What Jesus Said About Himself

“Jesus told him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’”  (John 14:6)

Jesus taught that God wants to have a close, personal relationship with us, and that the only way to have this kind of relationship was through Himself. This kind of relationship was far deeper and more profound than the people of His day had ever experienced. Before Jesus, it was unthinkable to refer to God as personally as ‘Father’ or ‘Daddy,’ yet this is exactly how Jesus prayed and taught His followers to pray.

Another part of His shocking message was that people could see and know God by observing Jesus. “Jesus replied, ‘…Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!’”  (John 14:9b)

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“What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”  (Mark 2:7)

Jesus, as recorded in the Bible, never came right out and said, “Hey everybody, I’m God!” This has led some people to believe that He never saw Himself as being God, and that the claim that He was equal with God is merely something that future followers made up.

But is this accurate?

When you look closely at what Jesus said, you can see that He did indeed make claims of a unique oneness and an equal authority with God. What He said was so shockingly clear to the religious leaders in His day that at one point they tried to stone Him to death for blasphemy – for claiming equal status with God. Nearing the end of His ministry, He was brought before the high council to again face the charge of blasphemy. When the high priest asked Him if He was the Messiah, He responded, “I am, and you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God’s right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven.”  (Mark 14:62)

The religious leaders were horrified at His response, and immediately sentenced Him to death – leading directly to His crucifixion the following day.

Jesus knew clearly who He was, and what the stakes were for making that claim.

Continue with: What The Bible Tells Us