SEARCH
A Safe Place to Explore
Questions About Life and God
Questions About Life and God
SEARCH
By EveryStudent.com
Yes, Jesus was very clear about being equal to God.
In fact, Jesus was arrested and killed for this very reason, for claiming to be God.
Throughout his life, Jesus said he could do what only God could do: forgive sin, answer prayer, judge the world, and give people eternal life.
Jesus said to know him was to know God.1 To see him was to see God.2 To believe in him was to believe in God.3 To receive him was to receive God.4 To hate him was to hate God.5 And to honor him was to honor God.6
Often Jesus' language was intertwined with reference to the Father. There is one God, yet in a trinity relationship: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
He referred to himself as both fully human, "Son of Man" and fully God, "Son of God."
Jesus was born by a mother, named Mary, who was a virgin. Yet Jesus referred to God as his Father. The people correctly understood this as his claim to deity.
For example, on a Sabbath day Jesus healed a man. The Jewish religious leaders were greatly offended that Jesus would heal him, doing this "work" on the Sabbath, when no one was to work.
And so, "This is why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God."7
Not only did he claim deity, but Jesus repeatedly said that anyone who believes in him could be certain of eternal life.
Jesus plainly said, "Whoever believers in the Son has eternal life."8
And "For this is the will of my Father than everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."9
nd "Truly, truly, I saw to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life."10
He, as the Son of God, could also answer prayer.
"Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."11
Jesus also had authority to forgive sins.
One time a man with paralysis was carried on a stretcher by his friends bringing him to Jesus to be healed. When Jesus saw their faith Jesus said, "Your sins are forgiven."
The religious leaders hearing this responded, "Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
So Jesus asked them, "Which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, he turned to the man with paralysis and said, "Rise and go home," which he did.12
Crowds followed Jesus for his teaching, but also because Jesus was constantly healing people.
"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."13
He healed those with various diseases and people who couldn't see or walk their entire life. Twice he fed crowds of several thousand people with bread he instantly produced for them, and much more.
Jesus said, "If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”14
Multiple times before his arrest and crucifixion on a cross, Jesus said that three days after being buried he would come back to life…physically rise from the dead.
Because everyone knew that Jesus said this, the authorities placed Roman soldiers to guard the tomb.
Yet three days later the tomb was found empty. Jesus appeared numerous times to many people, as final proof of his claim to deity, the Son of God.
He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me."15
Jesus offers us forgiveness of all our sins and a relationship with him that starts now and will last eternally.
He said, "I came that you might have life, and have it more abundantly."16
As our Creator, he never meant for us to go through this life separated from him. He wants us to experience his love and presence. He wants to guide us. And after death, to give us eternal life.
Have you started a relationship with Jesus? Do you know how to do that? Please click on this link below: How to know God…
| ► | How to know God... |
| ► | I have a question or comment... |
Footnotes: (1) John 8:19; 14:7 (2) John 12:45; 14:9 (3) John 12:44; 14:1 (4) Mark 9:37 (5) John 15:23 (6) John 5:23 (7) John 5:18 (8) John 3:36 (9) John 6:40 (10) John 5:24 (11) John 14:13 (12) Mark 2:1-12 (13) Matthew 4:23 (14) John 10:37,38 (15) John 14:6 (16) John 10:10
Other articles/videos you might be interested in…
