In his book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis writes:
“I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him [Jesus Christ]: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with a man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of hell. You must make your choice. 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 up with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that option open to us. He did not intend to”
Who Is Jesus?
Jesus' identity is a topic of much debate. Who did He claim to be? What does the Bible say about Him? Firstly, He is God in human form. In John 10:30, Jesus stated, "I and the Father are one." This statement may not immediately imply that He is God, but the Jews' reaction demonstrates that they understood it as such. They attempted to stone Him for blasphemy, as they believed that He, a mere human, claimed to be God. Jesus never tried to clarify or correct their understanding of His statement, indicating that He was indeed claiming equality with God. human redeemer of mankind, Jesus Christ.
In John 8:58, Jesus claimed to have always existed which is an attribute of God. He said, "‘Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!’" This statement provoked a hostile reaction from the Jews who tried to stone him again. By calling Himself "I AM", Jesus applied a name for God to Himself, as seen in Exodus 3:14. Although the Jews rejected Jesus' identity as God Incarnate, they understood what He meant.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1. John 1:14)
Jesus Is the Son of God
"Then they all said, ‘Are You then the Son of God?' So He said to them, ‘You rightly say that I am'" (Luke 22:70).
"Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth'" (Matthew 28:18).
"Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God" (John 5:17).
Again, in John 10, the enemies of Jesus attest to the fact that He claimed to be God. 27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 "I and the Father are one." 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, "I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?" 33 The Jews answered Him, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God." (John 10:27)
Remember that while a man claiming to be God is a radical thought, Jesus is the only leader of a world religion to have made the claim - not to mention backed it up. How?
Jesus Lived a Sinless Life
"Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:1)
Because He didn't sin, God was able to accept His sacrifice. 1 Peter 3:18 says, "Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit."
Also, 2 Corinthians 2:21 says, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
Jesus is the Only Way to God
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me" (John 14:6).
"Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (John 11:25).
"When Jesus saw their faith, He said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.' The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, ‘Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?'" (Luke 5:20).
"For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:40).
"I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life." (John 6:47).
Jesus Foresaw His Own Death and Resurrection
"Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, ‘We are going up into Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again'" (Luke 18:31).
He said He would Return from Death
Matthew 24:27: "So as the lightening comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man... At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory."
Mark 14:61: "Again the high priest asked him, 'Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?' 'I am,' said Jesus. 'And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.'"
Jesus clearly knew He was the Lamb of God, the Messiah spoken of in the Old Testament. He knew He had to live a life without sin, no matter what. When He returns, He will judge the sins of the world… except for those who have already acknowledged conviction, entered a plea of guilty, and sought His mercy by believing on Christ.
Bible Verses about 'Who Is Jesus'
1 Timothy 2:5 - For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Colossians 2:9-10 - For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
Revelation 1:8 - “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Acts 4:12 - And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Who Does the Bible Say Jesus Is?
The second Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45);
Advocate (1 John 2:1);
The ancient of days (Daniel 7:22);
Apostle (Hebrews 3:1);
Author and Finisher of the faith (Hebrews 12:2);
Beginning of the creation of God (Revelation 3:14);
Only-begotten of the Father (John 1:14);
Beginning and End (Revelation 1:8);
Shepherd and Bishop (1 Peter 2:25);
Bread of Life (John 6:48-51);
Bridegroom (Matthew 9:15);
Bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16);
Brightness of the Father's glory (Hebrews 1:3);
Brother (Hebrews 2:11);
Captain (Revelation 2:10);
The Chosen (Matthew 12:18);
Christ (Matthew 1:16);
Consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25);
Corner Stone (Ephesians 2:20);
Counselor (Isaiah 9:6);
Day Star (2 Peter 1:19);
Deliverer (Romans 11:26);
Desire of all nations (Haggai 2:7);
Door of the sheep (John 10:7);
Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23);
Friend (John 11:1-44);
Eternal Life (1 John 5:20);
Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6);
Express image of the Father (Hebrews 1:3);
Faithful Witness (Revelation 1:5);
First fruits from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:23);
Fountain (Zechariah 13:1);
Governor (Matthew 2:6);
Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18);
High Priest (Hebrews 3:1);
Holy One of God (Mark 1:24);
Heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2);
Judge (Acts 17:31);
King (Acts 2:34-36; Revelation 19:11-16);
Light of the world (John 9:5);
Life (John 14:6);
Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:1-5);
Master (Matthew 8:19);
Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5);
Messiah (Daniel 9:25);
Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7);
Potentate (1 Timothy 6:15);
Prince of Life (Acts 3:15);
Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6);
Prophet (Luke 13:33; John 7:40);
Propitiation (1 John 2:2);
Power of God (1 Corinthians 1:24);
Physician (Matthew 9:12);
Ransom (1 Timothy 2:6);
Refiner and Purifier (Malachi 1:13);
Sacrifice (Ephesians 5:2);
Salvation (Luke 2:25-30);
Son of Man (Matthew 8:20);
Son of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2);
Surety (Hebrews 7:22);
Teacher (John 3:2);
Testator (Hebrews 9:14-17);
Truth (John 14:6);
The Way (John 14:6);
Wedding Garment (Matthew 22:12);
Wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24);
Wonderful (Isaiah 9:6);
Word of God (Revelation 19:10-13).
List is adapted from the Condensed Biblical Encyclopedia (public domain), written in 1896 by Ashley S. Johnson, founder of Johnson Bible College, was and is designed for busy people who wish to increase their knowledge of the oracles of God.
