Who does he think he is — God?Jesus’ critics say He was a great, moral teacher but He never claimed to be God. They argue that His followers created the legend of His deity after He was gone. That charge raises several questions: What did Jesus say about Himself? What difference does it make if He said He was God? What alternatives remain about His identity if He was not God?A person who declares himself God reduces the options as to what he truly is. If he’s not God only two alternatives are possible. First, he could be nuts, a lunatic. Many people in insane asylums and a few on the street claim deity, but their lives and character soon reveal otherwise. Jesus’ life and character, however, support His claim. Second, He could be a deceiver, a deliberate liar. Religious charlatans are common, but they’re eventually exposed as frauds. Jesus’ miracles, good deeds, and sacrificial life argue that He was genuine. But did He say He was God? The gospels record three kinds of evidence that reveal Jesus’ belief in His deity. First, He directly said so. Consider John 8:58: "Before Abraham was born, I am!" This alleges more than prior existence — "I am" was the special name God gave to identify Himself when talking to Moses in Exodus 3:14. Those who heard Jesus use it thought He was claiming deity because they took up rocks to stone Him — the punishment for blasphemy. He also admitted His deity in Luke 22:70 during His trial for His life, "They all asked, ‘Are you then the son of God?’ He replied, ‘You are right in saying I am.’ "Second, He said and did several things to equate himself with God. For instance, in John 5:17-18 He presumed a special relationship, "He was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God." He also modified God’s law. "You have heard that it was said … , But I tell you. … " (Matthew 5:21-22); and, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away" (Matthew 24:35). Furthermore, He declared Himself the only way to God in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." He even forgave sins, "Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ " (Luke 7:48), and He claimed to be the final judge in eternity, "The Father … has entrusted all judgment to the Son" (John 5:22).Third, He accepted others’ statements of His deity including their worship, "When they saw him, they worshipped him" (Matthew 28:17); their prayer, "You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it" (John 14:14); and their direct admission of His deity, "Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God’ " (Matthew 14:33). Jesus saw Himself as deity, the one through whom God entered the human race and through whom God spoke and acted. Could He be wrong? That’s highly unlikely given the evidence of His miracles and resurrection. We can be sure of one thing — He did see Himself as God, and if He was not, He was no great, moral teacher. He left us only three options: He was either a raving lunatic, a devious liar, or the Lord of the universe. Whoever we each believe He is sets the path of our life and eternity.
