How do we know that Jesus is God?

We will never fathom the mystery of godliness: “God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (1 Timothy 3:16). Yet, the more we seek to understand Christ veiling His divinity in humanity, the more we become like Him (Ephesians 3:14 – 19). This will be the first of a series of posts exploring the divinity of Christ.

John the apostle, wrote the Gospel according to John, “that [w]e might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:31). Thus, he begins his exposition saying:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by [H]im; and without [H]im was not anything made that was made…And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld [H]is glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:1-3, 14

Here, John refers to Jesus as the Word and declares Him as the active agent of creation. And only God is Creator. We know John is speaking of Jesus Christ, because the apostle describes the manifestation of the Word in human form.

But John is not the only writer that names Jesus as Creator. Paul, in speaking of the dear of Son of God in Colossians 1:16, 17, writes:

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things and by him all things consist.

Colossians 1:16, 17

Even God the Father, declares Jesus is God in the book of Hebrews. In worship and adoration,

[U]nto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom…And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands.

Hebrews 1:8, 10

The Old Testament also witnesses to the divinity of Christ. Speaking of Jesus, Isaiah prophesies:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

There the prophet calls Jesus in human flesh God.

Moreover, in Isaiah 43:3, 11, the LORD says, “I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour…I, even, I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.” As per Matthew 1:21, Mary would give birth to a son named, “JESUS: for [H]e [would] save [H]is people from their sins.” In fact, JESUS means Saviour. Therefore, the LORD that the Isaiah records speaking is Jesus Christ.

Now, some may argue that Jesus declared He is inferior to God the Father by saying, “[M]y Father is greater than I” (John 14:28). And verily, “The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him” (John 13:16). And we know that God the Father sent His Son into the world (John 3:16). But this is to be understood in the light of Jesus subjecting Himself to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:28). In fact, even the Pharisees understood that Jesus in saying, “that God [is] [H]is Father, ma[de] [H]imself equal with God” (John 5:18).

Other evidences of Jesus’ divinity are listed:

1. Jesus forgave sins (Mark 2:5 – 12).
2. Jesus accepted worship (Matthew 14:33; 2:2; compare with Revelation 19:10).
3. Jesus has power to give life physically and spiritually (John 5:21, 24; 11:25).

From this we see and know that Jesus is God. May we by faith accept salvation in His name.

-Thank You Jesus!

-Amen!