Is Jesus God?
First off, the Bible, Jesus Christ, and the Jewish culture are all monotheistic. Meaning that they all believed and taught that there was only one God. Therefore, that excludes the thought that Jesus was a lesser god. Second, the Jews who accused Jesus of blasphemy wouldn't have done so if Jesus claimed to be a prophet. The role of Prophet was a valid role within Jewish law. If Jesus claimed to be a prophet, the Jews wouldn't have been able to accuse him of blasphemy, especially since all of his prophecies thus far have come true. The only reason for the accusation is that the Jews thought that Jesus was claiming to be the one true God.
As for His statement, "I and my Father are one ...", you're saying that he and God are in agreement? While that can be an interpretation, a more accurate one would be that Jesus and the Father are both God. This is especially true since the Jews wanted to stone Jesus in the following verse. You see, the fact that the Jews saw Jesus as a blasphemer is proof that Jesus was at least claiming to be God. The only way to be accused of blasphemy and still be sinless is if Jesus truly was God.
One top of that, you have verses such as in John 14 where Jesus says that he is "in" the Father and the Father is "in" him. Here he also says that when you see Jesus, you see the Father also. All of these, and other passages, prove that Jesus was God. Further, you have his statements in Revelation where he says, "I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the first and the Last, ..." This was used by God numerous times throughout the Old Testament when he identified himself to the Prophets. Isaiah 41:4; Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 48:12 all have God identifying himself to Isaiah as the Beginning and the End. Jesus is using the same identity.
Jesus identified himself as the Light. Psalms 27:1 and Isaiah 60:20 have God being identified as the Light. Jesus identified himself as the Great Shepherd and Savior on numerous times. Both terms are prominent all throughout Isaiah and Psalms in reference to God. Jesus claimed to be the King of the Jews before Pilate. Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Psalms all identify God as the King of the Jews.
Most compelling is in Matthew 28 we see the disciples fell at Jesus’ feet, worshipped Him and Jesus accepted being worshiped! This would have been the highest blasphemy unless, Jesus was God. If He wasn’t, Jesus would have strongly rebuked the disciples. Yet His reply was, “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me…”
Jesus used the identities that were given to God in the Old Testament as his own and He accepted direct worship. He could only do so if He were God. Jesus claimed to be God. It is abundantly clear.
Jesus Loves You!
Arthur
Is Jesus God?
First off, the Bible, Jesus Christ, and the Jewish culture are all monotheistic. Meaning that they all believed and taught that there was only one God. Therefore, that excludes the thought that Jesus was a lesser god. Second, the Jews who accused Jesus of blasphemy wouldn't have done so if Jesus claimed to be a prophet. The role of Prophet was a valid role within Jewish law. If Jesus claimed to be a prophet, the Jews wouldn't have been able to accuse him of blasphemy, especially since all of his prophecies thus far have come true. The only reason for the accusation is that the Jews thought that Jesus was claiming to be the one true God.
As for His statement, "I and my Father are one ...", you're saying that he and God are in agreement? While that can be an interpretation, a more accurate one would be that Jesus and the Father are both God. This is especially true since the Jews wanted to stone Jesus in the following verse. You see, the fact that the Jews saw Jesus as a blasphemer is proof that Jesus was at least claiming to be God. The only way to be accused of blasphemy and still be sinless is if Jesus truly was God.
One top of that, you have verses such as in John 14 where Jesus says that he is "in" the Father and the Father is "in" him. Here he also says that when you see Jesus, you see the Father also. All of these, and other passages, prove that Jesus was God. Further, you have his statements in Revelation where he says, "I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the first and the Last, ..." This was used by God numerous times throughout the Old Testament when he identified himself to the Prophets. Isaiah 41:4; Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 48:12 all have God identifying himself to Isaiah as the Beginning and the End. Jesus is using the same identity.
Jesus identified himself as the Light. Psalms 27:1 and Isaiah 60:20 have God being identified as the Light. Jesus identified himself as the Great Shepherd and Savior on numerous times. Both terms are prominent all throughout Isaiah and Psalms in reference to God. Jesus claimed to be the King of the Jews before Pilate. Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Psalms all identify God as the King of the Jews.
Most compelling is in Matthew 28 we see the disciples fell at Jesus’ feet, worshipped Him and Jesus accepted being worshiped! This would have been the highest blasphemy unless, Jesus was God. If He wasn’t, Jesus would have strongly rebuked the disciples. Yet His reply was, “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me…”
Jesus used the identities that were given to God in the Old Testament as his own and He accepted direct worship. He could only do so if He were God. Jesus claimed to be God. It is abundantly clear.
Jesus Loves You!
Arthur
