There are a lot of books written about Jesus.  Some say that Jesus never claimed to be God.  They say that he only said that he was a son of God, which could be any of us. Some say that Jesus is God. Which is really true?  How can we know?  To find out what Jesus really said about himself, the only thing we have to go by is the Bible, which is the only book that actually claims to have the words of Jesus, while he was alive on earth. So what does the Bible have to say? 

Actually the Bible shows who Jesus is in at least three ways.  Jesus said in plain words who He is, Jesus spoke with authority, and the early scriptures (Old Testament) predict his coming and indicate who he is. Here are some quotes from Jesus, as quoted from the Bible:

Jesus’ words about himself

“For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.”  (John 6:38)

“Jesus replied, ‘If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.’  ‘You are not yet fifty years old,’ they said to him, ‘and you have seen Abraham?’ ‘Very truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!'”  (John 8: 54-58)

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10: 28)

“I and the Father are one.”  (John 10: 30)

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” (John 11: 25-26)

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him’.”  (John 14: 6-7)

“Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.’  Jesus answered: ‘Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?'”  (John 14: 8-9)

\We have seen some of his own comments above. Here are a few of the ways that He spoke with authority, revealing His deity:

Jesus shows his authority

“Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’ At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, ‘This fellow is blaspheming!’ Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, ‘Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’ So he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Get up, take your mat and go home.’ Then the man got up and went home.”  (Matthew 9:2-7)

“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'”  (Matthew 16: 13-19)

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”  (Matthew 25: 31-32)

“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26)

“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.”  (John 5:21)

“For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.”  (John 5: 26-27)

Jewish scriptures predict Jesus

Lastly, the Old Testament predicts Jesus’ coming, throughout the entire scripture.  Here are just a few:

For dogs have surrounded Me: The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. The look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.

(Psalm 22:16-18) [written by David about 1000 years before Jesus]

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder; and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.

(Isaiah 9:6-7) [written about 740 years before Jesus]

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. 

(Micah 5:2) [written about 735 years before Jesus]

Actually, the entire Old Testament points to Jesus through types, prophecies, stories and poetry.  Jesus did, in fact, claim to be God.  That is why the religious leaders of the day crucified Him. They understood exactly what He was claiming. 

The bottom line is that Jesus is the Messiah longed for by the Jews, the culmination of God’s plan to bring us out of rebellion and back into relationship with him – the Salvation of the world!

But the most important question is – Who is Jesus to you?