Jesus - His claims about himself.
Only Jesus...
All of the great teachers, prophets and religious leaders of the world have always pointed away from themselves to some other source of truth, or way of living. They pointed their followers to a god who was 'up there', or 'all around', but none of them ever pointed to himself as God or the personification of truth. None, except Jesus.
Several of the following paragraphs end with a word and numbers in brackets. This is a cross reference to a section of the Bible. Click on the reference to open a new window in which the words of the Bible will be displayed. Close the window when you are ready to return here. Try this one (John 3 v 16-17)
Jesus teaching pointed to himself:
"Come, follow me" was one of Jesus' first instructions. Not just 'obey the law', or 'live a good life', or even 'do what God says' but "Follow ME" (Mark 1 v 17)
He said "Come to me". This was his solution to those who were tired and burdened by life, who longed for rest. Where was this rest to be found? In self effort? In keeping rules? No! In a person, in 'me' - Jesus.
Jesus spoke many times about the Kingdom of God. In the prayer Jesus taught his disciples he taught us to pary to God saying 'your kingdom come'. Yet, speaking about this same kingdom he called it "My Kingdom" which the Father had given him (Luke 22 v 30)
He claimed to have been sent by God and that "anyone who receives me" also receives God himself , and anyone who "welcomes me" also welcomes the one who sent him. Receive and welcome Jesus and you receive and welcome God, Jesus claimed. (Matt 10 v 40) (Mark 9 v 37)
Jesus spoke about God as 'Father'. The disciples wanted to see God. You have seen him already, Jesus told them. "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14 v 9)
Jesus acknowledged that his disciples "believe in God" but then adds "believe also in me". He goes on to state that in God's house there is a place for them which he will prepare, and that he will come back to take them to that place. He makes it clear that our future depends on what he will do for us, therefore we need to believe in him (John 14 v 1)
On a number of occasions Jesus made startling statements starting with "I am...":
"I am the bread of life" He claimed to be the very thing that was necessary to maintain life. (John 6 v 35)
"I am the light of the world". He claimed to be the light that allows people to see their way through life (John 8 v 12)
"I am the resurrection and the life" . Often quoted at funeral services - Jesus claimed to be such a source of life, that he could give it even when it is gone. (John 11 v 25-26)
"I am the way the truth and the life" . Many struggle to know the way to live, Jesus says 'the way to live is in me'. We look for the ultimate truth, 'it's me' he says. We look for a life worth living with meaning and purpose, again 'it's me'. (John 14 v 6)
The solutions to all of these issues of life are not rules, or methods, or programs but a person. Jesus.
Jesus made direct claims to be God himself:
When Jesus healed a man on the sabbath day (the holy day in the week) he was confronted by the authorities. In the course of explaining himself Jesus says "My Father is always working ... and so am I". Note how he says 'My Father' not just our father. The Jews therefore tried all the harder to kill him, not just for breaking the rules about the sabbath but because he was "even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God" (John 5)
NOTE: it is important to see the reaction Jesus statements had on the hearers of his day and not just assess them as they appear to us in the 21st century in a different historical and cultural context.
Jesus says "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was, I AM". Some of our modern translations lose the power of the original words. 'I tell you the truth' is given in some translations as 'Verily, verily, I say to you' or 'Truely, Truely, I say to you' in trying to express the force of Jesus words. He uses a Hebrew form of statement that is the strongest oath and with this oath claims for himself the divine name of God. Again, we might miss the meaning of this if we do not note the reaction of those present at the time. In claiming the divine name he claims the divine nature - to be God. Assuming this to be blasphemy they pick up stones to stone him. (John 8 v 58)
Jesus equated himself to God saying "The Father and I are one". The word 'one' means of the same essence or nature. We can understand what his hearers thought by their reaction to this statement. They picked up stones to throw at him to kill him. Jesus reminds them of the many miracles he had done, which of these was he being stoned for he asked. Not for any of these was the reply, but for blasphemy "because you, a mere man, claim to be God". (John 10 v 30-33)
He also stated "if you had known me, you would know my father (God) also" (John 8 v 19)
On trial for his life before the high priest, and other religious leaders, he was asked outright 'Are you the Christ (or Messiah), the Son of the Blessed One (God)?'. Jesus replied "I am". He went on to state that they (his accusers) would see him 'sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One (in the place of honour)'. This was too much for them, they convicted him of blasphemy and condemned him to death. (Mark 14 v 61-62)
Blasphemy was confirmed as the basis of the conviction when Jesus was taken before the Roman authorities. The Jewish leaders insisted to Pilate, the Roman governor, that Jesus should die "because he claimed to be the Son of God" (John 19 v 7)
Jesus made indirect claims to be God:
He claims to forgive sin: When a man is brought to him paralysed Jesus forgives his sin. When those in attendance query his right to forgive, which only God can do, Jesus proves his right to forgive (and so his claim to be God) by curing the man of his paralysis. (John 2)
He claims to Judge the world: Jesus tells us a time is coming when he will be the judge to which we must all answer. That we must all answer to God is accepted and understood by many religions. In claiming to be the judge Jesus claims clearly, to be God. (Matt 25 v 31-46)
He accepts worship: A number of people - a healed leper, the disciples, a blind man restored to sight, Thomas after the resurrection - all came to Jesus and worshipped him as God. Far from saying 'don't do that you must only worship God', Jesus accepted it. (Matt 8 v 1-3) (Matt 14 v 29-33) (Matt 28 v 8-10) (John 9 v 38) (John 20 v 26-28)
And finally,
At the end of his account of Jesus life the apostle John writes;
"Many other signs did Jesus do in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book: But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life through his name" (John 20 v 30-31).