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How Do We Know Jesus is God and Not Just Another Prophet?

The claim that Jesus of Nazareth is not merely a wise teacher, a moral exemplar, or a significant prophet, but God incarnate, lies at the very heart of Christian faith. This audacious assertion sets Christianity apart from other religions and philosophies. For many, accepting Jesus as God seems like a leap of faith, yet Christian apologetics offers a robust body of evidence, inviting a rational and informed understanding of this core principle. So, how do we know Jesus is God and not just another prophet?

The Explicit Claims of Jesus Himself​

Perhaps the most direct evidence comes from Jesus' own words and actions recorded in the Gospels. While some argue that Jesus never explicitly said, "I am God", His claims were consistently understood by His contemporaries, both followers and opponents, as assertions of divinity.

The "I AM" Statements​

In the Gospel of John, Jesus repeatedly uses the divine title "I AM" (Greek: Egō eimi), echoing God's revelation of Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14. When Jesus declared, "Before Abraham was, I AM" (John 8:58), the Jewish leaders immediately understood this as a claim to deity and attempted to stone Him for blasphemy (John 8:59). Other "I AM" statements, like "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35), "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12), "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11), "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25) and "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), all point to His unique, divine identity and indispensable role in salvation - privileges belonging only to God.

Claims of Oneness with the Father​

Jesus unequivocally stated, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). Again, the Jews sought to stone Him, accusing Him of blasphemy because, "being a man, you make yourself God" (John 10:33). This wasn't a misunderstanding; it was a correct interpretation of His divine claim. He is also called the "Son of God" in [Matthew 16:16(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016%3A16&version=NKJV)] and "Christ" which means "Anointed One of God" in the same verse.

Authority to Forgive Sins​

When Jesus healed a paralytic and declared, "Son, your sins are forgiven" (Mark 2:5), the scribes questioned His authority, reasoning, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Mark 2:7). Jesus then demonstrated His authority to forgive sins by also healing the man, directly linking His divine power over physical ailments to His divine power over spiritual ones. Jesus could forgive sins and heal; His death on the cross also covered both. Isa 53:5 says, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; ..., And by His stripes we are healed."

Acceptance of Worship​

Unlike prophets who consistently refused worship, directing it only to God (Acts 10:25-26), Jesus accepted worship. The blind man whose sight was restored worshipped Jesus (John 9:38), and after the resurrection, Thomas declared, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28), to which Jesus responded not with a rebuke, but an affirmation, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). In Revelation 5:12, angels and holy beings worship Him alongside the Father "Worthy is the Lamb...to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

Jesus understood Himself as God because He is God

These direct and implicit claims within the Gospels reveal Jesus' self-understanding as more than a prophet; He understood Himself as God.

The Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecies​

The Old Testament contains hundreds of prophecies concerning the coming Messiah. While many prophets spoke about God or delivered messages from God, Jesus fulfilled prophecies that pointed directly to His divine nature and unprecedented role. In fact He fulfilled more than 350 prophecies, this is something one one in all of history has even come close to.

Divine Origin and Eternal Nature​

Micah 5:2 prophesied that the ruler from Bethlehem would have "origins from of old, from ancient times" (or "from everlasting"), hinting at a pre-existent, eternal being. Isaiah 9:6 speaks of a child born who would be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace". These titles are clearly divine.

Suffering Servant Who is God​

Isaiah 53 describes a suffering servant who would bear the sins of many. This Messianic prophecy, uniquely fulfilled in Jesus' sacrificial death, speaks of a redemptive work only God could accomplish.

The King and Judge​

Many prophecies depict the Messiah as a divine king and judge (Psa 2:6-12, Dan 7:13-14). Jesus' will to judge the living and the dead (John 5:22, Matt 25:31-46) align with these prophecies, demonstrating authority that transcends any mere human prophet.

The sheer number and specificity of prophecies fulfilled by Jesus, particularly those hinting at His divine nature, are difficult to explain as mere coincidence or fabrication.

His Miraculous Power and Authority​

Jesus' miracles were not just isolated acts of wonder; they were demonstrations of divine power and authority over creation, disease, demons, and even death itself. Unlike prophets who performed miracles through the power of God, Jesus performed miracles by His own authority.

Authority over Nature​

Calming the storm with a word (Mark 4:35-41), walking on water (Matt 14:22-33), and multiplying loaves and fish to feed thousands (Matt 14:15-21) showcased His sovereignty over the natural world, a power attributed to God in the Old Testament (Psa 89:9).

Authority over Disease and Death​

Jesus healed all manner of diseases, often instantly and completely, including those considered incurable. Most strikingly, He raised several individuals from the dead, including Lazarus, who had been dead for four days (John 11:1-44), and ultimately, He claimed the power to raise Himself from the dead (John 2:19-21, John 10:17-18). No prophet in history ever claimed or demonstrated such inherent power over life and death.

These miracles served as unmistakable signs, validating His claims and demonstrating that the power of God was not merely with Him, but in Him.

The Resurrection of Jesus​

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the cornerstone of Christian faith and arguably the most powerful evidence for His divinity. It is the ultimate vindication that He is God.

The simplest answer to everything

Jesus Christ - the ultimate Occam's Razor!

Historical Evidence​

Let's say you dismiss the eyewitness accounts of the Jewish people, Jesus' followers, the New Testament, and what your Christian friends say. But can you really ignore what Roman and Syrian historians recorded? These weren't just ordinary men-they were legal experts and could think for themselves - Roman senators, and provincial governors. If anything, their testimony as hostile sources, is especially valuable and considered the most credible since they had no reason to favor Jesus or His followers.

The Romans were certainly no friends of Jesus Christ, or His followers - quite the opposite in fact! They scourged Jesus, gave Him a crown of thorns, mocked Him, crucified Him and later persecuted His followers the same way. And yet, their own historical records acknowledge Jesus Christ, the early church, and the surprising spread of Christianity.

If the resurrection of Jesus from the dead was not real, why was the message of Jesus spreading rapidly? Why were people willing to lose everything; be tortured and killed in such painful ways?

The resurrection is attested to by numerous eyewitnesses (1 Cor 15:3-8), including those who were initially skeptical i.e., Thomas.

The empty tomb, the transformed lives of the disciples, and the rapid spread of Christianity in the face of persecution are all historical data points that lend credence to the resurrection.

God's Affirmation​

The New Testament consistently presents the resurrection not merely as a resuscitation, but as God's divine signature on Jesus' life, teachings and claims. As Romans 1:4 states, Jesus "was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead". It was God's definitive act demonstrating that Jesus was indeed who He claimed to be.

Conquest over Death​

Only God, the author of life, possesses the power to conquer death permanently. Jesus' resurrection, unlike other instances of people being brought back to life (like Lazarus), was a triumph over death itself, leading to an eternal, glorified body - signaling His divine nature.

The alternative explanations for the resurrection (hallucination, theft of the body, etc) fail to adequately account for the breadth and depth of the evidence and the historical impact.

The Response of Early Christians and Martyrs​

The immediate and unwavering belief of Jesus' earliest followers in His divinity, even to the point of martyrdom, provides powerful testimony.

Worship of Jesus​

From the earliest days, Christians worshipped Jesus as God. Pliny the Younger, a Roman governor in the early 2nd century, noted that Christians met "before daylight on a stated day to chant verses to Christ as to a God" (Letter to Trajan, c. 112 AD). This practice was revolutionary in a monotheistic Jewish context and dangerous in a polytheistic Roman one, yet they persisted.

Martyrdom for the Belief​

Many early Christians, including the apostles, suffered brutal deaths rather than recant their belief in Jesus as God. People die for their beliefs, but they never willingly die for what they know to be a lie. The conviction of the early martyrs, who were eyewitnesses or directly connected to eyewitnesses, underscores their profound certainty in Jesus' divine identity, confirmed by His resurrection.

The Apostles Martyred

People die for their beliefs; but they never willingly die for what they know to be a lie.

Theological Development​

The early church councils, understanding the profound implications of Jesus' identity, consistently affirmed His full deity (the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, which articulated the doctrine of the Trinity and the homoousios i.e., of the same substance – with the Father). This wasn't an invention, but a formalization of beliefs already present from the apostolic age, rooted in Jesus' own claims and the experiences of His followers.

The Unique Nature of Jesus Compared to Other Prophets​

While Jesus is often called a prophet, understanding Him only as a prophet falls short of the full biblical witness and historical reality.

Prophets spoke with derivative authority (Thus says the Lord). Jesus spoke with inherent authority (But I say to you...) He did not merely transmit God's message; He is God's message, the Word made flesh (John 1:1, 14).

Prophets were servants of God. Jesus consistently referred to God as My Father in a unique and intimate way, demonstrating a relationship of equality and divine sonship.

Prophets pointed to the coming of God's kingdom and the Messiah. Jesus inaugurated that kingdom and is the Messiah, the fulfillment of all prophecy. His purpose was not just to speak for God, but to be God's ultimate revelation and the means of salvation.

Unlike all other human beings, including prophets; Jesus lived a sinless life, a fact acknowledged even by His adversaries (John 8:46). This moral perfection aligns with His divine nature, as God alone is perfectly holy.

Jesus is Lord and Savior​

The cumulative weight of the evidence points compellingly to Jesus as God, not merely another prophet. His miraculous demonstrations of divine power, the undeniable fact of His resurrection, the widespread worship and martyrdom of early Christians, and His unique nature in comparison to all other religious figures is overwhelming.

Jesus is Lord and Savior

If He were a prophet only, His claims collapse; but He stands undiminished under scrutiny - Lord and Savior, worthy of faith and adoration.

To accept Jesus as merely a good teacher or prophet while dismissing Him as God creates an untenable position, as C.S. Lewis who was once a stoic atheist, famously argued "Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse". While faith remains an essential component of Christian belief, this faith is not blind. It is a faith grounded in historical inquiry and supported by a robust body of evidence. The fact that Jesus is God is not merely a theological doctrine; it is a historical event that profoundly altered the course of human history and continues to offer hope and meaning to billions worldwide.

To us, the evidence is clear. We also understand that it's not that way for everyone. So we'd ask you to stay humble and pursue truth where it leads you even if you don't like it. Truth is not mine or yours - it's truth for everyone and that's what makes it truth. Follow truth!

Buddha said he was a seeker of truth, Muhammed said he was a prophet of truth, Jesus said he is the truth.

Jesus is credible, therefor what He said is also credible! I have to believe what He says. It is no longer about my personal opinion. There is only one God - Jehovah, who has revealed Himself through scripture, through His Son Jesus Christ. He offers not only the way to eternal life but also the assurance of that life, based on a relationship with God rather than our own merit.

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