Did Jesus claim to be god?

One of the arguments used by skeptics against Christianity is that Jesus never claimed to be God. It is accepted among Christians and doubters alike that the apostle Paul presents a high Christology, but the argument is that Jesus never personally claimed divinity. Thus, in response to the skeptic, one must be able to present evidence from the gospels where Jesus claims divinity.

When answering this question, the Gospel of Mark is the best place to begin because most scholars agree it was the first gospel written. It is also possible that the other gospel writers used Mark as a source document. Therefore, the most robust case regarding the divinity of Jesus will come from the text of Mark.

The second chapter finds one of the first affirmations of divinity in Mark's gospel. When the paralytic man was carried to Jesus by His friends, the first thing that Jesus said to the man was, "son, your sins are forgiven." (Mark 2:5).

Although it may not seem like much to us today, there was a clear understanding in the Bible that only God could forgive sins.

That is why the following verse says that the scribes who were present began to question what happened. Scribes were considered scholars of the text because of their work copying Scripture. Thus, the populace assumed that scribes knew Scripture better than anyone else. Therefore, when they interrogated Jesus and accused him of blasphemy, many in attendance would have agreed with their verdict (v. 7).

This passage is essential evidence since it does not come from Jesus' disciples. It comes from the scribes, who were acquainted with Scripture but not followers of Jesus. Moreover, this proof is reinforced because Jesus knew the charge they made against Him and did not deny it. Instead, Jesus clarified it and said, "the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" (v.10).

Another event was when the disciples of Jesus went through the field and plucked the grain on the Sabbath day. This time the Pharisees, another religious group present during Jesus's time, questioned Him for doing what was unlawful (Mark 2:23-27). Instead of apologizing to the Pharisees, Jesus responded, "the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, so the son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath" (vv. 27-28).

The critical element in Jesus's answer is the distinction made between Himself and the rest of humanity.

The Sabbath was not made for Him because He was not a man. By the declaration that He is Lord above the Sabbath, He sets himself equal to God.

Next, we should consider the evidence of Jesus calming a storm when His disciples were afraid (Mark 4:35-41). This evidence for the deity of Jesus is not as strong as the other two we have already considered because the only persons present were already disciples of Jesus. Nevertheless, it must not be discarded, for even His disciples were wrestling with His identity at this stage. However, after Jesus rebuked the wind and sea and told it to be still, and it obeyed, the disciples were filled with great fear, and they said to one another, "who is this that the wind and the sea obey him"? To understand this, one must go to the book of Psalms. The Psalmist said, "he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth he maketh lightning for the rain. He bringeth the wind out of his treasures" (Psalm 135:7). Additionally, the Psalmist said, "for he commandeth and raised the stormy wind which lifted up the waves of the sea" (Psalm 107:25). Thus, a Jewish audience, which His disciples were, would have to know the answer to their rhetorical question. If the wind and waves obey Jesus, then He must be God.

The final evidence I present from the Gospel of Mark is the title "Son of Man." Jesus used this title most when speaking of Himself (Matthew 8:20; 10:23; 11:19; 12:8; 13:36; Mark 2:10; 8:31-38; Mark 9:9-31; 10:33; etc.).

Ironically, skeptics of Christendom say that this title proves that Jesus did not regard himself as the "Son of God."

However, a significant event occurred that we should consider with respect to this title. When Jesus appeared before the high priest, He was asked: "Are you the Christ, the son of the blessed" (Mark 14:61)? Jesus replied with a quote from the book of Daniel. He 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" (Mark 14:62; Daniel 7:13-14). The prophecy of Daniel tells us that the Messiah receives glory and eternal dominion. However, Daniel uses the title "son of man" to describe this individual. By referring to Himself as the "son of man," Jesus was claiming deity. If the reader is not convinced, Mark records the high priest's reaction. The high priest rips his garments, says no more witnesses are needed, and accuses Jesus of blasphemy (Mark 14:63-64).

The people whom Jesus lived among were convinced by His words and actions that he claimed to be God. It is the only reason they crucified Him. They could see that he was a man, but He took the title of deity and performed miracles that the Old Testament writers attributed to God. Instead of admitting that Jesus might have been who He claimed to be, it was easier for His adversaries to kill Him on the cross.

What they did not know was that death could not hold Him!

Jonathan D. Miller