Bible Question:
I keep being told that Jesus says directly that He is God. However, I cannot seem to find any verse that states it that emphatically. All I find are vague passages that could be possibly interpretted as Jesus saying so, but not that actual statement. Jesus seems to let listeners/readers THINK what they want rather than answer the question directly. Where can I find this famous verse??? |
Bible Answer: Forgive me if I'm repeating anything. The last post I read said that Jesus was never quoted as saying that He is God. I disagree. In John 10:30, he does claim equality with the Father. Remember in John 10:31, the Jews picked up stones because "He blasphemed". They understood Him to say that He was God. He did not deny it. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus tells his disciples to baptize "in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit". Note that it does not say "names". He, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are identified by One Name. I'm not saying that they are not three persons, I'm considering their essence as being One - each is considered God. These are Jesus' own words. Elsewhere, in Mark 14:61-62, Jesus was asked if He is "the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One". Under oath, He says, "I am." Again, the Jews accused Him of blasphemy. They understood Him to say that He is God, and they did not believe it. In John 8:56-59, we read, "'Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.' So the Jews said to Him, 'You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?' "Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.' "Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple." He does not say "Before Abraham, I was". He says "I am". I find that significant. Even in the Old Testament, we see evidence of "plurality" in the Godhead. It isn't new with the New Testament. Consider the creation account. In Genesis 1:26, God says, "'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.' And God created man in His own image..." The very word "Elohim" is plural, and it is often used of God. I realize that I cannot make you see. I can present the evidence, and it is out of my hands. Do with this what you will. |