by Don Hooton
At a crucial point in his ministry, Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Indeed, the answer we give will embody faith in its truest sense – and it matters because faith must know WHO Jesus is.
The entrance of Jesus into the world was extraordinary. Angelic beings announced to shepherds and humble parents brought him into the world. Matthew wrote, ‘“Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel [Isaiah 7:14] which is translated “God is with us.”’ That is the message of the New Testament.
Others said the same about Jesus’ deity. The Apostle John wrote: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created… [and] The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:1,18). In another place, John wrote: “And we know 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, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life” (1John 5:20). The Apostle Paul wrote: “I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying – …who is God over all, praised forever” (Romans 9:1,5). And again he wrote, “while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). The Apostle Peter addressed his letter: “To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (2Peter 1:1).
Yet, Jesus himself said that he was: At the Feast of Booths in his encounter with the Pharisees (John 8:13), Jesus told them, “if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.” (8:24). The Jewish people reacted to his statement by asking, “Who are you?” (8:25). Jesus told the Jews exactly who he is: “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). This “I am” statement was Jesus’ clearest example of His proclamation, “I am Yahweh,” from its background in the book of Isaiah (Isaiah 41:4; 43:10–13, 25; 46:4; 48:12; cf. John 13:19) as well as Exodus 3:14 where God’s self-given name is the clear reference to which Jesus wanted his hearers to connect. And they did. It was sufficiently provocative enough for the Jewish leaders to call for capital punishment on that charge of blasphemy.
Even in his trial before Pilate, Jewish leaders clearly understood that Jesus’ use of this term was not just generic: “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God” (John 19:7; cf. John 10:36). According to the Law, it was blasphemy to use God’s name (Leviticus 24:16). Therefore, by referring to himself as the Son of God, Jesus was claiming to share “the rights and authority of God himself (cf. [John] 1:34; 5:19–30).” People who say that Jesus never claimed to be God must answer why he was crucified on the Jewish leadership’s charge of blasphemy. How did He prove his Deity?
He proved it in what he said: ‘“Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts: “Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”’ (Mark 2:5-7).
He proved what he said by what he did: “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies about me, and I know that the testimony he gives about me is true… But I have a greater testimony than John’s because of the works that the Father has given me to accomplish. These very works I am doing testify about me that the Father has sent me” (John 5:31-36). And again, “The works that I do in my Father’s name testify about me… I and the Father are one.” (John 10:25-30).
He proved what he said by what he did by the resurrection of the dead: Paul wrote of the “the gospel of God— which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures— concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh and was appointed to be the powerful Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead.” (Romans 1:4).
The significance of this is that failure to believe that Jesus is the Son of God brings deprives us of the good news Jesus brought and the salvation that He purchased as well as positioned us for judgment the judgment for our sins (see John 3:18, Ephesians 2:1). But, believing in Jesus as the Son of God brings eternal life (see John 3:15–17, 6:40, 20:31). And as those who were asked what they should do to have that salvation Jesus came to bring, Peter said, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
After Thomas had heard what Jesus claimed and said, and saw what he had done and after He was raised, Thomas said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28) for very good reason.