Who was Jesus?
Who was Jesus? What was the true identity of Jesus? Who did he claim to be? What does the Bible say about him? We would like to answer each of these questions and more with verses from the Bible.
Who is Jesus according to the Bible?
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took on the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11
According to these verses, though Jesus is equal with God, He became a man, and made himself a servant.
Did Jesus claim to be God?
Jesus claimed the right to the same honor as is due unto God. John 5:23 “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.”
Jesus claimed to have existed before Abraham. John 8:58 “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”The phrase “I AM,” is a term that God used in the scriptures to speak of Himself. Exodus 3:14
Jesus claimed to have power to forgive sins. Mark 2:5-7 “When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6 But there were certain of the scribes siting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?” The scribes were right, only God can forgive sins, but they were greatly mistaken about who Jesus was when they questioned His right to forgive sins.
Jesus claimed to have the right to give eternal life. John 10:28-29 “And I give unto them eternal life: and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My father which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” Any ordinary man making these sweeping claims would be blaspheming if he wasn’t truly God, who was come to earth in human flesh.
Jesus claimed to be one with the Father, John 10:30 “I and my Father are one.” In the following verses you can see that the people around Jesus realized that He was claiming to be God, because they took up stones threatening to kill him for blasphemy. John 10:31-33“Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou being a man, makest thyself God.”
Jesus claimed to be the Christ, and the fulfillment of the Scriptures that promised a coming Messiah. John 4:25-26 “The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak to thee am he.” Mark 14:61 -62 “Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man siting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”
What did the prophets say about the nature of the coming Messiah even before Jesus came?
Jesus declared that the prophets wrote of Him. John 5:46-47 “For if ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writtings, how shall ye believe my words?”
One of the Messiah’s names was prophesied to be, Emmanuel, which means God with us. Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall his name Immanuel.” See the fulfillment of this prophecy in Matthew 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
The Prophet Isaiah prophesied of a Child being born who would be called the mighty God. Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
The Prophet Micah prophesied that one would be born in Bethlehem who was eternal. Micah 5:2 “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
What did the Apostles of Jesus and the early Church teach about the Deity of Jesus Christ?
The Apostle John wrote in John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life: and the life was the light of men.” From these verses it is clear that the ‘Word’ is God. Verse 14 of this same chapter explains who the Word is. John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Jesus is God, who came in the flesh!
Consider what the Apostle Thomas said to Jesus. John 20:28-29 “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believed.” Thomas worshiped Jesus as his Lord and his God, and Jesus did not rebuke him. There are no examples in the Bible of good men or angels willingly receiving worship, if men tried to worship a man or an angel, they would forbid it, and tell that person to worship God alone. Acts 10:25-26, Acts 14:11-18, Revelation 22:8-9 There are several examples of Jesus receiving worship in these Bible verses. Matthew 2:1-11, Matthew 8:2, Matthew 9:18, Matthew 14:33 Matthew 14:33, Matthew 15:25, Matthew 20:20, Matthew 28:9, 17, Luke 24:51-53, Revelation 5:11-14
Stephen was a leader in the first Church in Jerusalem. As he was being martyred, Stephen prayed to Jesus, recognizing Him as God. Acts 7:59 “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit.”
The apostle Paul taught the early church leaders that Jesus was God. Acts 20:28 “…feed the flock of God, which he purchased with his own blood.”
How many Gods are there?
The Bible is clear that there is only one true God. Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord. Deuteronomy 4:35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be aner me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior.”
What is the Trinity?
The Bible teaches a great mystery about God that we call the Trinity. Though no one can totally understand this mystery, the Bible teaches that there is one God manifested in three distinct persons: The Father, the Word (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Though the Bible does not use the word ‘Trinity’; it does say that these three persons of the Godhead are one God. 1 John 5:7 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, The Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” I Timothy 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angles, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” Colossians 2:9 “For in him (Jesus) dwelleth the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”
Conclusion:
Jesus is God! Not a lesser deity, but the only true, almighty God, who came to earth as a human being over 2000 years ago. He was born as a little baby on earth. He grew up and died for our sins and the sins of the whole world. He rose again from the dead proving that He is indeed more than just an ordinary man. Jesus ascended to heaven and has promised to physically come to earth again. Next time He comes it won’t be as a baby, nor will it be to die for our sins again. Next time Jesus will come to earth as the King of Kings and LORD of Lords to rule and reign on earth. Revelation 19:11-16 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name wriden, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vestured dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies (which were) in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of the Almighty God.16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name wriden, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
The purpose for this article is to show you some of the best Biblical examples, which prove that the Bible teaches the Deity of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the central theme of the Bible. For another amazing Bible study, Look at our article,
“99 names and adributes of Jesus Christ”.
Please note: All Bible references are in Blue; all Bible verses are in Red, and all the words of Jesus are in Bold Red. All scripture references are taken from the Authorized King James Version of the Bible.
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