Is Jesus God? Did he claim to be?

One of the debates that has raged through the ages is the question. "Is Jesus God?" It is clear that Jesus claimed to be the Messiah but did he claim to be God? and what difference does it make to us? I believe our salvation rests upon this debate. If Jesus claims to be God but is not God then he is a lunatic, and there is absolutely no way that we can be saved if we are following a lunatic. We also must ask, "Can we be saved if Jesus isn't the God who redeems. In other words can a mortal die for anther mortal's sins?

I believe that there is no question that the book of John paints a picture of Jesus as one who claimed to be God. In John 1:1 says, "Jesus was with God at the beginning of creation." It doesn't say in the beginning God created the word. No it said, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of Men." Vs. 14 "The Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father full of grace and truth." Clearly Jesus was the Word that became flesh.

In John 3:13 "Jesus claims to be from Heaven saying, "No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven the Son of Man. The Pharisees clearly knew that Jesus was claiming equality with God. In John 4:18 it says, "for this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God." Later in John 4:21 it says, "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." Here Jesus claims to receive and deserve the same honor that is due to the father.

Jesus speaking to the Pharisees in John 8:23 saying, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." From this statement it seem pretty important that we get Jesus identity correct.

but even with all of his statements which are recorded throughout the book of John, the Pharisees continued to disbelieve and threaten to kill Jesus. In John 10:33 the Pharisees proclaim, "We are not stoning you for any of these" (speaking of his miracles he had performed) "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."

Did Jesus claim to be God? It seems that the religious leaders of the time believed he did, and Jesus never corrected them. Actually over and over Jesus keeps on saying in the book of John that the Father and I are one. (See especially John 17)

So why does this matter to us today? Simply because only God can save man and if Jesus claims to be God he can save but if he claims to be God and is not then he is a blasphemer just like the Pharisees claimed.

Is he God? Right now we are reading in the tenth Chapter of John. Just keep reading and keep asking that question. I believe John's gospel offers us no other conclusion. So do the investigation for yourself.

If he is God, are you following Him with your whole heart, mind and strength? It's less then two weeks to Easter. This is a great time to draw your own conclusions and walk in the light of those convictions.

So join us. On the Journey