Jesus made many literal statements about himself. And, HE also used many metaphors to describe who HE was, and the purpose of HIS coming into the world; we will review these Gospel metaphors in the next post. Many theories have been put forth to explain away the statements that Jesus made about himself [1]; some said HE was just a man, fully human - others said HE was GOD manifest as a human, but not actually human - still others said HE was something else altogether. [2] But all of these views, which have been recognized as heresy, are not in agreement with the statements that Jesus actually made about himself! As C.S. Lewis said,
Jesus said:
In these literal statements, Jesus claims to be GOD: self-existent and eternal. By saying, “before Abraham” HE claims to have existed at a time more than 2000 years earlier. But notice that HE does not say “before Abraham was, I was”, but he says “I AM”. In this statement HE is claiming to exist outside of time itself, and in fact to be self-existent (i.e. un-created, and the source of HIS own existence)! This is the same statement which GOD made to Moses in Exodus 3:14, “I AM”. In Greek it is “ego eimi”, in Hebrew “hawyah asher hawyah”, and in English “I exist”, or “I AM”. Either way HIS intention is the same: Jesus is claiming to be GOD.
“Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” [3]The statements Jesus made about himself force us to either reject HIM as evil (because HE lied), or accept HIM as LORD and Savior! You must decide what you will believe; so you must know What Jesus Actually Said!
Jesus said:
- “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM” ~ John 8:58 KJV
- “I that speak unto thee AM [Messiah]” ~ John 4:26 KJV
- “I AM the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” ~ John 11:25 KJV
- “I tell you before [I am betrayed], that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I AM” ~ John 13:19 KJV
In these literal statements, Jesus claims to be GOD: self-existent and eternal. By saying, “before Abraham” HE claims to have existed at a time more than 2000 years earlier. But notice that HE does not say “before Abraham was, I was”, but he says “I AM”. In this statement HE is claiming to exist outside of time itself, and in fact to be self-existent (i.e. un-created, and the source of HIS own existence)! This is the same statement which GOD made to Moses in Exodus 3:14, “I AM”. In Greek it is “ego eimi”, in Hebrew “hawyah asher hawyah”, and in English “I exist”, or “I AM”. Either way HIS intention is the same: Jesus is claiming to be GOD.
In John 4:26, Jesus is speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well. She makes a reference to the promised Messiah [4], and Jesus tells her directly, “I AM he”! HE therefore claims to be the fulfillment of these prophecies, and the one who shall “save HIS people from their sins”. [5]
Only GOD can raise the dead, and give us eternal life beyond this earthly existence. Yet Jesus claims to possess exactly these powers when HE says, “I AM the resurrection and the life”. HE says these words to a woman named Martha after her brother Lazarus had died. [6] As proof that HE is God, and HE has the power to give life, Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave!
Finally, Jesus re-affirms the literal statement, “I AM” to HIS disciples at the last supper, and explains that HIS will is that they should believe in HIM! As proof that HE is worthy of their faith, Jesus provides a sign of HIS divinity by declaring that one of them will betray HIM. [7] This shows that HE is omniscient, knowing and declaring things before they come to pass, which only GOD can do. In this statement Jesus claims to be both the promised Messiah, and GOD in the flesh.
It should be clear from these statements Jesus made about himself that HE did not simply claim to be a ‘teacher’, or ‘good man’, or a ‘leader’ who happened to be popular with many people. HE was not like any other prophet or earthly king. On the contrary, Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.”, and “ye believe in God, believe also in me”. [8] What will you do with the challenge raised by C.S. Lewis: will you reject Jesus as a mad-man or a liar? Or will you acknowledge HIM as GOD? We must know and believe that Jesus is LORD and Savior.
return to "Words Of Jesus" series
References
Finally, Jesus re-affirms the literal statement, “I AM” to HIS disciples at the last supper, and explains that HIS will is that they should believe in HIM! As proof that HE is worthy of their faith, Jesus provides a sign of HIS divinity by declaring that one of them will betray HIM. [7] This shows that HE is omniscient, knowing and declaring things before they come to pass, which only GOD can do. In this statement Jesus claims to be both the promised Messiah, and GOD in the flesh.
It should be clear from these statements Jesus made about himself that HE did not simply claim to be a ‘teacher’, or ‘good man’, or a ‘leader’ who happened to be popular with many people. HE was not like any other prophet or earthly king. On the contrary, Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.”, and “ye believe in God, believe also in me”. [8] What will you do with the challenge raised by C.S. Lewis: will you reject Jesus as a mad-man or a liar? Or will you acknowledge HIM as GOD? We must know and believe that Jesus is LORD and Savior.
return to "Words Of Jesus" series
References
[1] Machen, “Liberalism and Christianity”, 1923
[2] Docetism (divine but not human), Arianism (human but not divine), Monophysitism/Apollinarianism (synthesis of human and divine)
[3] Lewis, “Mere Christianity”, 1952
[4] Genesis 3:14, Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2 (Note: These are only a few of the many Messianic Prophecies)
[5] Matthew 1:21
[6] John 11:1-45
[7] John 13:21, 26
[8] John 10:30, 14:1
[2] Docetism (divine but not human), Arianism (human but not divine), Monophysitism/Apollinarianism (synthesis of human and divine)
[3] Lewis, “Mere Christianity”, 1952
[4] Genesis 3:14, Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2 (Note: These are only a few of the many Messianic Prophecies)
[5] Matthew 1:21
[6] John 11:1-45
[7] John 13:21, 26
[8] John 10:30, 14:1