Is Jesus God according to the Bible?
Is Jesus God, man, or both?
A multitude of people in the world believe in Jesus Christ. They think that Jesus is a great man of wisdom and prophetic knowledge. But a great divide also exists as to whether He is also God.
Whether Jesus is God invites personal introspection, study, and contemplation. It is a question that has sparked intellectual debates and theological dissertations and inspired the artistic expressions of countless individuals.
Regardless of our conclusions, exploring this topic allows us to embark on a journey that challenges our beliefs, broadens our perspectives, and deepens our spiritual connection.
The divinity of Jesus Christ
Image: Bruno van der Kraan | Unsplash
In Jerusalem, near the Sheep Gate, there was a pool called Bethesda. The prominent place had five covered colonnades. Many people with various ailments would gather here, hoping for miraculous healing. Among them was a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years.
One day, in John 5, Jesus approached the sick man and asked, "Do you want to get well?" The paralyzed man, filled with hope, replied, "Sir, I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."
Moved by compassion, Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk."
At that moment, the paralyzed man's muscles were restored, and he immediately stood up, rolled up his mat, and began to walk.
It was a remarkable and instantaneous healing that defied all natural explanations.
The story's significance extends beyond physical healing to Jesus' response to the religious leaders who challenged Him. Despite their indignation at His miraculous work being performed on the Sabbath, which they deemed unlawful, He demonstrated His divine power and mercy.
Jesus replied by telling them that His Father has been working tirelessly till this day, and He also shares the same committed work ethic.
This concept left the religious leaders even more puzzled because Jesus was essentially placing Himself at an equal level with God, who held absolute authority over the Sabbath.
An Underrated Biblical Proof for Jesus' Deity
Later, Jesus elaborated further, proclaiming His divinity and the unity He shared with God the Father.
In John 5:19, Jesus said: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does .”
This story, often referred to as "The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda," showcases the unique authority and power that Jesus possessed, which can only be attributed to God Himself.
Jesus' claim of being one with the Father explicitly declared His divine nature. His ability to heal the paralyzed man instantaneously and His assertion of having the same authority and power as God Himself provide undeniable evidence of His divinity.
The Messiah's identity
To understand whether Jesus is God according to the Bible, we must first recognize the titles and descriptions ascribed to Him in the sacred texts.
Throughout the New Testament, Jesus is called the Son of God, the Messiah, and the Savior. These designations emphasize His divine nature, suggesting a unique relationship with the Almighty.
Divinity in action
Image: Jeremy Bishop | Unsplash
Numerous accounts within the Bible reveal the remarkable acts performed by Jesus, showcasing attributes often associated with divinity.
The miracles attributed to Him—such as healing the sick, raising the dead, and walking on water—illustrate His power over nature and suggest a supernatural presence at work.
One of the most pivotal moments in the Gospels is when Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:15). Peter's response, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16), further reinforces the belief that Jesus embodies divinity.
Scriptural testimony
Beyond mere titles and actions, the Bible contains explicit statements that support the belief in Jesus' deity.
In the Gospel of John, it is written, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). This verse is often interpreted to identify Jesus as the Word made flesh, indicating His eternal existence and divine essence.
Furthermore, the book of Colossians states, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9). This passage emphasizes the belief that Jesus embodies the entirety of the divine nature, reinforcing the notion that He is God incarnate.
10 Bible verses that prove Jesus is God
Image: Timothy Eberly | Unsplash
If we narrow down the criteria to Bible verses that explicitly state or strongly imply that Jesus Christ is God, here are 10 such verses:
1. "Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!'" - John 20:28
Thomas directly addresses Jesus as both his Lord and his God.
2. "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form." - Colossians 2:9
This verse declares that the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Jesus.
3. "But about the Son, he says, 'Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever.'" - Hebrews 1:8
God Himself refers to Jesus as God.
4. "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6
This verse prophesies that the child to be born, Jesus, will be called Mighty God.
5. "While we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." - Titus 2:13
Here, Jesus is explicitly called "our great God and Savior."
6. "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped." - Philippians 2:5-6
This passage speaks of Jesus being in the form of God and possessing equality with God.
7. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." - John 1:1
This verse identifies Jesus (the Word) as being God.
8. "Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory." - 1 Timothy 3:16
Although not explicitly stating Jesus is God, this verse emphasizes the mystery of godliness in the incarnation of Jesus.
9. "When I saw him [Jesus], I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, 'Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore.'" - Revelation 1:17-18
Jesus identifies Himself as the "first and the last," an attribute ascribed to God in the Old Testament.
10. "I and the Father are one." Jesus declares His unity with God the Father, indicating His divinity. - John 10:30
These verses provide strong evidence for the belief in Jesus Christ's deity, as they either directly state His divinity or strongly imply it.
The pursuit of Faith: Jesus Christ is the Messiah and God
Image: Mikhail Nilov | Pexels
When we inquire if Jesus is God according to the Bible, we arrive at a length of ideals and scriptural passages that point to His divinity.
The titles attributed to Jesus, the outstanding acts He finished, and the explicit statements within the Bible all contribute to a compelling case for His deity.
The grand occasion at the Pool of Bethesda and Jesus' subsequent teachings beef up the Christian belief that Jesus is God incarnate.
Through this account, we witness the radiant energy, love, and authority of Jesus, which confirm His divine nature and significant position in salvation.
Even as various theological views exist, the middle guideline of Christianity revolves around the perception that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, and the Savior.
Ultimately, religion performs a significant function in information and embracing Jesus' divine nature, transcending the restrictions of human understanding.
For believers, embracing Jesus as God presents a supply of hope, salvation, and steering in their spiritual journey. It reinforces the perception that Jesus, as each completely human and divine, bridges humanity and the divine, extending grace, love, and redemption to all trying to find Him.
Is Jesus God? The bottom line
Is Jesus God?
In the end, the divinity of Christ lies in the hearts and minds of people as they grapple with the profound mysteries of faith.
As we keep trying to find the truth, allow us to explore the query with humility, openness, and a real choice to develop our understanding of who Jesus is and His significance in our lives.
