Welcome to Day 2756 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – 10 Times Jesus Declared His Divinity in the Gospels.

Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2756

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps!   I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2756 of our Trek.   The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.  

Our current series of Theology Thursday lessons is written by theologian and teacher John Daniels. I have found that his lessons are short, easy to understand, doctrinally sound, and applicable to all who desire to learn more of God’s Word. John’s lessons can be found on his website   theologyinfive.com.   Today’s lesson is titled 10 Times Jesus Declared His Divinity in the Gospels.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly stated and demonstrated that He was God. His declarations and actions are not isolated from the broader context of Scripture but are deeply rooted in the Old Testament, which serves as the foundation for understanding His divine identity. In this article, we will examine the key moments in the Gospels where Jesus claimed divinity, using the OT to provide context and clarity. Let’s look at the ten times Jesus declared his divinity.  

1. Jesus as the “I AM”

One of the clearest statements of Jesus’ divinity comes in John eight verse fifty-eight when He declares, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” This is an unmistakable reference to Exodus three verse fourteen, where God revealed Himself to Moses as “I AM WHO I AM.” By using this title, Jesus identifies Himself with the God of Israel, YHWH (Yahweh), who spoke to Moses from the burning bush. The Jewish audience understood the weight of this statement, as they immediately sought to stone Him for blasphemy (John eight verse fifty-nine).  

2. Jesus Forgives Sins  

In Mark two, verses five through seven, Jesus forgives the sins of a paralytic man, which prompts the scribes to question, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Here, Jesus performs an act that, according to Jewish belief, only God could do. His authority to forgive sins demonstrates that He is not merely a prophet or teacher but possesses divine authority. In Isaiah forty-three verse twenty-five, God states, “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake.” Jesus’ actions directly connect Him with this divine function.  

3. Jesus Receives Worship

In multiple instances, Jesus accepts worship, which in Jewish monotheism is reserved exclusively for God. For example, after walking on water and calming the storm, His disciples worship Him, saying, “Truly, You are the Son of God” (Matthew fourteen, verse thirty-three). In Deuteronomy six, verse thirty-three, it is commanded, “You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.” Yet, Jesus receives worship without rebuke, implying His divine status. In contrast, angels and apostles in the Bible refuse worship, redirecting it to God (Revelation twenty-two, verses eight and nine, Acts fourteen, verse fifteen.  

4. Jesus’ Claim to be the Son of Man

Jesus frequently refers to Himself as the “Son of Man,” a title from Daniel seven, verses thirteen and fourteen, where the Son of Man comes “with the clouds of heaven” and is given “dominion, glory, and a kingdom” that will never pass away. This figure is distinct from ordinary human beings, as He is presented in divine terms, receiving worship and eternal authority. When Jesus is questioned by the high priest in Mark fourteen, verses sixty-one and sixty-two, about His identity, He responds, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” The high priest’s immediate reaction of tearing his robes and accusing Jesus of blasphemy confirms that Jesus was claiming a divine status.

5. Jesus as the Good Shepherd

In John ten, verses eleven through fourteen, Jesus claims, “I am the good shepherd.” This is a powerful allusion to Psalm twenty-three, verse one, “The Lord is my shepherd.” Throughout the OT, God is described as the Shepherd of Israel (Isaiah fourty, verse eleven, Ezekiel thirty-four, verses eleven through sixteen). By taking this title upon Himself, Jesus equates Himself with Yahweh, the Shepherd of His people. Additionally, in John ten, verse thirty, Jesus declares, “I and the Father are one,” a statement that again incites the Jews to accuse Him of blasphemy (John ten, verse thirty-one through thirty-three) because they understood Him to be claiming equality with God.

6. Jesus, the Judge of the World

In the OT, God is the Judge of all the earth (Genesis eighteen, verse thirty-five, Psalm ninety-six, verse thirteen). However, Jesus claims this role for Himself in Matthew twenty-five, verses thirty-one through fourty-six, where He describes the final judgment and declares that He will separate the sheep from the goats. He also states in John five, verse twenty-two, “For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son.” This role of divine judgment shows that Jesus shares in God’s sovereign authority over humanity.

7. Jesus, the Source of Life

In John eleven, verse twenty-five and twenty-six, Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” This is a remarkable statement because, in the OT, Yahweh is the source of life. Deuteronomy thirty-two, verse thirty-five states, “See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive.” By claiming to be the one who has authority over life and death, Jesus is making a claim to divinity.

8. Jesus’ Authority Over Nature

In the OT, only God has control over the elements. Psalm 107:twenty-nine says, “He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.” Yet, in Mark four, verse thirty-nine, Jesus calms a storm with His command, “Peace! Be still!” His disciples are astonished and ask, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark four, verse fourty-one). This echoes the divine authority over creation and nature, confirming Jesus’ divine identity.

9. Jesus’ Authority Over Demons

Jesus demonstrates divine authority through His power to cast out demons. In the Gospels, demons repeatedly recognize Jesus’ divine identity, such as in Mark one, verse twenty-four, where an unclean spirit cries out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Furthermore, Jesus’ authority to exorcise evil spirits points to His unique spiritual supremacy, as even His opponents recognized that such authority could only come from divine power (Matthew twelve, verses twenty-two through twenty-nine).

10. Jesus’ Preexistence

In John seventeen, verse five, Jesus prays, “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” This indicates His preexistence, a quality only attributed to God in the OT. Micah five, verse two speaks of a ruler from Bethlehem “whose origins are from of old, from ancient times,” a passage traditionally understood to point to the Messiah’s eternal nature.

Bonus: Jesus as the Lord of the Sabbath

Jesus declares in Mark two, verse twenty-eight, “So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” Since the Sabbath was instituted by God Himself (Genesis two verse, two and three; Exodus twenty, verses eight through eleven), only God possesses true lordship over this sacred day. By asserting His authority over the Sabbath, Jesus positions Himself as equal to God, possessing divine rights to define and interpret one of God’s most sacred institutions.  

In Conclusion

The Gospels present a clear and consistent portrayal of Jesus as God. His declarations, actions, and the reactions of those around Him make it evident that He claimed divinity, often by invoking OT imagery and references to God’s unique roles. Whether by forgiving sins, accepting worship, calming storms, or directly stating that He and the Father are one, Jesus consistently showed that He was not just a teacher or prophet, but God incarnate.

For further study, consider these Discussion Questions

How does Jesus’ ability to calm the storm in the Gospels reflect His divine authority over creation, and what significance does this hold for understanding His identity as God?

In what ways do Jesus’ statements, such as “I AM” and “I and the Father are one,” demonstrate His divinity, and how were these claims understood by His audience within a first-century Jewish context?

How do Jesus’ actions of forgiving sins, receiving worship, and claiming authority to judge reveal His divine nature, and why were these actions controversial in the religious setting of His time?

  

 Join us next time on Theology Thursday, where our lesson will explore: The Coequality of the Trinity: An exploration through Biblical Verse and Early Church Writings.  

 If you found this podcast insightful, please subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of ‘Wisdom-Trek,  Creating a Legacy.’    

Thank you so much for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and, most importantly,   I am your friend as I serve you through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.   

As we take this Trek of life together, let us always:      

Liv Abundantly.     

Love Unconditionally.    

Listen Intentionally.    

Learn Continuously.    

Lend to others Generously.     

Lead with Integrity.     

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day.     

I am Guthrie Chamberlain, reminding you to “Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy your journey, and create a great day, every day! Join me next time for more daily wisdom!