Is Jesus Really God?

John 20:24-29

John 20:24–29 ESV

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Prayer

How many of you are aware that Muslims believe in Jesus?

In fact, many Muslims will claim that they love Jesus more than Christians do because according to them Christians lie when we say that Jesus is YHWH God.

This is despite the fact that they will also call Jesus the Messiah, fully endorse that Jesus was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life.

What’s crazy though, is that it is not just Muslims that believe that Jesus is not divine, is not the second person of the Trinity, is NOT God!!

The most prominent of these groups, that in fact call themselves Christians, is the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Despite claiming to be Christian, they will claim not only that Jesus is the first and greatest created being, but also that He in fact is the Archangel Michael who was incarnated and that when He died, He resurrected as a spirit body only, and not an embodied reincarnated being.

And you know the saddest part about this is?

The vast majority of Muslims and JWs are FAR more Biblically literate than the average believer sitting in the pews of so-called evangelical churches in America today.

So as I begin this sermon in earnest, I want you to think to yourself, “If a Muslim or JW were to ask me to prove that Jesus is God from the Scriptures, can I do it?”

What verses do I have loaded in my mind that I can go do, read them in context, and show definitively that Jesus is God?

Where would you go first?

Can you go to a passage in the Old Testament to show Christ’s divinity?

By the end of this sermon, I, through the power of the Holy Spirit, hope to equip you for just that very task.

I. THE OLD TESTAMENT DECLARES THAT JESUS CHRIST IS GOD.

Deuteronomy 6:4 “4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (אֶחָד)

Every devout Jew says the Shema every day.

I want to focus on the last word here, which in Hebrew is אֶחָד - EHAD.

You may be saying, Harsha, where are you going with this?

That’s a great question, stick with me and I’ll get you where we’re going, I promise.

Same Hebrew word in Genesis 2:24 “24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (אֶחָד)

The concept here is that oneness can involves a unity that is more complex than Just the absolute number one.

In fact, there is a different Hebrew word for the number ONE that the author could have used had he meant that.

Rather, the Biblical author, guided by the Holy Spirit, understood that though God is one in BEING, He is Three in PERSON

He is Triune. God is one What, and three Whos.

This is an important foundation to build, you see, because if we are going to show that Jesus is God, we have to know, and believe and understand the Trinity.

More importantly we will have to show the person that denies the deity of Christ from the Scriptures how Jesus is God WITHOUT doing what Jews and Unitarians and Muslims and JWs claim we do, and that is worship three gods.

Isaiah 7:14

“14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Matthew 1:22-23

“22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).”

Isaiah 9:6-7

“6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

This is clearly a Messianic passage. It even eludes to this in the passage when it refers to the one on the throne of David, which is a term that becomes synonymous with the Christ.

And what does it say about the long-awaited Messiah?

He is to be EL GIBHOUR - THE MIGHTY GOD!!

What’s more, his throne was to be upheld into all eternity, and we all know that the one whose throne exists into eternity is none other than GOD ALONE!!

And that brings me to my last passage in the Old Testament.

Micah 5:2

“2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”

I love it when Scripture just interprets Scripture for you.

Because as we all know, Matthew 2:1-6 says - “1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ””

And clearly this passage also calls the Messiah God when it proclaims that His “coming forth is from old, from ancient of days.”

This is saying, the Messiah, the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth existed from all eternity into all eternity, and after all, didn’t Jesus himself proclaim to the Pharisees in John 8:58 “58 “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.””

II. JESUS CLAIMED TO BE GOD.

Although there are many more, I will point you to two passages that many scholars believe to be the most powerful passages where Jesus claimed to God.

The first one is the one I would suggest that you go to if a Muslim or JW ever asks you, “Where did Jesus ever say, ‘I am God. Worship me.’”

Here is the answer:

Mark 14:60-64

“60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death.”

The first part of Jesus’ response here is so simple and so beautiful, but you must understand the depth of these two little Greek words - EGO EIMI.

EGO EIMI - I AM

These are the same two words used in Exodus 3 by YHWH God when Moses asked what His name was.

God proclaimed “I AM”. “Tell them I AM sent you.”

And it just so happens that the Greek translation of Exodus 3 uses this very same Greek phrase ego eimi.

Jesus, in uttering these two Greek words was in fact saying, “I am God.”

And in case you know, the Pharisees are there to draw your attention to the fact that Jesus was claiming to be God because the High Priest tore his garments and declared that Jesus was committing blasphemy!!!

But the depth of this Old Testament quote of Jesus is so much richer than you might realize

See, Jesus is quoting here from Daniel 7.

And look at what He is saying.

He is saying that He, Jesus, will be seated at the right hand of Power, and every Jew in that courtyard knew that what Jesus was claiming here was nothing short of equality with God the Father!!!

Praise God! Amen!!

The other passage is very simple.

John 10:30-33

I and the Father are one.

31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.””

I simply cannot understand how anyone, believer or nonbeliever, can read this passage and not understand that Jesus did in fact call Himself God!!!

He says right there plainly in the text of Scripture that He is ONE with the father!!

And again, those much maligned scribes and pharisees are right there to make sure you are paying attention to what Jesus is saying!

Because what do they do but pick up stones to kill him!!!

III. THE NEW TESTAMENT DECLARES THAT JESUS CHRIST IS GOD.

John 1:1-3

“1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

And in case you missed who the Word is… John tells you:

John 1:14

“14 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.”

Some will say that John’s Gospel doesn’t count because his was written later than many of the other books of the New Testament.

So I’ll give you some from the writings of Paul which are widely held to predate the writing of some of the Gospels:

Colossians 1:15-17

“15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Colossians 2:9

“9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,”

Not only does Paul clearly declare that Jesus is God, The Apostle Peter declares:

2 Peter 1:1

“1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:”

You might say, “But Wayne, maybe he is talking separately about God the Father and The Savior Jesus Christ.

But you see the Greek grammar here is emphasizing that Peter is referring to ONE person, and that person is God the Son!!

What’s more the writer of Hebrews declares:

Hebrews 1:3

“3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”

And finally, Paul, expounding on an Old Testament verse that originally was speaking of God the Father:

Philippians 2:5-11

“5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

What a glorious passage!!!

Just look at what Paul is saying here:

First, Jesus was in the very form of God!

Just like John said, Jesus was not only with God, Paul is saying Jesus IS God.

Then Jesus HUMBLED himself for our sake!!!

Christianity is the ONLY world religion where the one sitting on the throne of heaven humbles Himself for our sake and comes down the mountain top to for US!!

Isn’t hat glorious?!?!

And just look at what Pauls says our response should be....

AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH!!

AND AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS IS LORD!!!

And what’s more, that confessing that Jesus is Lord is all TO THE GLORY OF GOD!!!

So that leaves but one question.

What is your response to the knowledge that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Triune Godhead?

What is your response to the knowledge that God humbled himself and took on the form of human flesh four your sins and mine?

What is your response to the knowledge that God, in the form of Jesus Christ, FULLY HUMAN—FULLY GOD dies on a cross for your sins and mine?

Will you turn the other way?

Will you deny the Glorious Deity of Christ and condemn yourself to an eternity in hell?

Or you do as the Lord Jesus Christ demands of us?

Will you deny yourself?

And pick up your cross?

And follow Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father, and rest in the loving arms of the Creator for all eternity.

I don’t know how you will answer, but “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!”

Closing Prayer

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