Who did Jesus say He is?
And, where’s is it in the Bible?
These are extremely important questions. A couple weeks ago, one of my friends who is not a Christ follower told me, “Jesus never claimed to be the Messiah.” I turned to him and said, “Sure He did!" I rattled off a Scripture reference that didn’t satisfy his claim, and thought that I need to know so much more about who Jesus says He is, and where that is located in the Bible.
These are extremely important questions. A couple weeks ago, one of my friends who is not a Christ follower told me, “Jesus never claimed to be the Messiah.” I turned to him and said, “Sure He did!" I rattled off a Scripture reference that didn’t satisfy his claim, and thought that I need to know so much more about who Jesus says He is, and where that is located in the Bible.
As believers, we need to know the evidence - for the glory, honor, and worship of Christ here and in all nations. I assure you that if you share the Gospel with relative-truth loving Americans who are seeking to disprove Christianity (and they are), you will encounter questions like these that can give you a great opportunity to present the case of Christ’s Lordship from the Bible. Here is my attempt to communicate who Jesus claimed to be. I attempt this for strengthening my own faith and Gospel message, for your benefit in sharing the Gospel, and ultimately for the lost who are seeking to know if Jesus is truly God and worthy of worship.
First, we need to understand that the words “Christ” and “Messiah” are interchangeable in Scripture. We can see this in John 1:41: “He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).” We also see this in John 4:25 “The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ)...” Messiah is a Hebrew term, and Christ is a Greek term. Both terms refer to the Jews long awaited and prophesied Messiah, the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesy.
First, we need to understand that the words “Christ” and “Messiah” are interchangeable in Scripture. We can see this in John 1:41: “He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).” We also see this in John 4:25 “The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ)...” Messiah is a Hebrew term, and Christ is a Greek term. Both terms refer to the Jews long awaited and prophesied Messiah, the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesy.
So, who did Jesus claim to be???
When Jesus was talking to the woman at the well in John 4, He reveals He is the Messiah. “The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” (John 4:25-26 ESV)
Jesus admits to being the Messiah when teaching in the synagogue in Nazareth in Luke 4:
“And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:17-21 ESV)
Jesus says he is greater than the temple and claims to be lord of the Sabbath in Matthew 12:6-8. We must understand the context here. Jesus' audience understood that the temple was where the presence of God dwelt. To Jesus’ audience, nothing was greater than the temple. Here’s the Scripture: “I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:6-8 ESV)
In Mark chapter 2, Jesus says He has the authority to forgive sins. This is something only God can do, thus showing equality with God. “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” (Mark 2:10-12 ESV)
Jesus says He is the fulfillment of the Law, meaning He fulfills the Old Testament, in Mathew 5:17.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17 ESV)
Jesus says He is greater than Solomon and Jonah in Matthew 12:41-42 and Luke 11:29-32. Remember, Solomon was the wisest man ever to live (1 Kings 4:29-34), one of the richest men to ever live, and the most blessed king in history! Jesus says He’s greater! Here’s a piece of two vereses in Luke. Luke 11:31 “...and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.” Luke 11:31 “...and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.”
And the most convincing of all: Jesus admits very directly when questioned before being crucified that He is “the Christ, the Son of the Blessed” in Mark 14: 60-62. “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?” But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 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.” This is the ESV translation. In the NIV Translation, there is a footnote for verse 61 by the word Christ that says “or Messiah.”
These are only a few references to who Jesus claimed to be. There are also many references to who other people said Jesus was as well, but hopefully, these Scriptures - testimonies from Christ Himself - will serve you as you share Christ with the world.
References:
John 1:41; John 4:25-26; Luke 4:17-21; Mark 14:60-62; Matthew 12:6-8; Mark 2:10-12; Matthew 5:17
When Jesus was talking to the woman at the well in John 4, He reveals He is the Messiah. “The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” (John 4:25-26 ESV)
Jesus admits to being the Messiah when teaching in the synagogue in Nazareth in Luke 4:
“And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:17-21 ESV)
Jesus says he is greater than the temple and claims to be lord of the Sabbath in Matthew 12:6-8. We must understand the context here. Jesus' audience understood that the temple was where the presence of God dwelt. To Jesus’ audience, nothing was greater than the temple. Here’s the Scripture: “I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:6-8 ESV)
In Mark chapter 2, Jesus says He has the authority to forgive sins. This is something only God can do, thus showing equality with God. “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” (Mark 2:10-12 ESV)
Jesus says He is the fulfillment of the Law, meaning He fulfills the Old Testament, in Mathew 5:17.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17 ESV)
Jesus says He is greater than Solomon and Jonah in Matthew 12:41-42 and Luke 11:29-32. Remember, Solomon was the wisest man ever to live (1 Kings 4:29-34), one of the richest men to ever live, and the most blessed king in history! Jesus says He’s greater! Here’s a piece of two vereses in Luke. Luke 11:31 “...and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.” Luke 11:31 “...and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.”
And the most convincing of all: Jesus admits very directly when questioned before being crucified that He is “the Christ, the Son of the Blessed” in Mark 14: 60-62. “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?” But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 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.” This is the ESV translation. In the NIV Translation, there is a footnote for verse 61 by the word Christ that says “or Messiah.”
These are only a few references to who Jesus claimed to be. There are also many references to who other people said Jesus was as well, but hopefully, these Scriptures - testimonies from Christ Himself - will serve you as you share Christ with the world.
References:
John 1:41; John 4:25-26; Luke 4:17-21; Mark 14:60-62; Matthew 12:6-8; Mark 2:10-12; Matthew 5:17
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