Objection: Jesus never claimed to be God

[Jesus] said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
     - Matthew 16:15

On that one simple question and how you respond to it - everything hangs.

In regard to Jesus, although no serious scholar denies His historical existence any more,  many skeptics will say that He was simply a good man, a moral man, and a wise teacher. One of the objections to Christianity the critics have raised is that Jesus never claimed to be God.  One problem with this objection is that they are applying their Western/Greek thought to an Eastern text written (initially) to an audience of Eastern culture.  Another problem is they ignore or dismiss the reports of the Jewish people expressing their understanding that Jesus was making claims of divinity.

Aside from the numerous specific prophecies fulfilled by Jesus which point directly to His divinity and Messianic mission, He actually did convey verbally to the people His claim of divinity.  Let's look at just a few.


JEWS RECOGNIZED JESUS' DIVINE CLAIMS

First, let's look at how the Jewish people understood Jesus' words. The claims of the critics today that Jesus' never claimed to be God was obviously not shared with the Jews that Jesus lived among.  

Often the Jews wanted to stone Jesus for claiming to be God.

The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?”  The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
     -  John 10:31-33

The Jewish religious leaders understood His claims clearly.
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 5:16-18 

Jews gathered in the temple to hear Jesus teach understood His claims clearly. (We'll look at this claim again momentarily.)
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, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
     - John 8:57-59

The Jews in the synagogue of Nazareth wanted to kill Him for attributing the Messianic claims of Isaiah 61:1 to Himself. Luke Records the claim in Luke 4:16-21.

And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.

     - Luke 4:29 

JESUS CLAIMED DIVINE TITLE: "I AM" 
God's holy name, YHWH, rendered reverently as The Lord (Adonai) and transliterated as Jehovah, means "the existing One".  As God prepared Moses to lead the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt, He identified Himself as "I AM".
Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
    - Genesis 3:13-14


The Greek words for "I" is ego and for "am" is eimi.  That phrase "ego eimi", I am, alone does not convey a divine meaning, but it can depending on context of speech or action. And the Jews of the day would recognize such context.  Jesus made specific references to attributes and claims of divinity using "ego eimi".  The name "I AM" from God's discourse with Moses at the burning bush (in the passage above) was well established as belonging to God.  

In the temple scene introduced above (John 8:57-59), Jesus flatly and undeniably referred to Himself with this name to the Jews in the temple. Understanding this claim, and believing it blasphemy, they sought to kill Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
     - John 8:58-59

This next example is one that I previously posted about with more detail in the article entitled I AM - Storm Master.  It is when Jesus is walking out to the disciples who are in the boat in the middle of the sea.  Job 9:8 attributes "treads on the waves of the sea" as an ability belonging solely to God.  When the disciples cry out in fear, Jesus responds in what is typically translated as something like "Fear not; it is Me."  The Greek wording there is again ego eimi - I Am.  Contextually, Jesus was visibly demonstrating the ability of walking on water, ascribed as what only God can do, while also verbally claiming "I Am".  (See: Matthew 14:22-27, Mark 6:45-50, John 6:16-20).  Matthew goes on to record the disciples understanding and reaction:  And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Another example is when God spoke the following Messianic message through the prophet Isaiah:
“You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Me. I, I am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior."
     - Isaiah 43:10-11

In that passage, God identifies Himself as God alone and Savior alone.  In a slightly more obscure claim, Jesus links Himself to that passage with a focus on "then you will know I AM":
So they said to Him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but He who sent Me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from Him.” They did not understand that He had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own authority, but speak just as the Father taught Me.  And He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him."  As he was saying these things, many believed in Him.
     - John 8:28-29

Jesus referenced the very phrase from God speaking through Isaiah, "you may know....and understand that I am He" which is followed by God saying there is no other god and no other savior. So by extension, Jesus is identifying Himself as the same.

Jesus' reference to lifting up the Son of Man is referenced earlier in His conversation with the religious leader, Nicodemus:
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
     - John 3:14 

This reference was to when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness and were becoming rebellious.  God sent serpents among them, and many people were bitten and died. 
And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.”  So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
     -  Numbers 21:8-9

This, too, was a direct claim to God giving life.  Again we see the Jews understood Jesus' divine claims because some believed.

Let's look at the phrase "then you will know that I am he".  The words "you" and "he" were added for English grammatical reasons during translation.  The phrase in Greek is oun ginōskō hoti egō eimi.  The word oun is a particle meaning "then" or "therefore".  The second word ginosko means "to learn or come to know". The next word, hoti, is the conjunction translated as "that".  Next is the phrase ego eimi - I Am.  The next word in the Greek text is kai, which is the conjunction translated as "and".  In essence, the phrase reads "then come to know I Am".  In context of already pointing out His divinity, this certainly must be another I Am claim with direct reference to the Isaiah passage.


JESUS CLAIMED DIVINE TITLE: SON OF MAN
Jesus frequently referred to Himself as the Son of Man.  The Jews, in particular the religious leaders, would understand this to be a specific reference to a passage in Daniel.

I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

     - Daniel 7:13-14 

At His trial, Jesus made such a bold claim to be that Son of Man, that the high priest tore his clothes and pronounced blasphemy.

Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

     - Matthew 26:64 (See also: Mark 16:62, Luke 22:29)

Jesus answered the rebukes of the religious leaders who were accusing His disciples of working on the sabbath therefore breaking the 4th commandment which says "but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God."  There could have been no doubt in the listeners mind of the connection.  Jesus' response would have been blatant and shocking:

 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

     - Matthew 12:8

More instances in which Jesus called Himself "Son of Man" are found in Matthew 8:20, 9:6, 10:23, 11:19, 12:8, 12:32, 13:37, 13:41, 16:13, 16:27: 16:28, 17:12, 17:22, 19:28, 20:18, 20:28, 24:27, 24:20, 24:37, 24:39, 24;44, 25:31


JESUS CLAIMED KINGSHIP OF NONPHYSICAL KINGDOM
When questioned, Jesus told Pilate that His kingdom was not of this world - this physical world. It would be understood that the only other option is that of a spiritual kingdom. Regardless of culture or religion, only God (or gods for polytheistic pagans) would rule the spiritual realm.
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
     - John 18:36 


 JESUS ACCEPTED WORSHIP
Jesus accepted worship that was reserved only for God without rebuking the ones worshiping.

Peter's proclamation:
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
     - Matthew 16:15-17

Philip's proclamation:
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

     - John 20:28-29 

Disciples response:

And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

     - Matthew 14:33

Disciples response:

And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." 

     - Matthew 28:17-18


JESUS FORGAVE SINS

Jesus forgave the sins of a paralytic man.

And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 
     - Matthew 2:3 (See also Mark 2:10, Luke 5:24)

Jesus forgave the sins of a woman, noted as a sinner and "woman of the city".

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”

      - Luke 7:47-49

JESUS CLAIMED GOD'S ABILITY TO GIVE REST
In Exodus 33, Moses and God are speaking to one another:
Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ Now therefore, if I have found favor in Your sight, please show me now Your ways, that I may know You in order to find favor in Your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” And He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
     - Exodus 33:12-14

Jesus associates Himself with God the Father, states that all things have been given into His authority, and that He will give rest to those seeking God through Him.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
     - Matthew 11:27-28


JESUS LIKENS HIMSELF TO GOOD AND SHEPHERD
When a certain person came and called Jesus "good Master", Jesus' first reply was asking why he called Him good; "There is none good but God alone." (Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19). In writing arguably one of his most popular psalms, David called God his Shepherd. (Psalm 23:1).  Jesus applies both descriptions to Himself.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  [...]  I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
     - John 10:11,14

A few verses later, Jesus would further say that He lays His life down rather than it being taken from Him, and He has both the authority to lay it down and to take it back up again (John 10:18) .


CONCLUSION

Ultimately, it was because they accused Jesus of blasphemy - specifically claiming to BE God - that the Jewish leaders sought to kill Him.   As seen in the John 5:16-18 passage above, it was a constant desire in their hearts. 

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.
    - John 7:21


If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” ^[...] So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.
     - John 11:48, 53  


But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
     - Matthew 12:14  


It was because He claimed to be King that the Romans had to be involved.  To claim kingship, and divinity, was sedition against Caesar, and the Pharisees played that angle too.

From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”  So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha.
     - John 19:12


These are just some examples of how Jesus did in fact claim His divinity - that He is God become man.  

Whatever objection one wants to use against Christianity, the objection that Jesus never claimed to be God can not be used with any legitimacy.


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[Originally written: March 6, 2017]