A.D. 33. Daniel 9:25-26.

13. Both Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 reveal that the Messiah will rise from the dead

These passages tell us that the Messiah will be of the seed of a woman, descended from Shem, from Abraham and thus from the Jewish Nation, from Isaac, from Jacob, of the tribe of Judah, and of the family of David. Moreover, he will be born in Bethlehem, will die in A.D. 33, rise from the dead, and will be God in human flesh. Clearly, the only person in history that matches these descriptions is Jesus Christ. The accuracy and clarity of these Messianic prophecies are truly astonishing! What these prophecies tell us is that we should expect Messiah to appear in human form, as a man, and that he will be God. We have presented only a few of the prophecies fulfilled by Jesus Christ. There are over 300 such prophecies. You may read more of them in the article “Why Christians Believe the Bible” on this website.

 

Throughout the New Testament, the Deity of Jesus Christ is affirmed.

The Gospel of Matthew:
Matthew recounts the message from an angel to Joseph about Jesus’ birth. The angel told him that the conception of Mary’s child was from the Holy Spirit. He told Joseph to name the child Jesus for “he shall save his peoples from their sins.” Matthew 1:21. This was in fulfillment of the Old Testament Scripture, “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel – which means ‘God with us.'” Matthew 1:23.

The Gospel of Mark:
Mark, in his gospel, refers to Jesus as the “Son of God.” Mark 1:1. And, he records Peter’s exclamation that Jesus is the Christ. Mark 8:29.

The Gospel of Luke:
Luke describes the message from an angel to Mary, calling Jesus the “Son of the Most High” and the “Son of God.” Luke 1:30-33.

The Gospel of John:
John tells us that Jesus is the “Word…and the Word was God.” John 1:1. Later in John, Thomas exclaims to the resurrected Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28.

Romans:
Paul writes that God’s Son “who as to his human nature was a descendent of David, and through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 1:3-4. NIV. Paul also refers to “Christ, who is God over all,” in Romans 9:5. NIV

Colossians:
In Colossians, Paul describes Jesus in this way: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fulness dwell in Him, and to reconcile to himself all things….” Colossians 1:15-20. NIV.

The principal ideas in the above passage present Jesus as God, the Eternal Creator, and Supreme over all.

1. Jesus is God. He is “the image of the invisible God.” This tells us the God, who is invisible to us, has revealed himself in Jesus who became visible when he became a man. He is not merely like God; He is actually God in a human body. The image is authentic because he is Deity. To see Jesus is to see God. Jesus himself said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9. NIV. Further, we read, “All the fullness of God dwells in Him.” “For Paul, ‘the fullness’ (of God) meant the totality of God with all his powers and attributes.” NIV note on Colossians 1:19. p 1814.

2. Also, Jesus is said to be the Eternal Creator. He created the universe and all life. He existed in eternity-past before creation. He did not begin as a baby in a manger. He has always existed. In addition, Jesus holds together the creation he made. It would not function or continue to exist without him.

3. Finally, the passage describes the Supremacy of Christ in all things, in heaven and in earth and with things visible and invisible. He is the Supreme One in all the universe both in the seen and the unseen realms. Also, Jesus is the Supreme Head of the church and the first to rise from the dead in a transformed glorified body. This means that Jesus holds a preeminent place in creation, revelation, redemption, resurrection, restoration, and reconciliation.

I Timothy:
Referring to Jesus, Paul says. “God was manifested in the flesh.” I Timothy 3:16. NIV.

Titus:
In Titus we read, “our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13. NIV.

Hebrews:
In the book of Hebrews, we find these words: “In the past god spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of Majesty in heaven.” Hebrew 1:1-3. NIV.

In the passage above, Jesus is described as:

1. The heir of all things.

2. The One who made the universe.

3. The radiance of God’s glory. “As the brilliance of the sun is inseparable from the sun itself, so the son’s radiance is inseparable from deity, for he himself is God, the second person of the Trinity.” NIV note Hebrews 1:3. p 1859.

4. The exact representation of God’s being. “Jesus is not merely an image or reflection of God. Because the Son himself is God, he is the absolutely authentic representation of God’s being.” NIV note Hebrews 1:3. p 1859.

5. The One who sustains all things.

6. The One who provided purification for sins.

7. The One who sits at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven, “actively ruling with God (the Father) as Lord over all.” NIV note Hebrews 1:3. p 1859.

Later in the same chapter the author writes, “About the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever.'” Hebrews 1: 8. NIV.

Also, we read: “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end. Hebrews 1:10-12. NIV. These verses reference an Old Testament passage (Zechariah 12:1) in which “O Lord” refers to Jehovah. Here, it is applied to the Son (Jesus), “giving a clear indication of His full deity.” NIV Note Hebrews 1:10 p 1859. In this passage Jesus is declared Creator and Eternal God.

The Epistle of I John:
In the apostle John’s first epistle, he writes, “We know also that the son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true – even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” I John 5:20. NIV.

The Epistle of Jude:
In the book of Jude, Jesus Christ is referred to as “our only Sovereign and Lord.” Jude 1:4. NIV. Later in Jude, we read: “to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 1:24. NIV.

The Book of Revelation:
In Revelation we read: “I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!” Revelation 1:17. NIV. Later, we hear these words: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. I Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony…” Revelation 22:13,16. NIV. Here, Jesus is the Eternal One who spans from the eternal past to the eternal future. He is the God who always has been and who forever will be.

The New Testament:
Clearly, the New Testament sets forth the Deity of Jesus Christ from beginning to end and tells us that he is the God of the Old Testament.

 

 

We have seen that the Deity of Christ is found in all four Gospels as well as throughout the New Testament. Yet there is a particular emphasis of this doctrine in the Gospel of John. In fact, we can find indicators of Christ’s Deity in each of its 21 chapters. Let’s take a look.

Chapter 1: Here, the claim to Deity is made. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made…In him was life….” John 1:1-3. NIV. Then John tells us, “The Word became flesh (a man) and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14. NIV.

Following this, John the Baptist testifies that Jesus is the “Son of God”, and Jesus’ early disciples – Andrew, Philip, and Nathanael affirm his Deity as well. (John 1:34-51).

Chapter 2: Jesus attends a wedding and performs his first miracle, turning water into wine, revealing that he has Divine creative ability. Afterward, Jesus goes to Jerusalem, to the temple, and asserting his Divine authority, drives the corrupt moneychangers out of the temple. Also, he does miracles there.

Chapter 3: In this chapter, Nicodemus, a Pharisee, comes to Jesus, who then explains to him that a person must be born again by the working of the Spirit of God and that takes place when a person places their faith in Jesus Christ who gives them eternal life. Since only God can grant eternal life, Jesus is indirectly claiming to be God.

The chapter closes with the apostle John’s statement that Jesus comes from heaven, is above all, has been sent by God the Father, teaches from divine experience in heaven, speaks the words of God, and is loved by the Father who has placed everything in his hands. Such descriptions are those of Deity.

Chapter 4: When Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well, he tells her that he can give her eternal life, and he astonishes her with his knowledge of her personal life. At the end of their conversation, Jesus tells her plainly that he is the Messiah.

Later, Jesus heals the son of a royal official. He does so by saying, “Your son will live” when he was a day’s journey from where the boy was located. Jesus showed he could heal at a distance merely by speaking, something only God can do.

Chapter 5: Jesus heals a paralytic man who had been disabled for 38 years. Ordinarily faith is involved in Jesus’ healings, but here the man does not exhibit faith; he doesn’t even know who Jesus is at the time of the healing. Jesus choses to heal apart from faith by telling the man to “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” John 5:8. NIV. This miracle shows that Jesus could heal people at will simply because he chooses to do so. Who can do this but God?

The Jewish leaders complain because Jesus heals people on the Sabbath. They misinterpret Moses’ law to mean that activities on this day of worship should be greatly restricted according to their rules. Jesus answers them by saying, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” John 5:17. NIV. They become very angry – in fact, they want to kill him – because they say, “he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” John 5:18. NIV. They understand him correctly; He is saying that he is equal with God.

Then Jesus says, “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.” John 5:21. NIV. Jesus goes on to say that the Father has given him authority to judge (the world) because he is the Son of Man. Here Jesus is claiming to be able to raise the dead and that he is the judge of the world; both are claims of Deity.

Finally, Jesus points out that there are powerful testimonies to his Deity, that of John the Baptist, his miracles, the words of the Father in heaven, the Scriptures, and Moses.

Chapter 6: Jesus feeds a crowd of 5,000 or more persons with five barley loaves and two small fish by multiplying the bread and the fish until everyone is filled. Later in the day, Jesus walks on water to meet the disciples in their boat. These miracles signal that Jesus has creative power over matter, a Divine capability.

Then, Jesus claims to be the “Bread of Life,” and “the living bread that came down from heaven.” And he says, “If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.” John 6:35,51. NIV. Here again, Jesus is claiming to provide the spiritual nourishment and eternal life which only comes from God.

At the end of the chapter, Simon Peter makes a declaration of Christ’s Deity: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:68-69. NIV.

Chapter 7: Jesus goes to the Feast of Tabernacles and begins to teach. The Jews are astonished and ask, “How did this man get such learning without having studied (under a recognized rabbi)?” He replies that his teaching comes from God the Father who sent him, and added that if anyone chooses to do the will of God he will know that his teaching comes from God. His display of a superior level of intelligence and teaching are consistent with the presence of Deity in Christ.

Chapter 8: Jesus does not condemn a woman taken in adultery. Since only God can forgive sin, he is seen as exercising a Divine prerogative. Later, Jesus says, “I am the Light of the world.” John 8:12. NIV. This statement indicates that Jesus is claiming to provide a special, heavenly illumination of the message and truth of God.

When in discussion with the Jews, he says, “Before Abraham was born, I Am.” John 8:58. NIV. This statement refers back to the time when God told Moses that his name is “I Am.” Here, Jesus is claiming to be the Jehovah God of the Old Testament.

Chapter 9: In this chapter Jesus heals a man who was blind from birth. We don’t know the medical cause of his blindness, but the context suggests that it was a very serious medical condition which, from a human point of view, was incurable. Perhaps certain parts of the eye had not formed correctly or were even not there at all. However that may be, Jesus healed him and gave him sight.

After the man is healed, the Pharisees complain because Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. The man, to his credit, argues with them saying that Jesus couldn’t have healed him unless he had come from God. He is telling them that in the face of such an extraordinary miracle, Jesus clearly has favor with God and that their complaint is inappropriate. Instead of recognizing that the man’s argument makes sense, they reject him and expel him from the synagogue. Later, Jesus finds the man, who then worships him, recognizing his Deity.

Chapter 10: Jesus uses the illustration of a sheep pen and its gate to communicate that he is the “Gate” by which believers enter in to obtain eternal life. He says, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.” John 10:9. NIV. He also states, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11. NIV. As the “Gate” he is the means to eternal life; as the “Good Shepherd who gives his life for his sheep,” he is the suffering Messiah of Psalm 22 and the LORD, the Good Shepherd who cares for his sheep in Psalm 23.

Later in the chapter, the Jews ask Jesus, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered, ‘I did tell you, but you did not believe. The miracles I do in my father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.'” John 10:24-25. NIV. Then Jesus claims, “I and my Father are one.” John 10:30. NIV. Hearing this, they pick up stones to kill him for what they think is blasphemy, “because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” John 10:33. NIV. They miss the point about the miracles being a sufficient witness to his Deity, but they correctly understand his message that he is God.

Chapter 11: Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead after he has been in the grave four days. In so doing, he demonstrates his authority over death and his ability to give life. These are powers reserved for God alone.

Chapter 12: Jesus attends a dinner, given in his honor, at the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. At the dinner, Mary takes expensive perfume, pours it on Jesus’ feet, and wipes them with her hair as an act of worship. Jesus responds, indicating that this is fitting because the perfume is being used to treat his body for burial, which he knows is coming soon. Many people come to the dinner to see Jesus as well as to see Lazarus who Jesus raised from the dead. Both the worship of Mary and the alive Lazarus attest to the Deity of Christ.

The next day, Jesus enters Jerusalem on an untamed donkey, as crowds went to meet him with palm branches, saying, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!” John 12:13-15. NIV. The docile donkey, the worshiping crowds, and the exact fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy about the entrance of the Messiah into Jerusalem all point to Christ’s Deity.

In Jerusalem, Jesus begins talking about his death. He indicates that the reason he came was for this hour, the hour of his crucifixion and resurrection. He submits to his Father’s will saying, “Glorify your name.” A voice from heaven replies, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” John 12:28. NIV. The audible voice of God from heaven reveals Jesus’ close relationship with his heavenly Father, reflecting his Deity.

Chapter 13: Here, Jesus predicts the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, the unfaithful disciple who turned him over to the Pharisees. He also predicts the faithful disciple Peter’s denial, when Peter denied knowing Jesus, after Jesus was arrested. Both predictions required knowledge of the future, something only God knows with certainty.

Chapter 14: In this chapter, Jesus states, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. NIV. To claim to be the only Way to God, to claim to be the absolute Truth about everything, and to claim to be the Giver of eternal life is to claim to be God. Jesus also says, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9. NIV. In other words, if you have seen me, you have seen God.

Chapter 15: Jesus speaks the way we would expect God to speak in this chapter. He tells us, “I am the Vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5. NIV. Here, Jesus is the Divine Source of strength, guidance, and ability to do good works, which glorify God and bring joy to the believer.

Chapter 16: Jesus tells his disciples that he must go to the Father in heaven and that he will send the Holy Spirit to be with them and dwell in them. Who can send God the Holy Spirit except God himself? Jesus fulfills this promise at Pentecost.

Chapter 17: Jesus prays for himself, for his disciples, and for all believers who will follow them. In so doing, he reveals an intimate relationship with his Father in heaven, a relationship of equals, a relationship between God the Father and God the Son who are in perfect unity and who are one in purpose.

Chapter 18: Here, Jesus is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. When the band of men who came to arrest him approach, Jesus tells them, “I am he,” that is, I am the one you seek. When he said these words, they fell to the ground. Who can make a crowd of soldiers fall to the ground simply by saying a few words? Jesus did.

Chapter 19: Jesus comes to trial. The Roman governor, Pilate, cannot find any basis on which to charge Jesus with a crime. However, the Jewish chief priests insist that Jesus be crucified, and Pilate eventually gives in to their demands. The obvious innocence of Jesus is one of the pieces of evidence for Jesus’ sinless nature, which he has because he is the virgin born Son of God.

Then, the crucifixion and burial of Jesus takes place. A number of Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled as Jesus hangs on the cross and is laid in the tomb, affirming that Jesus is the Messiah, who is “God with us” as foretold in the book of Isaiah. (See the article on this web site, “Why Christians Believe the Bible” to read about these prophecies.)

Chapter 20: The resurrection of Jesus Christ forcefully reveals the Deity of Christ. (See “Why Christians Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ” on this web site for more information.)

Chapter 21: Jesus appears to his disciples by the Sea of Galilee. He tells them where to throw their net and they catch an enormous number of fish. He knows where the fish are located, when the fish would be there, and that there would be an abundance of them. Only God can know such things.

We have seen the Deity of Christ in every chapter in the Gospel of John. Now we examine the “I Am” sayings of Jesus.

In John 8:58 Jesus says, “Before Abraham was born, I Am.” Jesus is referring to the time when God told Moses that his name is “I Am.” Here, Jesus is unmistakably claiming to be the Jehovah God of the Old Testament – the self-existent, eternal One who has always been and who will always be.

Jesus enlarges our understanding of what this claim means by providing seven descriptions of himself which begin with the words, “I Am.” These descriptions give us insight into how Jesus, as God, relates to us and ministers to our needs. They are:

“I am the Bread of Life.” John 6:35 NIV. Jesus further explains this statement by saying, “The Bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives his life for the world.” “He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” “If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.” John 6:33,35,51. NIV.

Jesus is comparing himself to bread. What are the points of comparison which he makes? First, the idea of eating refers to coming to Jesus and believing in him. Second, while the results of eating material bread are never going hungry and physical nourishment, the results of believing in Jesus are eternal life and deep soul satisfaction. Here, Jesus is claiming to provide eternal life and the deep spiritual nourishment which comes from God. Who then can satisfy the deepest needs of the soul? Jesus, the Bread of Life!

“I am the Light of the World.” John 8:12; 9:5. NIV. Jesus says, “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12. NIV. What’s the comparison? Physical light makes it possible to see where one is going. Without it one might stumble, fall, or get lost, and the journey would not be possible. With it, one can avoid obstacles and find a destination. The kind of light Jesus offers brings knowledge. The absence of his light brings darkness which symbolizes ignorance of God’s truth.

The claim that Jesus is making is that he provides a special heavenly illumination of the message and truth of God, which shows us how to live, how to avoid obstacles, and how to reach the destination God has for us. Jesus’ words (illuminations) show us the right way, the virtuous way, the superior way, the way of fulfillment and eternal life. Who can show us the best and right path to take, the way to live? Jesus, the Light of the World!

“I am the Gate (Door).” John 10:7,9. NIV. Jesus says, “Whoever enters through me will be saved (kept safe). He will come in and out and find pasture.” John 10:9. NIV. Jesus uses the illustration of a sheep pen and its gate to communicate that he is the “Gate” by which believers enter in to find a place of safety and by which they may go in and out to find personal provision (pasture) for their lives.

Here, Jesus claims to be the Entrance to all the provisions and protections of God. People wander about today, feeling unfulfilled, seeking they know not what, sensing that there is ultimate reality but never discovering it. For them and for all of us, Jesus is the Entrance into God’s sufficient provision. Only Jesus can provide this. He is the Gate.

“I am the Good Shepherd.” John 10:11,14. NIV. Jesus says, “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep,” and “I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” Here, Jesus describes himself as being like a shepherd. As the good shepherd, he protects and cares for all those who believe in him, his “sheep.” Just as a true shepherd is fully committed and willing to die to protect the sheep, so Jesus died to redeem us from the penalty of sin.

He also knows us by name, and we recognize his voice, and we know him. This tells us that the life of faith in Christ is one of relationship, fellowship, and love with our great and good shepherd, and that our relationship with God is not impersonal or distant, but close and tender. Who then can adequately shepherd us through life? Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

“I am the Resurrection and the Life.” John 11:25. NIV. Jesus made this statement just before he raised Lazarus from the dead after Lazarus had been in the grave for four days. In so doing, he demonstrates his authority over death and verifies his ability to give eternal life. Jesus states, “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whosoever lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:25,26. NIV. Who can guarantee an imperishable resurrected body and life with God beyond the grave? Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life.

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” John 14:6. NIV. Jesus adds, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. NIV. Here Jesus claims to be the exclusive way/road/path to God. So, if a person wants to approach and meet God, he must approach and meet Jesus; this is how he will find God. “He is not one way among many, he is the (only) way.” NIV note on John 14:6.

Also, he is the Absolute Truth about everything. He is the standard by which all other truth claims are measured. He cannot lie. What he tells us is invariably correct and true to both earthly and heavenly realities. He is trustworthy; we need never doubt him. We can safely stake our life and eternal future on what he says.

Moreover, he is the Life. As the Life, he is the source of God’s life for now and for eternity. Who is the Way to God, the Absolute Truth about everything, and the Giver of Eternal Life? Only Jesus.

“I am the True Vine.” John 15:1. NIV. Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5. NIV. Jesus is claiming to be the Divine Source of strength, guidance, and ability to do good works which glorify God for those who believe in him. The good fruit which is produced out of a life which stays close to God in prayer and meditates on his Word, is a godly life.” NIV note on John 15:2.

A living union with Christ is necessary to produce virtue and to engage lovingly with others on behalf of God. This is because we are sinful by nature and need Christ’s life in us to succeed in righteous living. Who then, can enable us to bear this good fruit – to resist temptation, love others as ourselves, and love God with all our being? Only Jesus, the True Vine.

Summary. As the Bread of Life, Jesus claims to satisfy the deepest needs of the soul; as the Light of the World he claims to bring heavenly illumination about the truth of God; as the Gate he claims to be the Entrance to all the protections and provisions of God; as the Good Shepherd he claims to protect and care for believers and establish a personal relationship with each one; as the Resurrection and the Life he claims to give eternal life and a resurrected body that’s fit to live in eternity with him; as the Way, Truth, and Life he claims to be the only way to God, Absolute Truth, and the Giver of eternal life; and as the True Vine he claims to be the Divine Source of strength, guidance, and the ability to do good works which please God.

Each of these “I AM” statements presupposes Deity. If he were not God, Jesus couldn’t fulfill any of them.

Christ’s “I Am” Provisions Meet our Deepest Needs. These descriptions of the Person of Christ are exactly what all of us need. We long to have our souls satisfied; we must have illumination if we are to find God; we need an Entrance into God’s realm and his provisions; we desire escape from an impersonal world and find that the Good shepherd offers a personal, caring relationship with us; we want deliverance from the terror of death. Jesus gives eternal life and makes us fit for heaven; we need to find the Way to God, to know Truth which is absolutely dependable, and experience abundant God-breathed never-ending Life; and we require a source of strength to live for God once we have believed in Him. Jesus Christ is all of these things to us because of his Deity and his love. It’s safe to rest in Him as everything we need in this life and beyond.

 

When Jesus walked on this earth, lived his life, presented his teachings, and did his works, his Deity was revealed indirectly in a number of ways. Here are some of them.

Jesus Claims to Forgive Sins. Here are two examples: In Matthew 9:2,3 four men carry a paralytic to Jesus on a mat. When Jesus sees their faith, he says to the man, “Take heart son, your sins are forgiven.” In Luke 7:36-47 a woman who had lived a sinful life washes Jesus’ feet with her tears and anoints them with perfume. Jesus proclaims to those present, “her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much.” Since only God can forgive sins, Jesus is implying that he is God.

Jesus Lives a Sinless Life. The Bible tells us that Jesus was born of a virgin by a miraculous act of God and had no earthly biological father. As a result, he did not inherit a sinful nature. (See “Why Christians Believe in the Virgin Birth” on this web site for more information.) Jesus himself said that he “always does what pleases his Father in heaven.”( John 8:29.NIV), and said when speaking with some Jews, “can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me?” (John 8:46. NIV) By making the claim to be sin-free, Jesus is implying that he is God, who is holy.

Before his crucifixion, Jesus was on trial before the Roman governor, Pilate. During the trial, Pilate states three times “I find no basis for a charge against him.” John 18:38; 19:4,6. NIV. Here, an experienced judge and prosecutor examines Jesus and finds no fault in him.

So here we have it: no sinful nature, no sin in his life, and no legitimate moral, civil, or criminal charge could be brought against him. Since only God is entirely free of a sinful nature and sin, Jesus’ sinlessness is implicit evidence of his Deity.

The writer of Hebrews emphasizes this, describing Jesus as “holy, blameless, pure, and set apart from sinners,” Hebrews 7:26. NIV. Paul also highlights Jesus’ sinlessness in II Corinthians 5:21 where he writes that Jesus was made “to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” KJV.

Jesus Accepts Worship. Geisler and Turek point out a number of instances in the Gospel accounts where Jesus accepts worship. He accepts worship from: a healed leper (Matthew 8:2), a ruler whose son is healed (Matthew 9:18), the disciples after Jesus walks on water (Matthew 14:33), a Canaanite woman whose daughter is healed (Matthew 15:25), a healed blind man (John 9:38), Thomas after the resurrection (John 20:28), and all the disciples after the resurrection (Matthew 28:17).²Geisler, Norman L. and Turek, Frank. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004, p 345.

The Old Testament forbade worship of any one but God. (Exodus 20:1-5). Jesus knew this, yet he not only accepted worship, but commended those who worshiped him. (John 20:29)

Jesus Reads People’s Minds. On a Sabbath, Jesus goes into a synagogue to teach. It happened that a man with a shriveled hand was there. Present also were Jewish religious leaders, who wanted to discredit Jesus. They were watching him to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, which was against their tradition. “But Jesus knew what they were thinking,” and he said to them, “which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” Then he heals the man.Luke 6:6-10. NIV.

After Jesus casts out a demon and a man’s speech is restored, some people believe he accomplished this by the power of the devil. Luke tells us “Jesus knew their thoughts” and then he explains that it is ridiculous for them to think that Satan is working to defeat himself (by casting out his own demon) instead of thinking that Jesus’ power came from God.Luke 11:14-20. NIV. In both of these instances, Jesus read people’s minds, something only God can do.

Jesus Knows Things that Only God Could Know. When Jesus is talking with the Samaritan woman by Jacob’s well, he amazes her with his knowledge of her personal life. He never met her before, and yet he knows she had been married five times and was presently living with a man who was not her husband. She exclaims, “He told me everything I ever did.” John 5:39. NIV.

After Philip was chosen to be a disciple, he found Nathanael and brought him to Jesus. As Nathanael approached, Jesus said, “‘Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.’ ‘How do you know me?’ Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, ‘I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.'”

A Pharisee named Nicodemus comes to see Jesus at night. Jesus explains how people are born again by the operation of the Spirit of God. In these examples, Jesus demonstrates that he knows personal information about a woman he had never met, knows where Nathanael is located and what he is doing some time before he actually met him, and describes how God the Spirit gives new spiritual life to those who believe in him. These are things only God could know.

Jesus’ Teachings Are Superior. In Matthew chapters 5-7 we find The Sermon on the Mount.” In it, Jesus describes those who are blessed; encourages his followers to be “salt” and “light” in the world; emphasizes the importance of observing every part of God’s Law; explains that obedience needs to be done with the heart; encourages alms, prayer, and love for enemies; admonishes believers to lay up treasure in heaven; teaches his followers not to worry; establishes a correct basis for moral evaluation (judgment) of others; and warns against false teachers.

The sheer breadth and depth of his teaching is breathtaking. In fact, we believe these teachings represent the highest standards of moral teaching in the history of man! After Jesus finished speaking, “the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”Matthew 7:28,29. NIV. Here we have the best moral teaching ever, given with the kind of authority which comes only from God.

Jesus Claims to Have Attributes Which Belong to God. These include:

1. Omnipotence – having all power. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matthew 28:18. NIV

2. Omnipresence – being present everywhere. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20. KJV. And, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20. KJV.

3. Eternality – existing eternally. “And now Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” John 17:5. NIV.

4. Authority to Raise the Dead. “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.” John 5:21. NIV.

5. Authority to Judge the World. “The Father…has entrusted all judgment to the Son.” John 5:22. NIV.

Jesus Claims to Have a Unique Relationship with his Father. In the Gospel of John, Jesus indicates that he was with his Father in heaven before the world began, where he was loved by the Father and endowed with great glory. (17:5,24) Also, he tells us, it is his Father who sent him into the world (7:29) from heaven (3:13) and at the end of his earthly ministry he will return to his Father in heaven. (16:28).

Moreover, he has come in his Father’s name (5:43), speaks the words and the truth he hears from the Father (8:38,40), and does the works (including miracles) of his Father (14:10). He relies on his Father for everything he does, because he is on earth, living as a man. (5:19). Additionally, we are told the Father is with Jesus as a Companion (8:29), loves Jesus as his Son (5:20;15:9), and Jesus always does the things that please the Father (8:29).

The Father has endowed Jesus with certain capacities: Jesus knows the mind of God (5:20), is able to raise the dead and give life (5:21), has authority to judge the world (5:22), and is able to “lay down his life, and take it up again,” that is, he is able to die and then come back to life again of his own volition. (10:17,18).

The Father is in Jesus and Jesus is in him. (10:30) Jesus and his father are one. (10:30) Jesus prays (talks) to his heavenly Father with passion, eloquence, and precision, revealing an intimate relationship of close emotional bonding, intimate personal knowledge, and total trust in the heart, will, and power of the Father, along with a willingness to submit to the Father’s will in all things.

The beauty of this relationship is beyond words! It is a relationship with God that no mere man could have; Jesus has to be God the Son in order to have a relationship like this with God the Father.

Jesus Answers Prayer. In Matthew 17:19-20 we read: “If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them.” NIV. Here, Jesus indicates that he is present when believers pray together, suggesting that he participates with the Father in answering prayer.

In John 14:12-14 Jesus says: “I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Here Jesus says explicitly that he answers prayer.

When Jesus asks us to pray in his name, he is asking us to pray in agreement with his character and teaching, and therefore in agreement with the will of God. This is required for God to answer prayer. God will not answer prayers that are motivated by pride, greed, hate, or any other kind of wickedness. For to do so would be to violate his holiness and he will never do that.

We read in Hebrews 4:15-16: “We do not have a high priest (Jesus Christ) who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” NIV.

The writer of Hebrews echoes what we have learned from the words Jesus in the Gospels, that Jesus answers prayer. But Hebrews goes further. It tells us that because of his humanity he can empathize with us and fully understands our need for help and our desperate dependence on him (God). Now restored to full glory and power in heaven with the Father, Jesus can supply our needs in answer to prayer. He lovingly makes himself available to us so that we can confidently approach him and find forgiveness and help for our lives.

Jesus is the Judge of all People. In John 5:22 Jesus tells us that his Father has entrusted all judgement to the Son. He continues in John 5:27 saying the Father has given him all authority to judge, because he is the Son of Man. In these verses Jesus claims to be the judge of the world, an office reserved for God alone.

Jesus Predicts the Future. At the last supper with his disciples, before his crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus made two predictions. The first demonstrated that he knew Judas would betray him and the second showed he knew Peter would deny him three times before the rooster crowed the following morning. As he told his disciples this, he explained: “I am telling you now before it happens so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.” John 13:19. NIV.

Jesus prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem (Luke 21: 20-24) which was fulfilled about 37 years later in 70 AD. Jesus foretold the destruction of three cities: Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. (Matthew 11:20-24). They were all destroyed, just as he said, never to be rebuilt. No judgment was pronounced on nearby Tiberius and this city still exists, 2,000 years later.

In Matthew, Jesus predicts the character of the age to follow: wars, famines, earthquakes, false Christs, false prophets, and an increase in wickedness in the world. Then he tells us of his second coming: “The Son of Man will appear in the sky and all nations…will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:30. This prophecy about his return is, of course, yet to be fulfilled.

Jesus foretells his death and resurrection. “Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the gentiles (Romans) to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life.'” Matthew 20:17-19. It happened just as he said.

Jesus Gives Eternal Life. In John 3:15-16 Jesus says, “Everyone who believes in him (Jesus) may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” In John 4:14, Jesus tells the woman at the well, “Indeed, the water I give to him (a person) will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” In John 6:40 Jesus tells us, “Everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life.” And in John 10:27-28 Jesus says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”

No mere man can give anyone eternal life. Only God can make such a promise.

Summary. Who can forgive sins, live a sinless life, legitimately accept worship, know what people are thinking, know hidden facts about people’s lives and unrevealed truths about God, present teachings superior to all others, have the attributes of God, have a unique relationship with God, answer prayer, be the judge of the world, predict the future, or give eternal life? Only God. These implicit signs of Christ’s Deity all attest that Jesus Christ is God.

First Instance: Jesus declares that he is God a number of times in the Gospels. In John chapter four, Jesus talks with a Samaritan woman by Jacob’s well in the town of Sychar. After astonishing her with his supernatural knowledge of her personal life, she realizes that he is a prophet; then she says, “I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Jesus replies, “I who speak to you am he.” John 4:25,26. NIV.

Here, Jesus says directly that he is the Messiah, the Christ. Since Old Testament prophecy indicates that the Messiah will be God, he is also making the claim of Deity. Isaiah 9:6-7 makes this connection when describing the Messiah as the “Mighty God” and as the “Everlasting Father.”

Second Instance: On a certain occasion, Jesus is in the temple complex in Jerusalem. Some Jews gather around him and say, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” He replies, “I did tell you, but you do not believe.” John 10:24-25. NIV. Jesus then goes on to say that his sheep listen to him and follow him, and he gives them eternal life. Then he says. “I and my Father are one.” The Jews think that this is blasphemy, “because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” John 10:30,33. NIV. They understand correctly that he is telling them that he is God.

Third Instance: In John chapter thirteen, after washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus says. “You call me teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am.” John 13:13. NIV. Jesus claims he is not only the disciples’ teacher, but he is also their Lord – the Supreme One.

Fourth Instance: In John chapter eight, Jesus engages in a lengthy discussion with the Pharisees about who he is. Toward the end of the exchange, Jesus tells them. “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” The Jews reply, “You are not yet fifty tears old, and you have seen Abraham?” Then Jesus replies, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I Am!” John 8:56-58. NIV. This statement refers back to when God told Moses that his name is “I AM.” Accordingly, Jesus is making a direct claim to be the Jehovah-God of the Old Testament.

Fifth Instance: After Jesus is arrested, he is brought before the whole Sanhedrin, the governing body of priests in Israel. The high priest, Caiaphas, says to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God; Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus replies, “Yes, it is as you say; But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy!” Matthew 26:63-65. NIV. The priests understand that he is claiming Deity, but they do not understand that the evidence he supplied for his Deity is sufficient. They are blinded by their envy and lust for power, and see him as an unacceptable threat to their authority.

In this passage, Jesus not only claims to be the “Son of God,” he also claims to be the “Son of Man.” This latter designation refers to a vision the prophet Daniel had. Daniel writes: “In my vision at night I looked and there before me was one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days (God the Father) and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power; all peoples, nations, and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14. NIV.

This vision is about the promised Messiah. In it, the Messiah is in the presence of the Father in heaven and is given all authority and dominion over all people. He receives worship, which is due only to God and presides over an eternal kingdom. Thus, when “under oath by the living God” the reference to the Son of Man made by Jesus, shows he is claiming to be the eternal Son who is God.

 

As we have seen, the claim that Jesus Christ is God is found in both the Old and New Testaments. Messianic prophecies, key New Testament passages, every chapter in the Gospel of John, the “I Am” sayings of Christ, his implicit claims of Deity, and his outright claims of Deity all combine to tell us these things: First, the Old Testament prophets indicate the coming Messiah will be God, and Jesus fits the description of that Messiah. Second, the apostles and writers of the New Testament claim that Jesus is God. Third, Jesus himself claims to be God.

We emphasize this point because there are those who say that Jesus was merely a good teacher and a good man, but not God. But we must disagree. Because of the clarity of the Claim and the force of the Evidence (which we will discuss in the next section), we find this view of Christ completely untenable. Consider the words of C. S. Lewis:

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” ³Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers, 1952, p. 51-52.

So here we have it. If Jesus says he is God and believes it, but is wrong, he is self-deluded, insane, and out of touch with reality. If Jesus says he is God and knows he is lying, he is an evil man, an arch-deceiver, a person with malice and rank disregard for the damage such a deception brings. However, if Jesus says he is God because he is God, he is telling the truth, and we should listen to him. We are left then with these alternatives: Either he is insane, a master deceiver, or God Incarnate.

Geisler and Turek comment: “Liar doesn’t fit the facts (because) Jesus lived and taught the highest standard of ethics.” “Lunatic doesn’t fit either. Jesus uttered some of the most profound sayings ever recorded.” “That leaves us with Lord.”⁴Geisler, Norman L. and Turek, Frank. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004, p 346-347.. And, as we shall see below, “Lord” is the description that fits perfectly.

In the section that follows, we will present evidence for the Deity of Jesus Christ. We believe the evidence presented will be sufficient for faith in Jesus Christ and in his Deity. We hope the reader will agree.

 

 

Christians believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ for a number of reasons. The first reason we offer is that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and it teaches the Deity of Christ. Why do we believe the Bible is Divinely inspired? You may read the article on this website “Why Christians Believe the Bible” for a detailed discussion. Here, we present a summary.

Historical Analysis: Just how do you establish the trustworthiness of documents that were written 2,000 years ago? To establish the veracity of ancient texts, historians analyze historical records employing reasonable criteria that help determine the accuracy of these records.

New Testament Documents Satisfy All Relevant Criteria: The New Testament story of Jesus Christ’s life was written by a substantial number of witnesses of varied backgrounds and personalities whose writings agree with each other. These disciples cited historical facts verified by other sources, suffered and died for their faith, wrote embarrassing details about their lives, and wrote simply and directly as truth-tellers. They wrote within a few years of the events they recorded while others who witnessed the same events were still alive. Document analysis shows that the New Testament documents have been preserved and are essentially the same as when first written. Moreover, archaeology and numerous secular sources confirm the basic story of Jesus Christ in the Gospels.

So, if the New Testament was written by truth-tellers who carefully and accurately wrote about what they heard, saw, and experienced when they were with Jesus Christ for three years as his disciples, and if their writings were faithfully preserved, it is reasonable to conclude that the passages pertaining to the Deity of Christ correctly describe what actually happened.

The Bible is the Word of God: The Bible is not only accurately written and well preserved, it also shows evidence of being the Word of God. Evidence for Divine Authorship includes the Preservation of the Bible over the centuries, the Unity of its message with about 40 authors written over a period of 1,600 years, hundreds of fulfilled Prophecies, the highest standard of Morality in the world, and its documented Miracles.

If the Bible is indeed the Word of the Living God, and if it teaches the Deity of Jesus Christ, this alone becomes a good and sufficient reason to believe that Jesus is God.

In our earlier review of Messianic prophecies in Isaiah 42 – 53, we saw that these descriptions fit the life and person of Jesus Christ perfectly, even though they were written about 700 years before he lived.

Also, we saw that other Old Testament passages tell us that the Messiah will be of the seed of a woman, descended from Shem, from Abraham and thus from the Jewish Nation, from Isaac, from Jacob, of the tribe of Judah, and of the family of David. Moreover, he will be born in Bethlehem, will die in A.D. 33, rise from the dead, and will be God in human flesh. And we observed that the only person in history that matches these descriptions is Jesus Christ. Parenthetically, we want to say the accuracy and clarity of these Messianic prophecies compels us to exclaim that these prophecies are truly astonishing!

More to the point, because we see that Jesus matches the description of the Old Testament Messiah who is Deity, and because Jesus is the only person who is a match, these passages offer strong testimony that Jesus is God.

 

As previously indicated, the New Testament accounts of Jesus’ life were written by truth-tellers who gave eyewitness testimony about what they saw and heard. Therefore, we believe that the passages describing the miracles of Jesus are accurate records of events that actually occurred.

In the Gospel of John, seven miracles are presented which confirm the Deity of Christ. Please note the use of three words to describe these events. Miracle refers to the event itself and the power of the one doing it. Wonder refers to peoples’ emotional response of wonder and awe inspired by the event. Sign refers to the meaning or teaching implied by the event. The first miracle presented in John is turning water into wine.

1. Jesus Turns Water into Wine

Jesus, his disciples, and his mother attend a wedding in Cana of Galilee. On the third day of a seven day wedding celebration, the host runs out of wine. Mary, the mother of Jesus, tells Jesus about the problem, suggesting that he can provide a remedy. In that day, running out of wine at a wedding was a serious social offence and Mary did not want the host family embarrassed. Jesus tells the servants to fill six stone jars with water, each holding from 20 to 30 gallons. Then he tells them to draw the liquid out of them and take it to the master of ceremonies to drink. When he drinks, he exclaims that this is the “best wine” served during the wedding. John 2:1-10.

Why does Mary come to Jesus for help? I think its because she knows who he is and what he can do. How does she know this? Perhaps it was because of the Angel’s announcement to her about Jesus’ birth. Perhaps she and Jesus had conversations over the years which revealed his Deity and ability to do miracles. And perhaps Jesus had done miracles in the household where he grew up – we don’t know this, it’s clearly speculation – but somehow Mary knows Jesus can do extraordinary acts and she is asking for something like this to happen. I believe her request is a testimony to her belief in his Deity.

The Miracle: What does Jesus do when he changes water to wine? He takes a lifeless substance, water, and transforms it into a biological by-product, wine. He changes the molecular structure of water into that of wine! He shows he has authority over physical matter and over biological material.

Normally, wine making requires preparing the soil, planting the vine, nurturing it to maturity, watering and fertilizing it, picking grapes, removing stems and leaves, crushing the grapes, moving the skins-juice-seeds to an air-tight container, allowing fermentation to take place, removing the solid particles, and putting the wine into containers. Jesus bypasses this entire process. He changes the water into wine immediately! He does a Creative act! He gives evidence of his Deity!

The Lesson: And what does this incredible miracle teach us beyond the amazing power of Jesus? Think about it. If Jesus can change the properties of physical nature, he can also transform human nature. And, if Jesus made the “best wine,” he can make our lives the best also. No matter how badly we may be damaged, he can change us so that “the best” becomes a reality in our lives.

2. Jesus Heals the Official’s Son

Again, we find Jesus in Cana of Galilee. “And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick in Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.” John 4:46-47. NIV. The man said, “‘Sir, come down before my child dies.’ Jesus replied, ‘You may go. Your son will live.’

“The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, ‘The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.’ Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, ‘Your son will live.’ So he and all his household believed.” John 4:49-53. NIV.

The Miracle: What does Jesus do here? He heals a boy with a fever, who is close to death. If the fever was caused by a bacterial infection, Jesus had to kill the bacteria and then restore proper functioning of all the systems of the body. This alone is amazing because he accomplishes this merely by saying, ‘Your son will live.’ Even more incredible is the fact that he did it at a distance! The boy was probably a day’s journey away from where Jesus was. This healing by speech alone and at a distance of perhaps 15 to 20 miles is the kind of thing that only Deity can do.

The Lesson: What does this miracle teach us? Jesus can prevent death. He has authority over life and death. Also, he can touch our lives to heal, help, assist, or enable us from his place in heaven. He can answer prayer! He can renew life in us when troubles come. He can rescue us from tragedy, deprivation, illness, or any other difficulty. He is LORD over life and death!

3. Jesus Heals a Man by the Pool of Bethesda

At a pool in Jerusalem called Bethesda, “a great number of disabled people used to lie – the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’

“‘Sir,’ the invalid replied, ‘I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.’ (Their tradition was that when an angel stirred the water, the first person to get in would be cured.) Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.” John 5:3-9. NIV.

The Miracle: Here Jesus cures a man who is lame or paralyzed and who has not walked in 38 years! In order to walk, this man needed the repair and/or regrowth of muscles, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, and more; he needed the impartation of strength into atrophied muscle tissues; he needed to be able to balance himself. He probably once walked, because Jesus said to him after he was healed, ‘See, you are well again.” Whatever he needed in order to walk, Jesus gave it to him. The effects of whatever injury or illness that happened 38 years before, were now erased!

Jesus took pity on this man out of kindness and love. How did he do the healing? He spoke! He merely said, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ The cure was instantaneous. The man walked immediately. Here again, this is something that only God can do.

The Lesson: Now what can we learn from this story? We see in the story that Jesus has power over chronic illness and physical frailty. This suggests that Jesus also has authority over moral weakness and moral corruption in our lives. He, as our Savior, can give us a heart’s desire to do what is right; and he can also be present with us, enabling us to actually do what is right, daily.

4. Jesus Feeds the 5,000

“Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of galilee…and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick.” John 6:1-2. NIV. “When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘Eight months wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!’ Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’

“Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted, He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

“After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, ‘Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.'” John 6:5-14. NIV.

The Miracle: What’s the miracle? Bread and fish are multiplied from enough to feed one boy to enough to feed more than 5,000 people. (Matthew 14:21 tells us that in addition to 5,000 men, there were also women and children present, so the total could have been eight to ten thousand!)

We know that making bread requires flour, yeast, water, salt, and oil, if leavened. After these ingredients are mixed, the bread needs time to rise. Then it must be kneaded and baked. It takes about two hours to bake a loaf of bread. Fish lay eggs which hatch into tiny fish that have to grow to maturity over a period of months. Jesus created instant bread and instant fish! Only God can do this. This was a creative act that bypassed the normal formation of these foods.

The Lesson: Jesus multiplied food to feed hungry people. This suggests that he can supply spiritual nourishment for hungry souls. He is the Bread of Life! Just as Moses, through God’s provision, supplied manna (food) and water in the desert for Israel, so Jesus supplies eternal life and spiritual nourishment for all who believe in Him.

The spiritual hunger that we all have – for existential meaning, for a reason to live, for real love, for forgiveness, for acceptance, for belonging, for mercy and grace – for God – can be satisfied by Jesus Christ! This is the primary lesson we learn from this miracle.

Also, he took a few pieces of bread and fish and turned them into an abundant supply (12 baskets were left over). This gives us hope that he can make “much” of our personal limitations and despite such limitations use us to glorify his name. Our part is to give him all we have; he then can multiply that to create abundance in our lives and in the lives of those we touch. This is another lesson taught by this miracle.

5. Jesus Walks on Water

“When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the water grew rough. When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. But he said to them, ‘It is I; don’t be afraid.’ Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.” John 6:16-21. NIV.

The Miracle: And what is the miracle here? Jesus walks not on rocks, not on the beach, not on soil; he walks on water! But the molecular structure of water doesn’t allow that. Water is a liquid. When an object is pushed against water, the water gives way. Objects with density greater than water sink. To accomplish this miracle, Jesus had to change the molecular structure of water to support his weight with each step he took across the lake – and he had walked for three to three and a half miles on the water! He altered the physical laws that define the properties of water as he walked. Who is able to do this? Only God!

The Lesson: Just as Jesus can alter physical laws in nature to accomplish his purpose, so he controls spiritual laws which affect our eternal destiny. After dying, we will face Jesus Christ. He will make judgments about our lives and decide our fate. There will be rewards for some; there will be punishments for others. He makes the rules; he decides. We do not. We must submit to his requirements if we are to spend eternity with him in heaven.

When the Jews asked, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One he has sent.” John 6:28-29. NIV. They were looking for something to do – good works of some sort. Jesus tells them to believe. In other words, salvation is a gift! To be accepted by God, a person must receive this gift by humbling themselves, trusting in Christ as Savior, and submitting to him as Lord. This is what God requires.

6. Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

As Jesus and his disciples were walking along, he saw a man who was blind from birth. The disciples wondered if the man was blind because of his sins or the sins of his parents. Jesus replied that sin was not the cause, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” John 9:3. NIV. “Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. ‘Go,’ he told him, ‘wash in the pool of Siloam’…. So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

“His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, ‘Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?’ Some claimed he was. Others said ‘No, he only looks like him.’ But he himself insisted, ‘I am the man.’ ‘How were your eyes opened?’ they demanded. He replied, ‘The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.'” John 9:6-11. NIV.

Later, the Pharisees (religious leaders) summoned the man and asked him how he gained his sight. When he told them, they criticized Jesus for violating the Sabbath, calling Jesus a sinner. The man replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” John 9:25. NIV. They kept arguing with the man, who responded again, “We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” John 9:31-33. NIV.

After that, Jesus found the man and revealed himself to him, whereupon the man believed in and worshiped Jesus. Then Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” John 9:39. NIV.

The Miracle: Jesus made eyes that had never seen into eyes that could see. We don’t know exactly what was wrong with them; it could have been the lenses, the corneas, the macula, the optic nerves, or something else. But the idea of genetic blindness suggests the man’s eyes or some parts of his eyes never formed properly.

To fix this condition, a creative act was required. The blind eyes had to grow into fully functioned eyes. The man needed new eyes that worked. This is what Jesus gave him. Who can do this? Only God. Jesus is Lord over biological formation and function!

The Lesson: And what do we learn from this healing? If Jesus can give physical sight, he can give spiritual sight to those who humble themselves before God and admit their need. However, those who fail to acknowledge their need for God because they are locked into a prejudicial attitude of self-sufficiency, will remain spiritually blind. All of us need spiritual insight to understand the things of God. When we approach Jesus humbly, he will give this to us.

7. Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

Jesus had become friends with Mary, her sister Martha, and their brother, Lazarus, who lived about two miles from Jerusalem in Bethany. The sisters sent word to Jesus that their brother was sick. “When Jesus heard this, he said, ‘This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.’ Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. Then he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go back to Judea.'” John 11:4-7. NIV.

Jesus went on to tell his disciples, “‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.’ His disciples replied, ‘Lord if he sleeps, he will get better.’ Jesus had been speaking of his death, but the disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.'” John 11:11-15. NIV.

“On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days…and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him…. ‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.’

“Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha answered, ‘I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ ‘Yes Lord,’ she told him, ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.'” John 11:17-27. NIV.

Then Martha went back home and told her sister, Mary, that Jesus had arrived and was asking for her. Mary went to Jesus and said, “‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ‘Where have you laid him?’ he asked. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!'” John 11:32-36. NIV.

Jesus “came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. ‘Take away the stone,’ he said. ‘But Lord,’ said Martha, the sister of the dead man, ‘by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I know that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!‘ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.'” John 11:38-44. NIV.

“Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.” John 11:45. NIV.

The Miracle: Lazarus, a man who died and was dead long enough for his body to begin to decay, is brought back to life and he is just fine. The tissues in this man’s body had to be restored to healthy, living, fully functioning tissue. The heart had to be restarted, the blood reconstituted, the brain function restored, and on and on. It took a creative act to make this man’s body live again. This miracle shouts out, magnifies, and loudly proclaims the Deity of Christ, because only God can do such things.

Lessons: What do we learn from this amazing story? If Jesus can raise a dead, decayed body to life, then he can give eternal life to those who trust in him. Also his words imply that at the future resurrection, he will give believers an imperishable, perfect, holy body for all eternity.

Death is not a controlling factor for Christians, because Jesus tell us that “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” John 11:25. NIV. So, when our body dies, our spirit will continue living, and we will be taken into the care and presence of God. Paul comments on this in Philippians, saying “For me to live is Christ, and to die gain.” Philippians 1:21. KJV. He also says, “I desire to depart (die) and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” Philippians 1:23,24. NIV.” Death is not a terror to believers. Jesus has overcome death!

In John 14 Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3. NIV. We can trust him to take us and our loved ones safely over to the other side when we die.

In addition to the seven miracles in the Gospel of John, we present three more notable miracles which confirm the Deity of Christ.

8. Jesus Calms the Storm

“Then he (Jesus) got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord save us! We’re going to drown!’ He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, ‘what kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!'” Matthew 8:23-27. NIV.

The Miracle: A furious storm comes up suddenly on the Sea of galilee, such that the waves are washing over the boat that Jesus and his disciples are in. Some of the disciples are fishermen and are accustomed to being on a boat and surely, they have been in storms before, but even they are afraid. So this storm must have been very fierce and dangerous. When Jesus rebukes the wind and the waves, he shows that he is Lord over the weather – the wind and rain – and Lord over large bodies of water. He demonstrates here that he can control the climate and control the movement of the seas, simply by ordering them to do what he wishes. Only God can do that.

The Lesson: If Jesus can calm a storm at sea, he can calm the “storms” we face in life. When storms come our way, we can go to him and ask for help. We may feel afraid, overwhelmed, and inadequate; but he hears our every prayer and will deal with the danger we face.

This does not mean that every difficulty will disappear for two reasons: First, we live in a sinful world where suffering is present. Second, discipleship with Christ sometimes involves suffering. Nevertheless, Jesus will respond to our request and put limits on the storm. He will equip us to face it and help us to go through it. He is with us, responds when we call on him and takes care of us in all circumstances.

Also, the greater our faith in Christ, the less fearful we will be. Our faith increases when we remember that our Lord Jesus Christ is God, has all power, loves us tenderly, and hears every prayer. We must keep praying about everything that arises in our lives. He is God and He is able, trustworthy, and faithful!

9. Jesus Heals the Man with the Shriveled Hand

Jesus entered a synagogue, “and a man with a shriveled hand was there. He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.” Matthew 12:9,13. NIV.

The Miracle: Jesus took a hand that had never grown out completely and turned it into a properly formed and fully functioning hand. He had to command the growth of bone, cartilage, muscle, tendons, blood vessels, nerves, sensory systems, and more to produce a perfect hand. The man had a size – tall, short, thin, heavy, or average. He had a hand size. Jesus had to know how to make this man’s hand grow out to be in proportion to the other parts of his body and especially of his other hand. Jesus was up to this task and did it by speaking a few words, revealing his Deity.

The Lesson: If Jesus can restore a withered hand, he can help us with our personal deficiencies. He can help us develop the life skills, academic achievements, vocational skills, and healthy relationships we need for successful living.

10. Jesus Heals a Paralytic

Jesus was teaching in a house in Galilee one day where a number of Jewish teachers had come to hear him. Because of the crowd, several men lowered their friend, a paralytic, down through the roof to get to Jesus who was in the house. “When Jesus saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend your sins are forgiven.'” Luke 5:20. NIV. The teachers began to think that Jesus had spoken blasphemy because only God can forgive sins.

“Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, ‘Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk?” But that you may know that the son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….’ He said to the paralyzed man, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’ Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God.”Luke 5:22-26. NIV.

Notice the question Jesus asked; “Which is easier tosay,‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or tosay,‘Get up and walk?’ Clearly, it was easier tosay, “Your sins are forgiven’ because there was no way anyone could prove or disprove if the man’s sins had been forgiven. Correspondingly, it was harder (required more authority) to say “Get up and walk” because that statement required a result which could be easily observed.

The Miracle: Jesus cures a man who is paralyzed, a man who cannot walk. Just like the paralytic Jesus healed by the pool of Bethesda, this man needed the repair and/or regrowth of muscles, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, and more; he needed the impartation of strength into atrophied muscle tissues; he needed to be able to balance himself. Whatever he needed in order to walk, Jesus gave it to him. The effects of whatever injury, illness, or congenital condition he had were now removed!

How did he do the healing? He spoke! He merely said, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’ The cure was instantaneous. The man walked immediately. Here again, this is something that only Deity can do. Only God could have cured the paralytic instantly and only God can forgive sins. Since Jesus is God, he can do both.

The Lesson: Just as a paralytic is helpless in certain respects, we are helpless to remove our own sins or the divine and just punishment for committing them, but Jesus can do this for us. Also, if Jesus can heal a chronic severe physical condition like paralysis, he can heal our hearts, minds, and souls which have been damaged by our sin condition. His grace can create and restore proper functioning in our personal and social lives.

 

 

His astonishing miracles show that Jesus Christ has authority over physical matter and the laws of physics, over biological material and the laws of biology, over congenital defects, over diseases, over the climate, over the movement of lakes and seas, and even over death! He demonstrates creative power by transforming water to wine, by multiplying bread and fish to feed thousands, and by giving function to congenitally defective eyes and a withered hand. Every miracle tells us that Jesus is God!

Jesus himself tells us that we are to pay attention to his miracles and believe in him because of them. He said, “The miracles I do…speak for me.” John 10:25. NIV. And “Even though you do not believe me (my words), believe the miracles that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father (that he is equal with God).” John 10:38. NIV. Also, “Believe me when I say…or at least believe the evidence of the miracles.” John 14:11. NIV. Here, Jesus cites his miracles as proof of his Deity.

We need to realize that if you or I had been present 2,000 years ago, we would have seen the same things the disciples saw. We would have seen a withered hand made whole; we would have seen congenital defects repaired; we would have seen terminal diseases cured, we would have seen eight to ten thousand people fed, we would have seen Jesus walking on water, and we would have seen a dead man come to life! These are events that actually happened!

As we discussed earlier, Jesus’ claims to Deity are very clear. He said he was God. Now we see that he provides powerful evidence for his claim to Deity with his miracles. The conclusion is inescapable; in view of the amazing scope of his miracles, he is indeed who he says he is, God.

No Limits! Because he is God, Jesus Christ has no limits. He is not limited by the physical properties of matter, by molecular structure, by item quantity, by biology, by genetic disability, by illness, by distance, by climate, by life, by death, or by anything in the created order. There are no boundaries for him. He is Lord over all!

Miracles are Possible! For those who wonder if miracles are possible, we want to say this. Miracles are possible because there is a God* who spoke the universe into being, creating matter, energy, space, and time as well as the laws of physics and biology. Because he is outside his universe and superior to it, he can intervene at will and alter the laws he has established and do what we call miracles. *See the article on this website, “Why Christians Believe in God” for evidence for the existence of the God who created the universe.

 

Paul writes that Jesus Christ “was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 1:4. NIV. In other words, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is proof of his Deity.

There are three primary bodies of evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 1. Jesus actually died on the cross; 2. The tomb in which he was buried was empty on resurrection day; and 3. Jesus made numerous appearances to his disciples after he rose from the dead. We will discuss each.

Jesus Actually Died on the Cross

In “The Case for Christ,” by Lee Strobel, the author interviews a medical doctor, Alexander Metherell, MD, PhD, who provides a medical analysis of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. The following descriptions reflect his insights and observations.

The Flogging: Jesus’ suffering began in the Garden of Gethsemane where he agonized in prayer until Judas arrived with the temple police who arrested him. He then endured three Jewish trials and three Roman trials before hostile accusers. The temple guards hit, slapped, and beat him; the Roman guards did worse: they flogged him with a whip made of leather strips imbedded with balls of lead and pieces of sharpened bone. The flogging resulted in severe deep bruising and tearing of the flesh of the shoulders, back, buttocks, and upper legs. Beatings of this kind were so severe the victims often died before they could be crucified.⁵Strobel, Lee. The Case For Christ. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016, p 211-212. “‹

Such a beating causes extreme pain and “hypovolemic shock.” This condition is caused by “the loss of large amounts of blood.” As a result, “the heart races to try to pump blood that isn’t there, the blood pressure drops causing fainting or collapse, the kidneys stop (working), and the person becomes very thirsty as the body craves fluids to replace the lost blood volume.”⁶Strobel, Lee. The Case For Christ. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016, p 212.

When Jesus tried to carry his cross on the way to be crucified, he collapsed because he was showing signs of this condition. This also accounts for his words “I thirst” when on the cross. “Because of the terrible effects of this beating, there’s no question that Jesus was already in serious-to-critical (medical) condition even before” his crucifixion.⁷Strobel, Lee. The Case For Christ. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016, p 212.

The Crucifixion: Once at the site of the crucifixion, the Roman soldiers would have stretched out Jesus’ arms and nailed his wrists to the horizontal beam with large spikes. The spikes penetrated the median nerve in the wrists resulting in unbelievable pain. The horizontal beam was then lifted up and attached to the vertical beam and spikes were driven through his feet, crushing more nerves and causing more intense pain. Upon being hoisted up, the arms were forcefully stretched by his body weight, pulling his shoulders out of joint. Again more intense pain.⁸Strobel, Lee. The Case For Christ. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016, p 213-214.

Agony on the Cross: “Once a person is hanging in the vertical position,…crucifixion is essentially an agonizingly slow death by asphyxiation. The reason is that the stresses on the muscles and diaphragm put the chest into the inhaled position; basically, in order to exhale, the individual must push up on his feet so the tension on the muscles would be eased for a moment. In doing so, the nail would tear through the foot…. After managing to exhale, the person would then be able to relax down and take another breath in. Again he’d have to push himself up to exhale, scraping his bloodied back against the coarse wood of the cross. This would go on and on until complete exhaustion would take over.”⁹Strobel, Lee. The Case For Christ. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016, p 215.

How Did Jesus Die? At the same time Jesus is hanging on the cross, “the hypovolemic shock (from the flogging) would have caused a sustained rapid heart rate that would have contributed to heart failure, resulting in the collection of fluid in the membrane around the heart, called a pericardial effusion, as well as (the collection of fluid) around the lungs, which is called a pleural effusion.”¹⁰Strobel, Lee. The Case For Christ. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016, p 215. This is important because when the Roman soldier pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, blood and water came out. Thus, the Biblical description in the gospel of John (John 19:34) is consistent with what modern medicine would expect to have happened.

Dr. Metherell concluded by saying, “there was absolutely no doubt that Jesus was dead”¹¹Strobel, Lee. The Case For Christ. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016, p 216. before the Roman soldier pierced his side. The soldier’s spear merely revealed Jesus’ death, it did not cause his death. Truman Davis, M.D., another medical doctor, who did a medical analysis of the crucifixion states, “We, therefore, have rather conclusive post-mortem evidence that [Christ] died, not the usual crucifixion death by suffocation, but of heart failure due to shock and constriction of the heart by fluid in the pericardium.”¹²McDowell, Josh. A Ready Defense. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1993, p 224.

Thus we are given the first historical fact of evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ – he actually died on the cross.

The Tomb Was Empty

On Sunday morning following the crucifixion, the body of Jesus was missing from the tomb. The empty tomb is referred to in all four Gospel narratives, as well as in the writings of Paul. We believe the empty tomb is a fact of history for a number of reasons as set forth below.

The Women and the Disciples Believed the Tomb Was Empty: The women who followed Jesus were not expecting the tomb to be empty and neither were the disciples. The women came to anoint the body of Jesus. Their concern was about who would roll away the entrance stone so they could get to the body of Jesus and anoint it. When they found the stone rolled away, they were surprised. When they entered the tomb there was no corpse there. After they returned to the disciples and told them what they found, Peter and John ran to the tomb and also found it empty.

The Roman Soldiers Believed the Tomb Was Empty: The Roman guards knew the body of Jesus was no longer in the tomb. They went to the Jewish authorities to tell them “everything that happened.” We are not told exactly what they said, but it is likely that they reported the earthquake and the visit of the angel who moved the stone away from the tomb, and it is possible they talked about the two angels in the tomb and even the appearances of Jesus to Mary Magdalene and to the other women.

The soldiers had to explain in plausible terms why they fell down on the job and allowed the stone to be moved and the tomb emptied of the body of Jesus. How were they to explain this? Telling the truth about the angel moving the stone was the best and only explanation that could have been used to convince the Jews they had been as responsible as possible in their duties given the circumstances.

Whatever they said convinced the Jews that the soldiers had not been negligent in their duties and that there was nothing they could have done to prevent what happened. In fact, the Jews did not blame the soldiers at all.

The Jewish Authorities Believed the Tomb Was Empty: After hearing the soldiers’ story, the Jews became convinced that the tomb was empty. They could have checked it themselves and maybe they did – we aren’t told. But, their intense concern at this point was to devise a fraudulent explanation about why it was empty, and not to question if it was empty. In so doing, they hoped to eliminate any explanation which would encourage people to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The soldiers’ intense concern was to avoid punishment for an apparent neglect of duty. So the Jews offered them a deal. They “gave the soldiers a large sum of money” to say, “His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.” Also the Jews offered to make amends with the Roman governor “and keep them out of trouble.” Matthews 28:12-15. NIV. The Jews told the soldiers what to say because they did not want them to tell the actual story which they had heard from them. They did not want a resurrection story told.

Historian Ron Sider: “If the Christians and their Jewish opponents both agreed that the tomb was empty, we have little choice but to accept the empty tomb as a historical fact.”¹³McDowell, Josh. The Resurrection Factor. San Bernardino: Here’s Life Publishers, Inc., 1981, p 66.

No Ancient Historical Document Denys the Empty Tomb: Also it must be noted that there is no reference in any ancient historical document which says that anybody – whether Christian, Jew or Roman – saw the body of Jesus in the tomb.¹⁴McDowell, Josh. The Resurrection Factor. San Bernardino: Here’s Life Publishers, Inc., 1981, p 66. Further, there is no ancient document which says that anyone could produce the body of Jesus. When the apostles began preaching the resurrection of Jesus Christ 49 days later in Jerusalem and the crowds responded by turning to faith in Christ, neither the Jews nor the Romans could produce the body of Jesus. If they had, the Christian movement would have died. Instead, it thrived!

Thus we have the second historical fact of evidence for Jesus Christ’s resurrection – the empty tomb!

The Resurrection Appearances

After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to: Mary Magdalene, the other women, two travelers on the road to Emmaus, Peter, his disciples, Thomas, over 500 people at one time, his half-brother – James, and the apostle Paul on the road to Damascus.

So why did they believe? Here’s a summary of the evidence that convinced the disciples and followers of Jesus that he had indeed risen from the dead.

1. The grave cloths in the tomb.
2. The voice of Jesus, which they recognized.
3. Jesus’ physical presence.
4. The scars of crucifixion.
5. He actually ate food.
6. Jesus’ familiar manner and speech.
7. His knowledge of Old Testament Scriptures concerning himself.
8. Jesus’ manner of giving thanks and breaking bread before a meal.
9. His knowledge of personal information and shared history with the disciples and James.
10. Jesus’ penetrating insight into the disciples thoughts and emotions in real time.
11. His familiar concern and love for them when with them.
12. Jesus’ ability to appear and disappear in a locked room and yet show himself to be a solid, material, physical person.
13. A Divine touch when “He opened their eyes.”

The disciples saw him, heard his voice, touched him, talked with him extensively, saw him eat, and saw him appear and disappear. These disciples were eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ!

The apostle Paul did not spend three years traveling with Jesus as did the disciples. Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus. So why did Paul believe? Here are the elements of evidence that convinced Paul.

1. The light and voice from heaven.
2. The manner of address: “Saul, Saul.” At this point, Paul believed it was the voice of God speaking because he responded by called him “Lord” (God).
3. The identification of the voice: “I am Jesus.”
4. The penetrating accusation of guilt: “Why do you persecute me?” It is God who knows which of our behaviors are sins and has the right to confront us about them.
5. Paul’s rabbinic understanding of how God revealed himself in the Old Testament, and how this experience was in keeping with those revelations.
6. The two miraculous visions: Paul’s of Ananias, and Ananias’ of Paul which perfectly agreed with each other.
7. Paul’s loss of sight which was a real change in his physical condition, further indicating that this was not an imagined event.
8. Ananias miraculously knew where to find Paul and miraculously knew what had happened to Paul on the road to Damascus, because God had revealed these things to him.
9. The restoration of Paul’s sight, as Jesus had promised him.
10. The filling of the Holy Spirit confirmed and bolstered the truth of it all.
11. That Paul, with his immense intellect and from his deepest feelings, genuinely changed his thoughts, emotions, attitude, purpose and behavior – all within a few days, because God had met with him and changed him radically!

Because of this evidence for the resurrection appearances of Jesus Christ, we conclude that he did appear numerous times to his disciples in a resurrected body after having died on the cross.

Thus we are given the third (set of) historical fact(s) of evidence for Jesus Christ’s resurrection – Jesus Christ appeared repeatedly to his disciples after he rose from the dead.

The Grave Clothes

Additional Evidence: The story of how the apostle John came to believe in the resurrection is of importance here. When Peter and John ran to the tomb, John outran Peter and got to the tomb first. “Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, yet he did not go in. Then, following him, Simon Peter came also. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. The wrapping that had been on His head was not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a separate place by itself.” Then John “entered the tomb, saw, and believed.” John 20:5-8. HCSB.

So what did John see that caused him to believe? The body of Jesus had been wrapped in one foot wide linen bands with a gummy substance and spices in between layers from the feet to the neck and a turban had been wrapped on his head. What John saw was that the “cocoon” wrapped around Jesus body had collapsed as if the body which had been in it had just passed through it without disturbing it. The covering for the head was likewise in its place where the head had been, but because it had been wrapped in a turban style, it stood up a little, yet undisturbed. Beyond this, John had already seen that the tomb was empty, but it was the position of the grave clothes that convinced him that Jesus had risen from the dead.

The Nature of the Resurrection: The position of the grave clothes tells us not only that Jesus rose from the dead, it also tells us something about the nature of the resurrection.¹⁵McDowell, Josh. Evidence That Demands a Verdict. San Bernardino: Here’s Life Publishers, Inc., 1979, p 221. Later, when Jesus appeared to his disciples in his resurrection body, he was able to pass through walls and appear and disappear at will. The position of the grave clothes tells us that Jesus in his resurrection body was capable of moving through physical objects. Later he demonstrated that he could touch people and be touched by them as well as eat food, that is, he could present his body as a solid object. These new and astounding capabilities of Jesus’ resurrection body were part of the miracle of his bodily resurrection.

The Evidence is Sufficient for Belief: Today, we are 2,000 years removed from the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We cannot do a firsthand examination of the ancient evidence for this miracle. We are not eyewitnesses to Jesus’ appearances. However, we can examine the evidence through the eyes of those who were there, who have given testimony to what they saw and experienced and why they believed.

I believe God planned it this way so that future generations could also believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has provided the testimony of the Scriptures which he has protected over the centuries. In them, he has given us enough information to realize and believe in the truth of Jesus’ resurrection.

Summary and Conclusions

Here we have it. Jesus Christ died on the cross, his tomb was empty on resurrection morning, and he made numerous post-resurrection appearances to his disciples, his followers, and Paul. Also, the position of the grave clothes and the nature of the appearances of Jesus to his disciples reveal that his resurrection body was a transformed body. We conclude therefore, that Jesus Christ did indeed die and then rise from the dead!

Moreover, we contend that His resurrection declares that he is God! The events that transpired during his crucifixion and resurrection fulfilled numerous Old Testament prophecies dating back 700 to 1,000 years. He foretold the details of his own death. He said that he had been given the power to bring himself back to life. He knew when and how these events would occur. Jesus raised others from the dead, but they died again of old age. His body was different; He emerged from the dead with a transformed body, which was immortal.

Only God can do such things! A mere man cannot fulfill hundreds of ancient Biblical prophecies. No one can tell when and where and how he’s going to die, that he’s going to rise from the dead three days later, and then bring himself back to life again. No man can emerge from death with an immortal body. But Jesus did! Clearly, he rose from the dead. And clearly, Jesus Christ is Deity!

 

As we have seen, Jesus tells us over and over in the Gospels that he is God. Such a claim raises certain expectations. If his claim is true, we would expect the events in his life to bear this out. If they do not, we would have reason to question his claim. I think we shall see that the life of Jesus supports his claim.

The Virgin Birth of Jesus

The Miraculous is Present Throughout the Story. The amazing work of God in the lives Joseph and Mary, Zechariah and Elizabeth, Simeon and Anna, and in the lives of the Shepherds and the Wise Men involved miraculous events. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. Mary was visited by an angel. An angel met Zechariah in the temple, God gave his wife, Elizabeth, intrinsic knowledge about the virgin birth and her own pregnancy. Simeon and Anna were able to recognize the baby Jesus as the Messiah without prior knowledge. The Shepherds were visited by an angel and a host of angels who told them the good news. The wise Men had knowledge of the Messiah and his star. Without God these events in the lives of these people would never have occurred. (See the article on this website, “Why Christians Believe in the Virgin Birth” for a more complete presentation.)

How do we account for the precise timing of the angel’s appearances to Zachariah, Joseph, Mary, the Shepherds, the Wise Men? All these occurrences are sequenced and timed to fit together perfectly. And what about the Displays to honor the newborn baby and young child! The angels singing in the heavens and foreign kings bowing down to the King of the Jews. These things didn’t happen by accident. They had to be coordinated by God. And, what child has ever had multiple prophecies predicting his birthplace, tribe of origin, hometown, kingship, eternality, virgin birth, Deity, and Messiahship? Such prophecies indicate that God had planned these events, including the virgin birth, thousands of years in advance and that this was the time in history he had determined for it to happen.

Here we have a startling array of supernatural occurrences which were informing, preparing, affirming, heralding, celebrating, honoring, worshiping and protecting the Son of God as he entered into this world! This is an extremely coherent story with multiple players who don’t necessarily have anything to do with each other. Yet, each story segment fits together perfectly with all the others, indicating God’s Divine orchestration of the entirety. So if God was at work doing all these miracles surrounding the birth of Jesus, it’s reasonable to believe that he was bringing none other than the Son of the Living God into the world. These events then, support belief in the Deity of Jesus Christ.

Jesus at 12 Years of Age

When Jesus was 12 years old, he sat with the teachers of Israel in the temple, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. Here, at 12 years of age, Jesus is able to conduct an adult conversation with the most intelligent and best educated theologians of his day. He displayed his extensive knowledge and comprehension of the Scriptures and was able to ask intelligent questions, understand the answers, and answer questions himself about complex theological issues. He even indicated that he was the special Son of his Father-God and that he was doing God’s work by being there. This is not a picture of an ordinary 12-year-old boy. This is the picture of an extraordinary boy with exceptional abilities who has a unique relationship with God.

The Baptism of Jesus

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan (River) to be baptized by John (the Baptist). As soon as he was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased.'” Matthew 3:13-17. NIV.

Once baptized, the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove and the Father spoke from heaven voicing his approval and his love for his Son. Here we have each member of the Trinity present, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, showing the unity and support of the Godhead regarding the ministry of Jesus in the world. This is a remarkable picture of a man who is confirmed to be the Messiah by heaven’s Dove and Voice. These visual and auditory signs, tell us that he is indeed God incarnate, the promised one, who is about to begin his ministry. This is no ordinary man; he is the Messiah who has the approval and backing of heaven.

Jesus’ Ministry

During his ministry, Jesus’ teachings present the highest standards of moral teachings in the history of man. He claims to forgive sins, He asserts that he, himself is sin free. He demonstrates that he can read people’s minds. And he claims to come from God the Father and have a special relationship with him. All of these characteristics of his ministry are what we would expect if he were God.

Jesus’ Transfiguration

Toward the end of Jesus’ Galilean ministry, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a mountain to pray. “As he prayed, the appearance of his face changed – his face shown like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.” Suddenly Moses and Elijah were talking with him; they appeared glorious and were talking with Jesus about his soon coming death in Jerusalem. A cloud appeared and overshadowed them. Then a voice came from the cloud saying, “This is my Son whom I love; with Him I am well pleased; listen to Him.” After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was found. This story is found in three passages:Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:1-8, andLuke 9:28-36. The above is a composite drawn from all three.

Notice the astonishing details: Jesus’ face shown like the sun, his clothes were dazzling white. The disciples were allowed to see the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ! Moses, representing God’s Law, and Elijah representing the prophets were present. This suggests that everything God had said and done in the Old Testament was brought to bear on the next main event in God’s plan, the crucifixion of Jesus for the sins of the world. The cloud, representing the Presence of God the Father, enveloped them and His voice spoke indicating his love for and approval of Jesus’ ministry and coming death.

These are not normal events. They are beyond human origin. Such brilliance! The presence of Old Testament figures who had been dead for centuries! The cloud, which guided and protected Israel in the wilderness! The voice from the cloud affirming Jesus! This is God putting his stamp of approval on the life and person of Christ. This shows Jesus to be who he is, the Son of the living God.

Jesus’ Crucifixion

During the Crucifixion, Three Supernatural Events Occurred

1. “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land.”Matthew 27:45. This period of darkness is verified by secular historians.

2. Just after Jesus bowed his head and died, “Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary (in the Jewish temple) was split in two from top to bottom.”Matthew 27:51. Since this curtain was torn apart from the top, it had to be done by the hand of God.

3. And there was an earthquake. “The earth quaked and the rocks were split.”Matthew 27:51. HCSB. “When the centurion and those with him (soldiers), who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, ‘This man really was God’s Son.'”Matthew 27:54. HCSB. This hardened and cruel centurion and his soldiers had never seen anything like this in any of the many crucifixions they had conducted. They became convinced by the evidence of the darkness, earthquake and the manner in which Jesus died, that he was more than a mere man, that he was truly the Son of God.

Jesus’ Death Was Unique

There were the attending supernatural events: the three hours of darkness, the earthquake, and the tearing of the temple curtain. Then there were Jesus’ amazing words from the cross: He forgave those who killed him, he completely pardoned a repentant thief, he showed compassion toward his mother, he proclaimed absolute faith in God, he declared the work of salvation to be completed, and he decided when to die and give his spirit to God. Incredibly, on the cross, he was in complete control of his life.

He fulfilled ancient prophecies in Psalm 22 and in Isaiah 53 which foretold his crucifixion and resurrection. He carried the weight of the sins of all mankind even though he lived a sinless life and was innocent of any wrongdoing. And his intense suffering was not only physical, emotional, and social; it was also spiritual when he was separated from his Father. No one else has ever suffered like he did or handled it with such grace, poise, and self-control.In all these ways, the death of Jesus Christ was unique.

The supernatural events, the words of Jesus, and his demeanor while on the cross all reveal the Deity of Christ!

Jesus’ Resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the miracle of all miracles!!!He actually died. His dead body was given life and absolutely transformed into a body that was similar, yet qualitatively different. The old body was mortal, the new, immortal. The old body was subject to decay, the new one “imperishable.” In his new body, Jesus could appear or disappear in a locked room. Yet, he presented himself as a solid, material, physical person with the scars of his original body. He could be seen, heard, touched, could eat food, and cook a meal. As shown in the previous section, the resurrection is proof of his Deity!

Jesus’ Ascension

Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven. Here, we see Jesus rising up in the air toward heaven into a cloud. Then angels appear and speak about his return. These are not ordinary events and they are not the result of natural causes; they clearly require the miraculous work of God.

Summary and Conclusion

What does the life of Jesus reveal? Jesus was born of a virgin and there were many miracles surrounding his birth and early life. At 12 years of agehe displayed exceptional abilities. At hisbaptismGod the Father spoke from heaven and God the Spirit descended on him as a dove, confirming him as the incarnate Son of God. Theteachings of Jesus, the claim to forgive sins, the claim to be sinless, the claim to have a special relationship with his Father in heaven,and the miracles he did – all indicated that Jesus was the Son of God. At histransfigurationJesus appeared glorious; Moses and Elijah were present; and the Voice of the father spoke, all indicating again, that Jesus was God. Also we saw the power of God manifested in his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.

All of these features in the life of Christ point to the same conclusion:

The unmistakable presence of the miraculous throughout Jesus Christ’s life provides powerful evidence for his Deity.

Jesus begins to tell us where the evidence for his Deity is found in John 5:31where he says, “If I (alone) testify about myself, (you will say) my testimony is not valid.” (He said this because the Mosaic Law required two witnesses to establish the truth of a matter.) Then he goes on to list other testimonies that are a witness to his Deity: the human testimony of John the Baptist, the testimony of Jesus’ works (life, miracles, crucifixion, resurrection), the testimony of God the Father, the testimony of the Old Testament Scriptures, and in particular, the testimony of the writings of Moses.

The Testimonies

Jesus’ Own Testimony: As we have previously discussed, Jesus repeatedly made the claim for his Deity during his ministry.

The Testimony of John the Baptist: John the Baptist described Jesus this way: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Matthew 3:11,12. NIV. He also said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” John 1:29. NIV. Finally he tells us, “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him…I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” John 1:34. NIV. Jesus refers to the testimony of John the Baptist’s as a human testimony, because all the other testimonies come directly from God. Nevertheless, John’s testimony is important and valid, because as a prophet, he spoke the truth of God.

The Works of Jesus: We have already described how the whole of Jesus’ life and ministry – his early maturity, character, teachings, miracles, transfiguration, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension – all point to the conclusion that he is God!

The Testimony of the Father: I think Jesus was referring to words the Father had spoken in heaven about his Deity, but Jesus also mentions that the Father has spoken about his Deity in the Old Testament Scriptures. While human ears were not able to hear the Father speak these heavenly words, they certainly could read and hear his words in the Scriptures.

I think it is very important that in heaven, from the throne of Almighty God, words affirming Christ’s Deity were proclaimed. There is no question in the mind of God the Father, that Jesus Christ, his Son, is Deity. Perhaps the reason Jesus informs us about this is so we’ll know there is agreement in heaven that he is God.

The Testimony of the Scriptures: Over 300 Old Testament passages refer to the coming Messiah, who is God, and Jesus is the only person in history who fits the Old Testament description of the Messiah. From Genesis to Malachi the Old Testament verifies that Jesus is the promised Messiah who is God.

The Testimony of Moses: Jesus referred to Moses in particular out of all the Old Testament books because the Jews of his day put so much faith in the words and law of Moses. By appealing their “Biblical hero,” he hoped to get them to realize that Moses wrote about Jesus and validated him as the Messiah. He wanted them to understand that if they really believed in the writings of Moses, they would also believe in him.

Our Sources: In this paper, we have obtained information about the Deity of Christ from Jesus’ own testimony, the Old Testament Scriptures, the New Testament Scriptures, and the life and works of Christ. According to Jesus, these are authoritative sources which reveal his Deity.

The Importance of Testimonies

When Jesus listed these testimonies, he implied several things.

First, testimonies are necessary. Without them we wouldn’t know about God or his thoughts toward us. He is a Spirit; we are bound physically.

Second, testimonies have been given. God has spoken, and we have his Word. Jesus has come and delivered a message. We have his Word. We are not in the dark. We know what God has to say.

Third, these testimonies come from multiple sources. The sources all agree. The message is clear. This give us more reason to believe that what we hear is true.

Fourth, the testimony that’s given is sufficient. God has spoken, he has spoken many times, in many ways, and over thousands of years. He has spoken plainly. What he has revealed in Scripture is sufficient for faith.

If God has deemed a witness necessary, and has given a sufficient witness and has done so multiple times, then the ball is in our court. It is up to us to examine the evidence and decide what to do about it. God has done his part. We must do ours.

 

Geisler and Turek point out that some people have a problem with the New Testament passages where Jesus talks about being subordinate to the Father and being limited in his knowledge. These passages make Jesus seem not to have the attributes of omnipotence (having all power) and of omniscience (having all knowledge), which we would expect God to have. “The answer to both these objections lies in a proper understanding of the Trinity.”¹⁶Geisler, Norman L. and Turek, Frank. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004, p 350.

“The Trinity is three persons in one divine essence. In other words, there are three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – who share one divine nature. Jesus shares in the one divine nature, but he also has a distinct human nature.”¹⁷Geisler, Norman L. and Turek, Frank. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004, p 350. “When Jesus was conceived (as a baby), he did not cease being God. He simply added a human nature.”¹⁸Geisler, Norman L. and Turek, Frank. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004, p 351.

“Since Jesus has two natures, whenever you ask a question about him, you really have to ask two questions. For example, did Jesus know the time of his second coming? As God, yes; as man, no. Did Jesus know all things? As God, yes; as man, no. Did Jesus get hungry? As God, no; as man, yes. Did Jesus get tired? As God, no; as man, yes.”¹⁹Geisler, Norman L. and Turek, Frank. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004, p 351-352.

When Jesus said, “the Father is greater than I,” he meant that he was functioning in a subordinate role. But at the same time, he and the Father were equal in essence. “When Jesus added humanity, he voluntarily subordinated himself to the Father and accepted the limitations inherent with (his) humanity. But Jesus never lost his divine nature or ceased being God.”²⁰Geisler, Norman L. and Turek, Frank. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004, p 352.

“The Trinity is not illogical or against reason. Saying that there is one God and three Gods would be illogical. But saying that there is One God who has three persons is not illogical. It may be beyond reason, but it is not against reason.

“That doesn’t mean the Trinity can be completely understood. After all, no finite being can completely comprehend an infinite God.”²¹Geisler, Norman L. and Turek, Frank. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004, p 352. However we can understand many things about God because he has revealed himself to us through nature, the Bible, and the Person of Christ. And, he has given us the intelligence to do so. So, while we may learn many wonderful things about God, we must be humble and realize our understanding of God is limited.

 

The Story

The Man Born Blind. Earlier we described the healing of the man born blind where Jesus changed genetically defective eyes into eyes that could see. When the Pharisees learned about this, they complained because Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. They said of Jesus, “‘This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.’ But others asked, ‘How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?’ So they were divided. Finally they turned again to the (formerly) blind man, ‘What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.’ The man replied, ‘He is a prophet.'” John 9:16-17. NIV.

He is Our Son. “The Jews (Pharisees) still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. ‘Is this your son?’ they asked. ‘Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?’ ‘We know that he is our son,’ the parents answered, ‘and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.'” John 9:18-21. NIV.

I Was Blind but Now I See. “A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. ‘Give glory to God.’ They said, ‘We know this man is a sinner.’ He replied, ‘Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see!‘ Then they asked him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?’ He answered, ‘I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?'” John9:24-27. NIV.

We are Disciples of Moses. “Then they hurled insults at him and said, ‘You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.’ The man answered, ‘Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.‘ To this they replied, ‘You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us.’ And they threw him out.” John 9:28-34. NIV.

Jesus Found Him. “Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ ^‘Who is he, sir?’ the man asked. ‘Tell me so that I may believe in him.’ Jesus said, ‘You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.’ Then the man said, ‘Lord, I believe’ and he worshiped him. Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.’
Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, ‘What? Are we blind too?’ Jesus said, ‘If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.'” John 9:35-41. NIV.

The Pharisees

The Pharisees were the dominant religious sect in Israel during the time of Jesus. They zealously upheld the Law of Moses and the traditions which they believed to be derived from that Law. While they were moral and correct according to their traditions, they were also self-righteous and lacked a sense of their own sin and spiritual need before a holy God. (Note, Schofield Bible, Matthew 3:7, p. 996.)

On one occasion Jesus asked the Pharisees. “‘Why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother.'” Matthew 15:3-4. NIV. The Pharisees taught that if a person pledged a gift to the synagogue, they could be relieved of the responsibility of caring for their aged parents. Jesus would not accept this at all! He continued, telling them, “You nullify the Word of God for the sake of your tradition.” Then Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah who wrote, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” Matthew 5:8-9. NIV.

The Pharisees possessed a superior, condescending attitude which blinded them to any point of view but their own. Consequently, they could not see the meaning of God’s truth in the Old Testament or when taught by Jesus. They stubbornly held to their pre-conceived ideas and even resisted seeing the truth about Jesus when he did miracles. Now, let’s examine how they respond when confronted by the Sabbath healing of a man born blind.

The Blind Man’s Witness

After Jesus heals the man, his friends bring him to the Pharisees. When they ask the man how he was healed, he tells them what Jesus did. Their immediate and first response is, “This man is not from God for he does not keep the Sabbath.” (However, some of the Pharisees recognize the miracle and say, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” This indicates to me that there were least a few Pharisees who were not entirely locked into an inflexible way of thinking and therefore were able to consider the possibility that this miracle revealed that Jesus was sent from God.)

Next, they asked the (formerly) blind man what he thinks of Jesus. He replies, “He is a prophet.” The Pharisees then give a second response: they don’t believe the man was born blind. The man’s parents set them straight on this, however; they confirm that the man is their son and that he was blind from birth.

Then the Pharisees summon the man again. Here they provide a third response by saying. “Give glory to God.” They are beginning to recognize that maybe a miracle occurred, but they don’t want to give Jesus credit for it. But they have to explain it somehow, so they ignore the obvious evidence and suggest that God some how did it wholly apart from Jesus.

The man refutes their objections by replying, “One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see!” The Pharisees ask him again how he was healed. I think they were trying to find faults in his story so they could find a new way to discredit Jesus. The man responds, “I have told you already, You didn’t listen to me. Do you want to be his disciples, too? This enraged them because the last thing they wanted was to give Jesus credit for the miracle.

Then the man tells them that while they may not know where Jesus comes from (that is, where his authority comes from), “We know God does not listen to sinners…but to the godly man.” And he adds, “Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” Here the man refutes their assertion that Jesus is a sinner and not from God. The man then reinforces his argument by telling them that this is the first time in history that such a miracle has been done. He is saying that since no man except Jesus has ever been able to do such a miracle in all of history, that it must be God who has done it, and it makes sense to believe that Jesus is from God, and by implication that Jesus is God.

The Pharisees then give a fourth response to this brilliant argument for the Deity of Christ by calling the man a sinner and by expelling him from their religious fellowship.

The man’s faith and witness is validated when Jesus finds him and reveals himself to him as the “Son of Man,” who in the book of Daniel, is God. Then the man recognizes Jesus for who he is and worships him.

One Miracle; Two Responses

The Pharisees. Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.’ I believe Jesus healed on the Sabbath on purpose. He wanted to confront the Pharisees in order to demonstrate that God’s truth transcends their traditions. Some of them came to understand this, but most of them did not.

Notice how the Pharisees responded:

1. Healing on the Sabbath proves that Jesus is not from God – he is a sinner. Thus, Jesus is disqualified from doing God’s work and from being the Messiah.
2. This man was not born blind. So, there was no miracle.
3. God did the miracle, not Jesus. Jesus authority and identity are rejected.
4. They reject the man, his argument, and the evidence.

Why respond this way? Because their rigid belief that their rules about the Sabbath were more important than relieving the man of a serious disability (blindness). They chose their version of correctness over compassion. They completely missed the love of God for a blind man.

Also they would not allow themselves to give Jesus any credit for a miracle. Why? Because they were envious of Jesus because many people were following him and not them. They also feared that they would lose their authority, position, and status because of him. Jesus was a threat to them.

So their rules orientation and hatred for Jesus blinded them and led them to deny the obvious evidence before them. They denied that the man had been blind and they denied that Jesus did the miracle. They tried every way they could to discount the facts, and when all failed, they got angry and denounced and rejected the man.

The Man. Note how the man and his parents responded:

1. The parents confirm that he is their son and that he was born blind.
2. “One thing I know; I was blind, but now I see.”
3. God does not listen to sinners; he listens to the godly man.
4. This is the first time in history this miracle has been done.

The man stuck to the facts. He spoke truth and used reason to get to the justified conclusion that Jesus is Deity. The man affirmed that he was blind. He affirmed that a miracle occurred. He affirmed that it was Jesus who healed him. He argued that the miracle proved that Jesus was godly and that God answered Jesus’ prayers. He asserted that this was a monumental miracle, one to take note of, not one to ignore or dismiss. It was something that only God could have done, and since Jesus did it, he must be Deity.

Why People Don’t Believe

In John 5:38-47 where Jesus lists the witnesses to his Deity, which we have reviewed, Jesus also gives several reasons why the Pharisees don’t believe in him.

1. He states that the Father’s Word did not dwell in them. He explains that while they study the Scriptures diligently – because they think that will give them eternal life – they overlook the fact that the Scriptures point directly at Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus continued, saying, “These are the Scriptures that testify of Me. Yet, you refuse to come to me to have life.”

2. Then Jesus accuses them of seeking praise from men, and not from God. He says, “How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from only God.”

3. Jesus further explains that if seeking man’s praise and approval is their priority, then “You do not have the love of God in your hearts.”

4. Also Jesus tells them plainly, Moses “wrote about me.” And “If you believed Moses, you would believe me.” And “Since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

5. In John 7:17 Jesus sums it up saying, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”

People today also avoid following Christ for some of the same reasons: 1. They don’t know or understand the Bible, God’s message, and don’t bother to find out what he has to say. 2. They are smug and self-assured that they are okay as they are without God. 3. They ignore or dismiss objective evidence for faith in the Bible and in Christ. 4. They want their way more than they want God’s way. 5. They don’t comprehend the love of God – his love for them and the beauty and joy of loving God fully and loving their neighbor as themselves. 6. They are close-minded to the truth and thus are blind to it. 7. They feel no need for personal salvation, forgiveness, and the mercy of God. 8. They may become intransigent in their position and express anger and hate toward those who believe.

The Good News

The good news is that if people make an effort to learn God’s message, honestly examine the evidence for faith in Christ, humble themselves before God and admit their need, choose God’s will over their own, see God’s love for them and others and embrace it, and give their life to Christ they can be saved. If they do, they will be rewarded with the new birth – the infusion of God’s life into their soul by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the forgiveness of sins – actual forgiveness of real sin by God which results in the removal of the existential, ever-present weight of real guilt in the conscious mind, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and eternal life.

 

 

The Claim for Christ’s Deity

The claim that Jesus Christ is Deity is found in both the Old and New Testaments. Messianic prophecies, key New Testament passages, every chapter in the Gospel of John, the “I Am” sayings of Christ, his implicit claims of Deity, and his explicit claims of Deity all combine to tell us these things: First, the Old Testament prophets indicate the coming Messiah will be God and Jesus fits the description of that Messiah. Second, the apostles and writers of the New Testament claim that Jesus is God. Third, Jesus himself claims to be God.

We emphasize this point because there are those who say that Jesus was merely a good teacher and a good man, but was not God. We do not agree. We believe that he is God because Jesus himself and the Scriptures clearly make the Claim and the Evidence for his Deity is convincing.

The Evidence for Christ’s Deity

Why do we believe that Jesus Christ is God? There are a number of reasons. First, the Bible, which has been faithfully preserved over the centuries and which possesses key indicators that it is the Word of the Living God (unity, prophecy, morality, and miracles), teaches that Jesus Christ is Deity. Second, Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament tell us that the Messiah will be God in human flesh, and these prophecies perfectly match the life and person of Jesus Christ. Third, the miracles of Jesus confirm his Deity. Fourth, the resurrection of Jesus Christ declares his Deity. Fifth, Supernatural events throughout Jesus Christ’s life establish his Deity – the miraculous displays surrounding his birth, the Father’s voice from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased” at his baptism and transfiguration, his superior teachings, his powerful miracles, his sinless life, the supernatural events at his crucifixion and his victorious resurrection – all reveal his Deity.

During his life, Jesus Christ authenticated himself to be exactly whom he claimed to be – the Son of God who is the second person of the Trinity as well as the self-existent, eternal “I AM” who is the Jehovah God of the Old Testament.

 

Timeless Truths From Christ’s Resurrection and Deity

In the article, “Why Christians Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ,” we discussed a number of things that are true because of Christ’s resurrection. We will present some of the same information in this article because these truths are also true because of Christ’s Deity. Christ’s resurrection and his Deity are inextricably linked. His resurrection demonstrates his Deity and his Deity is the reason he was able to rise from the dead. Because he is God, he rose. And because he’s God and rose from the dead, certain truths follow. We think it is important to present these truths again (in abbreviated form), to emphasize their relationship to Christ’s Deity. First, we note that Jesus’ teachings are true.

Jesus’ Teachings are True

Because Jesus is God, his teachings are true! God cannot lie. It is not in his nature to lie. He is truth and he tells the truth. He keeps his promises. This is reassuring and gives us confidence that we can rely on everything he says. And what does he say? Here are some of the things he taught.

Jesus tells us that the Old Testament is the Word of God, that his teachings are the Word of God, and that the New Testament will be written by his apostles, as inspired by Him, and will also be the Word of God.

In Matthew chapters 5-7 we find The Sermon on the Mount.” In it, Jesus describes people who are blessed; encourages his followers to be “salt” and “light” in the world; emphasizes the importance of observing every part of God’s Law; explains that obedience needs to be done with the heart; encourages alms, prayer, and love for enemies; admonishes believers to lay up treasure in heaven; teaches his followers not to worry; establishes a correct basis for moral evaluation (judgment) of others; and warns against false teachers.

In the Gospels, Jesus shows us that we must repent of our sins, commit ourselves totally to him if we are to be his disciples, and that the rewards for this will be great. He bids us come to him for redemption and promises to answer our prayers. He demonstrates his great love for us by word, deed, and by his sacrifice on the cross, and assures us of eternal life through his mighty resurrection. He teaches us to prioritize the will of God in our lives and to be a servant to others. He teaches to love our neighbor and to love God. He warns us of the consequences of rebellion against God and of the judgment to come, and clearly states that there is a heaven and a hell.

Jesus show us that he cares for us personally and individually. He even knows our name and is acquainted with every detail of our lives, even the number of hairs on our head.

We learn that God’s way is best, not our way or the world’s way. “For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and loose his own soul.” Because he has all knowledge, wisdom, power, and love and because he wants the very best for us, we can trust him. He is a safe Master and our God. If we let him, he will forgive our sins. If we let him, he will give us a life that is meaningful, satisfying, joyful, peaceful, loving, and fulfilled. He promises to care for us in this life. He promises to receive us to himself when we die.

Obviously, because of the Deity of Christ we know that God exists. We learn from Jesus that God is a Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And he is the God who speaks, who reveals himself so that we can know who he is. He is not silent and we are not in the dark.

These teachings of Jesus Christ are TRUE! Because He is God!

The “I AM” Sayings of Christ take on New Meaning

Earlier, in the “Claim is Made” section of this article, we discussed the “I Am” sayings of Christ to show that Jesus was signaling his Deity with them. Now that we have established that Jesus Christ is God (and not just saying he’s God), we can take a fresh look at the meaning of these sayings in order to appreciate the amazing kindness, love, and provision Jesus gives to those who believe in him. Here’s a brief review.

In John 8:58 Jesus says, “Before Abraham was born, I Am.” Jesus is referring to the time when God told Moses that his name is “I Am.” Here, Jesus is revealing himself to be the Jehovah God of the Old Testament – the self-existent, eternal One who has always been and who will always be.

Jesus enlarges our understanding of what this claim means by providing seven descriptions of himself which begin with the words, “I Am.” These descriptions give us insight into how Jesus, as God, relates to us and ministers to our needs. They are:

As the Bread of Life, Jesus satisfies the deepest needs of the soul; as the Light of the World he brings heavenly illumination about the truth of God; as the Gate he is the Entrance to all the protections and provisions of God; as the Good Shepherd he protects and cares for believers and establishes a personal relationship with each one; as the Resurrection and the Life he gives eternal life and creates a resurrected body that’s fit to live in eternity with him; as the Way, Truth, and Life he is the only way to God, Absolute Truth, and the Giver of eternal life; and as the True Vine he is the Divine Source of strength, guidance, and the ability to do good works.

Christ meets our Deepest Needs. These descriptions of the Person of Christ are exactly what all of us need. We long to have our souls satisfied; we must have illumination if we are to find God; we need an Entrance into God’s realm and his provisions; we desire escape from an impersonal world and find that the Good shepherd offers a personal, caring relationship with us; we want deliverance from the terror of death. Jesus gives eternal life and makes us fit for heaven; we need to find the Way to God, to know Truth which is absolutely dependable, and experience abundant God-breathed never-ending Life; and we require a source of strength to live for God once we have believed in Him. Jesus Christ is all of these things to us because of his Deity and his love. It’s safe to rest in Him as everything we need in this life and beyond.

The Basic Questions of Life are Answered

The Deity and resurrection of Jesus Christ provide a basis for answering the great questions of life in a convincing and satisfactory way. What are these questions?²²Kennedy, D. James and Newcomb, Jerry. What if the Bible Had Never Been Written? Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1998, p. 8.“‹

The most basic questions are:

1. Where did I come from? A question of Origin.
2. What is the significance of my life? A question of Meaning.
3. How should I live? A question of Morality and Wisdom.
4. Where am I going? A question of Destiny.

We add these:

5. Who am I? A question of Identity.
6. Why am I here? A question of Purpose.
7. What should I do? A question of Guidance

The teachings of Jesus Christ and of the Bible provide answers to all of these questions. So, what are the answers?

1. What is our Origin? We are made by a powerful and loving God.

2. What is the Meaning of life? Our lives have meaning because God made us and designed us to have a relationship with himself and relationships with others.

3. Where can we find an adequate Moral Code?The Bible teaches God’s moral code. It is found in the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, and in many other places in Scripture. God’s moral code stands outside of ourselves and of cultural norms and personal opinions. It is comprised of authoritative and eternal standards for all time. The blessing of God’s moral code is that we’re far better off trying to keep it than when we don’t because it has its own reward, and because God promises special blessings for those who follow it.

4. And how should we live with respect to Wisdom?The Bible provides teachings on wisdom throughout its pages. Wisdom is shown to involve discernment and understanding in dealing with all relationships. It is required in the marketplace, in business, in law, in government and in personal relations. Wisdom must always include morality. To act wisely is to act morally. Anything that is immoral is unwise because it hurts the self and others and offends God. It is therefore foolish.

5. What is our Destiny? God determines our destiny. When one is a Christian, he can know that when he dies, he will go to heaven for eternity. Those who refuse to accept the invitation God gives them will be separated from God and go to a place called hell.

6. What is our Identity? We are a creation of God who formed us in the womb and planned for us to be the person we are. Because God made us, we have intrinsic worth. He created us to be loved and valued.

7. What is our Purpose? Our purpose is to love, obey and glorify God and to enjoy him forever.

8. Where do we go for Guidance? The Bible offers many principles of living which provide guidance in decision-making. So for guidance we go to the Bible, we ask God to help us, and we consult trusted Christian friends. God knows the end from the beginning and he can show us the way.

We Need The Right Answers: I submit that the teachings of Jesus Christ and of the Bible answer these questions far better than any other religion or system of thought. Furthermore, I submit that Christianity answers these questions correctly! To be on solid ground, we need to have the right answers to the great question of life. Because of the Deity and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can be confident this is the case.

We Do Not Have to Fear Death

In the book, “The Unshakable Truth” Josh and Sean Mc Dowell discuss some of the reasons that death is feared.²³McDowell, Josh and McDowell, Sean. The Unshakable Truth. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2010, p. 298. They are:

1. Death is mysterious and unknown – we don’t know what to expect.
2. We have to face death alone.
3. Death separates us from our loved ones.
4. Our personal hopes and dreams will not be realized.
5. Death is unavoidable.

In spite of the above, there is reason for hope and confidence as the Christian faces death.

The Promise of Life: In John 11:35-26 Jesus says, “I Am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (NIV). For the Christian, life is continuous through the experience of death. We “will live. even though (we) die.” It’s like going to sleep in one room and then waking up in a different room, in the presence of loved ones and in the Presence of Jesus Christ.

Fear of Death is Unnecessary: Because of Jesus Christ’s Deity and resurrection, we not only do not need to fear death, we can look forward to meeting our Lord Jesus Christ face to face with excitement and joy! Josh and Sean Mc Dowell give us reasons we do not need to fear death in light of the resurrection. They are as follows:

1. Death is not permanent;²⁴McDowell, Josh and McDowell, Sean. The Unshakable Truth. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2010, p. 301. it is a transition into the presence of God.

2. “We don’t have to face death alone.”²⁵McDowell, Josh and McDowell, Sean. The Unshakable Truth. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2010, p. 301. Jesus promised us, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20 KJV.

3. “We are not permanently separated from our loved ones”²⁶McDowell, Josh and McDowell, Sean. The Unshakable Truth. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2010, p. 301. Not only will we join loved ones who precede us, the loved ones we leave behind will join us later when they die. These “loving relationships will continue”²⁷McDowell, Josh and McDowell, Sean. The Unshakable Truth. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2010, p. 301. in eternity even though we may be separated for a time.

4. We may not finish some of the things we planned to do before we die, but I think, the joy of being in the Presence of God and loved ones and having new opportunities to work for God will eclipse any disappointments we may have.

5. While “death is unavoidable, yet it is a transition to eternal life. …Because of Jesus Christ’s Deity and resurrection, death is simply the passage to our eternal home in heaven.”²⁸McDowell, Josh and McDowell, Sean. The Unshakable Truth. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2010, p. 302. The glory and wonder of being in the Presence of God cannot be comprehended in this life.

The Deity of Christ Gives us a New Perspective

Two Realms. The teachings of Christ tell us that there is a spirit world and the physical world. When Jesus said, “God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24. NIV), he was telling us that there is a world beyond the physical realm. He referred to this other world numerous times when talking about heaven and hell, when saying he came from the Father, when he prayed, and when he referenced the end times.

We cannot see the spiritual realm. It’s where God, angels, demons, and departed souls live. This reality tells us that there is much going on that we cannot see or perceive. We know it’s there from the Bible. That’s why we pray, have hope beyond this world, believe angels are active on our behalf, and do not fear death. We acknowledge the spiritual realm but do not live in it. We are responsible for our lives here. God is at work in both realms. Even some in the secular world believe in spirits. We are forbidden in Scripture from trying to contact them. We leave all matters in that world to God.

Two Sets of Moral Standards. The Bible sets out God’s eternal, unchanging moral standards in the Ten Commandments, the Two Great Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, the Golden rule, and throughout its pages. They are based on LOVE. Love for God, love for ourselves made in the image of God, and love for others. God receives his deserved respect when we follow his moral instructions. And when we take care of ourselves and others in loving ways with loving words and deeds, everyone’s life is enhanced and improved.

The standards of the world are not like that. The world can be selfish, greedy, cruel, unkind, lust-driven, insensitive, unconcerned, unfair, dishonest, and lawless. In this system, God is not respected and people are hurt. People may destroy their own lives and those of others. God considers such behavior rebellion against him and he promises punishment for those who persist in this pattern of living.

Two Views About the Origin of the Universe. Jesus upheld the Divine inspiration and truth of the Old Testament which says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1. In contrast, some atheistic views believe the universe began with the “Big Bang” apart from God and some believe that the universe has always existed, eliminating the need for God to create it. As God, Jesus certainly knows how the universe came into being and he affirms that it was CREATED by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Two Views About the Origin of Life. Jesus also upheld the texts in Genesis 1 which tell us that God created plant life, sea life, the birds, and the animals, and that he “created man in his own image.” Scientist who hold to Darwin’s theory of evolution “believe simple life (forms) have changed over millions of years into more complex states by a process of natural selection.” Their view is that all life is the result of natural causes without any intervention from God. This is an atheistic view of the origin of life. However, as God, Jesus tells us that LIFE came from God, not from natural causes.

The implications of the Theory of Evolution present a serious problem. Belief in the theory of evolution inevitably results in the devaluation of human beings. It robs man of his dignity, value, true identity, and purpose. It eliminates the basis for morality, removes life’s meaning, cancels out free will, destroys the value of life, trashes hope, altruism, and love, introduces irresponsibility and despair, creates arbitrary values because there are no standards, resulting in arbitrary rules and laws which reflect the whims of whoever is in charge. This can lead to governmental tyranny and the loss of individual God-given rights.

In contrast: Belief in man made in the image of God inevitably results in the ennoblement of human beings. This belief affirms man’s dignity, value, true identity and purpose. For people who know that God is their Creator, life has meaning; there is a real basis for morality, love, and altruism; there is free will; there is life after death; there is great hope and an expectation for ultimate justice; moral lines are drawn and we know the difference between benevolence and cruelty; we have the privilege of taking on responsibility for others, our self, and toward God; we can value our self and others because we are made in the image of God; and we treat our fellow man with respect and kindness because they too are made in the image of God. All of these things are affirmed by Jesus who is Deity and who with the Father, made us in the image of God.

Two Approaches to Life. For the committed Christian, God is at the center of his life. Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness and all these things (food, clothes, the needs of living) shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33. KJV. Jesus also said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21. NIV. Jesus is urging believers to put God first in their thinking, doing, and relationships.

For the secular person, man is the center of his life. He bases his life on human considerations which omit God or limit his influence. The apostle John writes, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” I John 2:15-17.

Here we learn that going after what the world goes after – craven lusts, desires for the forbidden, and pride which tries to make the person his own god – ends disastrously. These things do not satisfy the soul and disappear in the end.

Jesus also says, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24. NIV. Other things that may come before God besides money are status, fame, position, and power. Putting any of these first in one’s life will inevitably undermine faith, obedience, service, and love toward the true and living God. Because Jesus is Deity, we all have a choice to make. Will we center our lives around Him or will we put ourselves at the center and go after the things offered by the secular world.

Two Citizenships. As a Christian, I am a citizen of heaven as well as a citizen of earth. As such, I will be out of step with the world in some respects. Nevertheless I am still in the world and will endeavor to serve God, my family, my friends, my employer, and others in light of the way the Deity of Jesus Christ teaches me to live.

A Biblical World View: The Deity of Christ challenges me to develop a Biblical world view. After all, the God who created the universe must have a Divine viewpoint about every aspect of that universe. Since he reveals his thinking to us in his Word it is possible for us to do this. A Biblical or Christian world view includes the Bible’s perspective on Truth, Knowledge, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Theology, Morality and Ethics, History, Science, Values, and Cosmology.

God wants to transform our thinking so that we will see things through his eyes. Thus he tells us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2. NIV.

Summary. Because of the Deity of Christ, we know that his teachings are TRUE! Thus, we understand that there are two realms, two moralities, two views about the origin of the universe and of life, two approaches to life, two citizenships, and Biblical and non-Biblical ways of viewing the world. When equipped with this perspective, we will have better lives because our lives will be based on actual bedrock truth instead of the world’s lies and deceptions, or for that matter on self-deception. Having God’s truth and being committed to it, will make us wise in how we live.

 

The truth of Christ’s teaching also confronts us with an important decision. How will we respond to Jesus who came into this world to reveal himself and invites us to follow him? Before pursuing this question further, we will consider several things.

God Has Revealed Himself in a Way we Can Understand

God Reveals Himself. Hebrews 1:1,2 states, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” NIV. So, Almighty God, the Creator of the universe and of life has been revealing himself for centuries in his creation and through the writings of his prophets in the Old Testament. Then there came a time in history when he sent Jesus Christ into the world to reveal himself to us as God incarnate.

The Best Way. Think about it. If God wanted to reveal himself to mankind, what would be the most effective way for him to do that? Would it be to write a message in the sky? Would it be to write a book? Well, God utilized the witness of creation to reveal his vast wisdom, knowledge, and power, and he also spoke through his prophets who wrote the Old Testament. But he also felt it necessary to make himself known by becoming a man.

Jesus Became Human! He Understands Us! One reason Jesus became a man is so we can learn that he understands us. It’s encouraging to know that Jesus knows what it’s like to suffer, be hungry, be tired, or to be tempted to do evil. He lived as we live. When Jesus voluntarily set aside the glory of heaven and took on the limitations inherent in being human, he became dependent on his heavenly Father for everything. He didn’t exercise his Godly prerogative except when it was his heavenly Father’s will such as when he healed people. He lived as a man. Thus he can relate to us and is touched by our limitations and struggles. He knows what we go through and understands everything we experience. And he cares about us.

For this reason we can pray to him, confident he fully understand us. Hebrews 4:15,16 says. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are –yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. NIV.

Jesus Became Human! We Can Understands Him Better! Also, we can better relate to Jesus Christ because he is one of us. This allows us to know and experience him in terms we can understand. The concept of God is so Big! He seems unreachable and incomprehensible. But Jesus came as a man and we know how to relate to a man.

Because of his humanity, we can understand his teachings better because they were given in human terms and in a human context. We can learn how to truly love, how to serve, and how to obey – how to think speak, and act as God would have us do – all in human terms. Moreover, we can love Jesus better and know him personally and intimately. This is an amazing gift he gave us and at great personal cost to himself. We are forever grateful!

He is Lord

Jesus Humbles Himself. Paul tells us that “Christ Jesus, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross!

The Father Exalts Jesus. “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11. NIV.

Humbled. Here Jesus is said to be “in very nature God,” that is, he is fully God, Deity. But as God the Son, he did not consider the glory he had with the Father something he had to hold on to. He “emptied himself,” that is. He gave up his high position (while retaining his Deity) to become a servant “as a man,” and even more, he “humbled himself” and submitted to death on a cross to become the sacrifice for our sins.

Exalted. Because he perfectly fulfilled the plan of the Trinity to provide redemption for mankind, the Father exalts him, giving him a position and “name that is above every name,” so that every person will humbly bow his knee and confess aloud that “Jesus Christ is Lord.”

Jesus Receives All Authority. In Ephesians 1:20-22, it says that when God raised Jesus from the dead, he seated him “at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” In this position, Jesus is “far above all rule and authority, power, and dominion, and every title.” God places “all things under his feet” and appoints him to be “head over everything.” NIV.

Jesus is at the pinnacle of authority over heaven and earth, and in this age and in the age to come. Jesus is Lord over all. He has all authority.

Will We Submit? His resurrection demonstrates his Deity. His Deity requires that he be exalted to the pinnacle of authority once he had completed the work of redemption. This means he is Lord over us, each of us. The question is, will we submit to his Lordship now willingly, or later in the judgment unwillingly?

He is Powerful and Loving. He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. His vast power and majesty are unmatched. His knowledge is superior; he is a billion, billion times more intelligent than the smartest man. Yet, he loves each of us personally; his love is genuine and surpasses any human love, even the tenderest love on earth. We learn in Psalm 139 that he formed us in our mother’s womb. He has actually planned out our days and the number of them. His plan for us is the best plan possible, because it offers the greatest benefit to us and glorifies him. He know everything about us, the evil and the good, and still invites us to come to him.

And God makes amazing promises to us – to watch over us, guide us, protect us, and provide all our needs, and he always keeps his promises. We owe him everything! He brought us into being and offers us redemption from our sins so we can live forever in fullness of joy in his Presence! He is a Good Master – the Best! We will make the best decision of our lives if we yield to his Lordship and receive Jesus Christ as our Savior.

The Evidence is Powerful

We can’t go back 2,000 years and walk around with Jesus and watch him do miracles. But we can see him do his wonders through the eyes of those who were there. If we had been there, we would have seen a man with a shriveled arm stretch it forth to become whole; we would have seen a paralytic get up and walk; we would have seen a congenitally blind man given sight; we would have seen dead people come to life again. Jesus has given us a witness to his Deity by his miracles that is powerful! Couple this with the accuracy of the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus and with this bodily resurrection and we see that God has made a convincing case for the Deity of his Son.

The Most Important Decision in Life

Bishop Robert Barron delivered a commencement address at Hillsdale College in Michigan on May 13, 2023.²⁹Bishop Barron, Robert. The Most Important Decision in Life. Imprimis, Hillsdale College, Michigan, June 2023, Volume 52, Issue 6. In it he quotes Frederich Douglas who said, “There is no such thing as new truth; error might be old or new, but truth is as old as the universe.” Bishop Barron goes on to say that there are “epistemic, moral, and aesthetic truths that are indeed as old as the universe, permanent things that participate in the eternity of God.” He examines one of these eternal truths in his commencement address.

He presents this truth in the form of a question: “What kind of person ought we to be? Do we hunger and thirst for righteousness? Or do we seek our own advantage?” He believes this is a fundamental moral question for each of us to consider. He quotes Socrates who stated that it is better to suffer wrongdoing than to do wrong oneself, as a rebuttal to the idea that it is acceptable to use deceit to gain personal advantage. Then Bishop Barron restates Socrates’ argument: “Surely suffering injustice is terrible. But what is even worse is the corrosion of the soul that takes place when one commits injustice.” This is because “being unjust is far more damaging to the moral structure of a person’s character than enduring the (punishment) of injustice.”

He asks the question again: “What kind of person will you be? Will you do whatever it takes to get what you want? Or will you accept even greater suffering in order to do what is right? He says that “everything else in your life will flow from your answer to that question.”

Next, Bishop Barron points out how the Bible asks this question. He says that the Biblical authors “understand that the world is basically divided between those who worship the one true God and those who indulge in idolatry.” So the Biblical form of the question is: “Whom or what do you worship?” He cites an event in the Old testament where Elijah the prophet called on the Lord who sent fire down to consume the sacrifice and the alter after 450 priests of Baal had failed to get a response from their god.

Then he explains. “The altar erected to Baal…stands for all the ways in which we order the infinite longing of our hearts to something less than God. When we do this, the fire never falls, because mere worldly things cannot, even in principle, satisfy our hungry souls. And when we persist in worshiping falsely, we find ourselves…caught in an addictive pattern, hopping obsessively…around the alter of pleasure, power, or fame, desperately seeking satisfaction that will never come.” Furthermore, there is a self-destructive quality to such a self-addictive quest.

However, “when the fondest desire of our soul is directed to the infinite God, the fire will fall and addiction will be avoided.” So, the Biblical question is, “At which altar will you worship?”

A third way of asking this question is, “To which audience are you playing?” Bishop Barron says, “A lost soul plays to the endless fickle audience of the world. The uncorroded soul plays to God and to the friend of God, seeking to please them alone.

So we ask: What kind of person will you be? At which alter do you worship? To which audience are you playing? And how does the Deity of Christ fit in with these questions? Well, Christ our God wants us to make the best decision for this life and for eternity. He has both the love and power to satisfy our souls. He longs for us to come to him, to seek righteousness over gain and truth over deceit. The cost of Christian discipleship is worth it. “For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36. KJV.

The Best Response. The best response to the incarnate Christ is to believe his words, heed his warnings, trust in his promises, repent of your sins, submit to his Lordship, receive Christ in prayer as Lord and Savior, and make a commitment to follow him! We encourage you to make this commitment today.

For more information about how to know Jesus Christ, please read the article on this website, “The Way to Eternal Life.”