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Evidence ID: HIS-EV29

Evidence: Jesus’ Self-Identity

Summary: The evidence of Jesus claiming to be God during his life and ministry are overwhelming. Jesus identifies himself as God's son, the "Son of Man" and ultimately, the great I AM (God). He claimed authority over the Old Testament Law. He further demonstrated his divine authority by forgiving sins and performing miracles. This evidence is so condemning that the Jewish ruling council sought to put Jesus to death for the crime of blasphemy under Jewish law.

Description: Based on the Gospel accounts, we learn a great deal about the identity of Jesus. His disciples and the crowds had opinions of who Jesus was. Many regarded him as a prophet while others regarded him as a demon or lunatic. His disciples regarded him early in his ministry as someone sent by God. Confusion over his identity was widespread. The question is "Who did JESUS say he was?"

Based on Jesus statements found in the gospels, we see that Jesus claimed that God was "His Father" and that he was "one with the Father". In some cases, Jesus claimed to be the I AM, God himself.

The evidence presented herein identifies the Christological titles and roles Jesus claims for himself.

#1 Jesus Identifies God as His Father

Jesus refers to God as his Father ("My Father") approximately 50 times in the gospel accounts. This personal reference to God speaks to the intimate relationship Jesus has with God the Father. This manner of reference was an affront to the Jewish leaders who regarded the name of God as sacred. Jews referred to God using alternate names such as Yahweh (YHWH) to avoid sacrilege.

Jesus prayed to God as "Abba Father" in Mark 14:36. This is an Aramaic term of endearment used by children to address their father. It is equivalent to the word "daddy". It is one of the most intimate words that can be used to refer to a father. This intimate term would never have been used by any God-fearing Jew to refer to God.

Prior to Jesus ascension in John 20:17, Jesus says he is "ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’" In this verse he refers to his distinct, divine Sonship with the Father.

Perhaps Jesus' boldest statements of his unique relationship with the God the Father is found in Matthew 11:27 and John 14:8-10. Jesus declared to the crowds and to his disciples,

"My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." (Matthew 11:27)
⁸ Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." ⁹ Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? John 14:8-10

Jesus makes it noticeably clear in these passages that he is the only one that can reveal the Father to mankind. Unequivocally, Jesus is claiming to be the absolute revelation or full expression of God [REF-WLC03].

Ultimately, Jesus' claims of God being his Father infuriated the Jews. Their objection was that Jesus was implying he was equal to God.

This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God John 5:18. (Also see John 10:31-33)

#2 Jesus Identified Himself as the "Son of Man"

Perhaps the most frequent title Jesus claimed for himself is "the Son of Man". He used this title approximately 85 times in the gospels.

The phrase "Son of Man" in Daniel 7:13-14 refers to a divine figure who will come at the end of the age and establish his eternal kingdom. This divine figure is in the likeness of man having physical form. His divinity is demonstrated as one coming on the "clouds of heaven" and his heavenly origin (Psalm 68:4, Psalm 97:2). This Old Testament passage has been interpreted as a prophecy referring to the second coming of Jesus at the end of the age (Revelation 1:7, Revelation 14:14). According to Acts 1:11, the human-divine nature of Jesus is the same as his nature at his second coming on the clouds (Revelation 1:7). So, Jesus qualifies as the Son of Man in terms of his human-divine nature.

The primary distinction between the use of the title "Son of Man" in the Old and New Testaments, is that in the New Testament Jesus claims to be the Son of Man, not merely a son of man as recorded in Daniel 7:13 and the Book of Ezekiel [REF-MOU01].

Note that Jesus never claimed the title "Son of God", the "Christ" or the "Messiah". However, others claimed he was the Son of God, the Christ and the Messiah. This includes God the Father (Mark 1:11, Mark 9:7), the demons (Mark 1:24), the disciples (Mark 8:29) and others. In some cases, Jesus affirmed people use of these titles (John 4:26).

#3 Jesus Identifies Himself as the I AM (Ego Eimi)

In Exodus 3:14, God identified himself as the I AM WHO I AM. This is the first person singular present tense of the verb to be. Essentially, God is stating that he is - a statement of being.

This is the holy name God used for himself when speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai. This name speaks of God as an eternal, self-sufficient, self-existent, all-encompassing being without limitations, a being who is not dependent on something else for his existence. This name was so sacred that it was used exclusively by God himself and not a name that would be commonly used by the Jews. Jesus identifies himself as the I AM in the following passages:

Samaritan Woman at the Well

²⁵The woman said, "I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." ²⁶Then Jesus told her, "I AM the Messiah!" (John 4:25-26 NLT)

Jesus Walks on the Water

¹⁹When they (the disciples) had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. ²⁰But he (Jesus) said to them, "Don’t be afraid. I AM here!" (John 6:16-21 NLT)

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

... ⁴"Who are you looking for?" Jesus asked. ⁵"Jesus the Nazarene," they replied." I AM he," Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) ⁶As Jesus said "I AM he ," they all drew back and fell to the ground! (John 18:1-2 NLT)

Unbelieving People

²⁴Jesus said, "For unless you believe that I AM who I claim to be, you will die in your sins." ²⁵"Who are you?" they demanded. Jesus replied, "The one I have always claimed to be. ²⁶I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful." ²⁷But they still didn’t understand that he was talking about his Father. ²⁸So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I AM he. ... ⁵⁴Jesus said, "If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’ ⁵⁵but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. ⁵⁶Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad." ⁵⁷The people said, "You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?" ⁵⁸Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!" ⁵⁹At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. (John 8:21-59 NLT)

Jesus' Trial

⁶¹The high priest asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" ⁶²Jesus said, "I AM. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Mark 14:61-62 NLT)

In addition to the I AM claims listed above, Jesus claimed the following Messianic titles. These metaphorical titles identify Jesus as the fulfillment of an attribute of God revealed in the OT.

In these statements, Jesus clearly identifies himself as the fulfillment of these Messianic titles. He is emphatically saying "I am God". Consequently, the Jewish leaders condemned Jesus for blasphemy (Matthew 26:65-66).

#4 Jesus Identified Himself as One with God

In addition to Jesus' claims of being the I AM (Ego Eimi), he claims to have exclusive unity with God the Father. He is One with the Father in terms of his purpose and nature.

²² At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³ and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. ²⁴ So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." ²⁵ Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, ²⁶ but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. ²⁷ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one." (John 10:22-30)

Essentially, Jesus is saying, "The Father and I are one-in-the-same. We are the same being."

Jesus speaks of this unity with God the Father in numerous passages, most notably John 8:38, John 10:15, John 10:38 and John 14:9-11.

#5 Jesus Identified Himself as One Having the Divine Authority of the God

Jesus acted and spoke with the divine authority of God throughout his ministry. His teachings were so astonishing that the crowds recognized his authority as being greater than the scribes (Matthew 7:28-29).

Jesus' Teaching Authority Superseded the Old Testament Law
Jesus frequently interpreted and clarified the OT Law by saying "You have heard the law that says ..., but I say ..." (Matthew 5:31-32). In so doing, he put himself in the position of Moses who presented the Law to the people, and of God who is the Law giver. Given Jesus' lack of rabbinic training, the Jewish leaders repeatedly questioned his authority over the Law.

Jesus' Claimed to be the Origin of Divine Truth
Jesus frequently used the word AMEN when speaking (Matthew 18:3). If the word AMEN is used after a statement, it is interpreted to mean "so be it", or total agreement and endorsement. However, if the word AMEN is used before a statement, the speaker implies that the statement is absolutely true, and that the speaker has firsthand knowledge and is the origin of the truth. It is as if the speaker is saying, "I know this is true firsthand because I am the author of this truth!". This again places Jesus in the position of God, the authority of divine truth.

Jesus' Claimed to have Divine Authority to Forgive Sins
Jesus claimed to have the authority to forgive sin (John 5:1-15, John 8:3-11). Since God is ultimately the one sinned against and has the prerogative to forgive sin, Jesus is claiming to speak for God with divine authority.

²⁰ Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, "Young man, your sins are forgiven." ²¹ But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, "Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!". (Luke 5:20-24 NLT, also see Luke 7:49, Matthew 9:1-6).

Jesus knew his authority to forgive sins would be challenged by the Jewish leaders. He proved his authority by healing the paralyzed man (Matthew 9:5-6).

#6 Jesus Identified Himself as a Miracle Worker

During Jesus' ministry, he performed thousands of miracles [HIS-EV47]. According to the Gospel of Matthew, knowledge of his miracles spread throughout the entire region of Galilee. Countless people brought those who were sick, and demon possessed to Jesus.

²³ And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. ²⁴ So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. (Matthew 4:23-24)

Jesus demonstrated confidence in his authority to perform miracles in the Gospel of Matthew. When John the Baptist was in prison, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the Messiah. Jesus provided the following answer.

² John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, ³ "Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?"
⁴ Jesus told them, "Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— ⁵ the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor." (Matthew 11:2-5)

Working miracles was an integral part of Jesus' ministry. He exercised his power to heal and cast out demons everywhere he went and with everyone he encountered.

#7Jesus Claimed to Determine People's Eternal Destiny Before God

Jesus claims that people will be judged based on whether they acknowledge him as the Messiah. Their salvation depends on their confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah.

⁸ "And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, ⁹ but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. ¹⁰ And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. (Luke 12:8-10)

³² So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, ³³ but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33, also see Matthew 19:28).

In addition to these direct teachings, Jesus also refers to himself as the "way" (John 14:6) and the "door" (John 10:7-9).

It is clear from the evidence that Jesus claimed to be divine, the very essence of God himself. This evidence was so overwhelming and condemning that the Jewish ruling council had sufficient grounds upon which to condemn Jesus to death for the crime of blasphemy (John 10:24-33, Matthew 26:63-66).

Resources:

• Reasonable Faith - Christian Truth and Apologetics (REF-WLC03)

• The Origins of Christology (REF-MOU01)