Jesus Christ: “I AM” – Affirmed as God and Savior by the God the Father, Apostles, Scripture, and Church

 
Thomson Philip
11 Aug 2024

In the New Testament, Jesus boldly declares, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). This profound statement, coupled with numerous biblical affirmations, leaves no room for ambiguity about His divine nature and role as the only Savior of humanity. Central to this belief is the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, which reveals God as one Being in three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The belief in Jesus as God, the second Person of the Trinity, is foundational to Christianity. It is affirmed not only by His own words but also by the God the Father, the apostles, and the prophetic visions recorded throughout the Bible. Join me as we explore deep into the sacred scriptures, historical evidence, and teachings of the Church Fathers that undoubtedly establish the Divinity of Jesus Christ and His integral role within the Holy Trinity.

"I AM": The Divine Identity of Jesus

One of the most direct claims of divinity made by Jesus is found in the Gospel of John:

  • John 8:58: "Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.'"

In this statement, Jesus uses the divine name "I AM," the same name that God used when revealing Himself to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). By using this name, Jesus unequivocally identifies Himself with the God of Israel, the eternal and self-existent One. This declaration is a clear assertion of His divinity and an affirmation that He is God Himself.

The Divine Authority of Jesus Revealed in His Arrest

The incident in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus identifies Himself to the soldiers by saying "I am he," and they fall to the ground, is another powerful testament to His divine nature. This moment is recorded in the Gospel of John:

  • John 18:4-6: "Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said
    to them, 'Whom do you seek?' They answered him, 'Jesus of Nazareth.' Jesus said to them, 'I am he.' Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, 'I am he,' they drew back and fell to the ground."

This incident is theologically rich, especially within Catholic tradition, as it highlights the divine authority of Jesus. When Jesus declares "I am he," He is not merely identifying Himself but is using the divine name "I AM" (ego eimi in Greek), the same name God used when revealing Himself to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). By doing so, Jesus unmistakably affirms His divinity. As believers, this reminds us of the profound mystery and majesty of Christ, who, while being fully God, humbled Himself to endure the cross for the sake of humanity's redemption.

The Church Fathers and theologians have offered profound insights into this event:

  • St. Augustine in his "Tractates on the Gospel of John" notes that the soldiers' reaction to Jesus's declaration—falling to the ground—was a testimony to the hidden power of His Godhead. Augustine interpreted this as a moment where Jesus’ divine authority was momentarily revealed, causing an involuntary act of reverence from those who sought to arrest Him.
  • St. Thomas Aquinas in his theological reflections observed that this event shows Jesus’
    complete sovereignty over His passion. The soldiers fell to the ground not because of any physical force but because of the divine power in Jesus’s words. This incident underscores that Jesus’s arrest and subsequent suffering were voluntary acts of love and obedience to the Father’s will.
  • Pope Benedict XVI, in his book Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance into
    Jerusalem to the Resurrection, reflects on this event as a profound moment of divine self-revelation. He emphasizes that the soldiers' falling down is an involuntary act that reveals Jesus' true identity as God, even if they do not fully understand it.

Hebrews 1:8: God the Father Affirms Jesus as God

One of the most powerful affirmations of Jesus’ divinity comes directly from God the Father:

  • Hebrews 1:8: "But of the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the
    scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.'"

Here, God the Father explicitly addresses Jesus as "God," acknowledging His eternal sovereignty and divine authority. This direct recognition from the Father is profound, highlighting that within the Trinity, Jesus is indeed God, reigning with an eternal and righteous authority.

Biblical Evidence of Jesus as God

The Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments, provides numerous references to the divinity of Jesus Christ. Here is a comprehensive collection of verses that affirm Jesus as God:

Old Testament Prophecies

  1. Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Immanuel means "God with us.")
  2. Isaiah 9:6: "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."
  3. Micah 5:2: "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." (This verse refers to the eternal nature of the Messiah.)

These prophecies in the Old Testament set the stage for the coming of a divine Messiah who would be both God and man.

New Testament Declarations

  1. John 1:1-3, 14: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made... 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."
  2. John 14:9: "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father."
  3. John 10:30: "I and the Father are one."
  4. Colossians 1:15-20: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell."
  5. Colossians 2:9: "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily."
  6. Hebrews 1:3: "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."

These verses from the New Testament clearly identify Jesus as God. His divine nature is evident in His role as Creator, His unity with the Father, and His embodiment of the fullness of God.

Apostolic Teachings and Acts

  1. Acts 2:36: "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."
  2. Acts 20:28: "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy
    Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood." (This verse indicates that God Himself redeemed the Church with His blood, affirming Jesus’s divinity.)
  3. Romans 9:5: "To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh,
    is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen."
  4. Titus 2:13: "Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and
    Saviour Jesus Christ."
  5. 2 Peter 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 Saviour Jesus Christ."

These passages, written by the apostles guided by the Holy Spirit, and recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, further affirm the early Church's recognition of Jesus as God and Saviour.

The Historical Evidence of Jesus’s Crucifixion

The crucifixion of Jesus is one of the most well-documented events in ancient history, with evidence from both Christian and non-Christian sources. The Roman historian Tacitus and the Jewish historian Josephus both reference the crucifixion of Jesus under Pontius Pilate. This historical consensus is significant because the crucifixion is central to Christian belief in Jesus’s divinity. The resurrection, which followed the crucifixion, is seen as the ultimate proof of Jesus’s divine nature and His role as the Saviour of humanity.

The Granville Sharp Rule

The Granville Sharp Rule is a principle in Greek grammar that helps clarify the meaning of certain New Testament passages. According to this rule, when two nouns of the same case are connected by the conjunction "and," and the first noun has the definite article "the," while the second does not, both nouns refer to the same person. This rule applies to texts like John 20:28, where Thomas addresses Jesus as "My Lord and my God!" This construction directly identifies Jesus as both Lord and God, affirming His divine nature. The Granville Sharp Rule strengthens the argument that the New Testament explicitly identifies Jesus as God.

Affirmation by the Church

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) provides a comprehensive teaching on the divinity of Jesus and His unique role as the Saviour:

  • CCC 464: "The unique and altogether singular event of the Incarnation of the Son of God does not mean that Jesus Christ is part God and part man, nor does it imply that he is the result of a confused mixture of the divine and the human. He became truly man while remaining truly God. Jesus Christ is true God and true man."
  • CCC 432: "The name 'Jesus' signifies that the very name of God is present in the person of his Son, made man for the universal and definitive redemption from sins. It is the divine name that alone brings salvation, and henceforth all can invoke his name, for Jesus united himself to all men through his Incarnation, so that 'there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.'"

These teachings underscore that Jesus is fully God and fully man, the second person of the Holy Trinity, and the exclusive Saviour of humanity.

Teachings of the Saints and Popes

Throughout Christian history, saints and popes have consistently affirmed the divinity of Jesus and His role as the Saviour:

  • St. Athanasius, a key figure in early Christianity, declared, "Jesus that I know as my
    Redeemer cannot be less than God."
  • Pope St. John Paul II wrote, "The Redeemer of man, Jesus Christ, is the center of the universe and of history."
  • St. Thomas Aquinas in his "Summa Theologica" affirms, "Since therefore Christ is true God and true man, it follows that He is in the highest degree a wayfarer and a comprehensor."

These teachings by prominent Christian figures underscore the centrality of Jesus in Christian theology and His unique role in the salvation of humanity.

Promises of Jesus to Those Who Believe in Him as God

Jesus made numerous promises to those who believe in Him as God, offering both spiritual and eternal blessings:

  1. Eternal Life:
    • John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
    • John 6:47: "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life."

    Jesus promises eternal life to all who believe in Him. This is not just a future promise but a present reality that begins the moment we place our trust in Him.

  2. The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit:
    • John 14:16-17: "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."

    Believers in Jesus receive the Holy Spirit, who dwells within them, guiding, comforting, and empowering them to live a life that glorifies God.

  3. Answered Prayer:
    • John 14:13-14: "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it."

    Jesus promises that prayers offered in His name will be answered, as they align with God’s will and glorify the Father.

  4. Peace and Joy:
    • John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
    • John 15:11: "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

    Jesus offers His peace and joy to those who trust in Him, a peace that transcends circumstances and a joy that is complete and enduring.

  5. Divine Protection and Provision:
    • Matthew 28:20: "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
    • Matthew 6:33: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

    Jesus promises His continual presence, divine protection, and provision for those who seek Him first.

Conclusion

Jesus Christ is not merely a prophet or a teacher; He is God incarnate, the second person of the Holy Trinity, and the only Saviour of humanity. This truth is firmly rooted in Scripture, affirmed by the teachings of the Church, and echoed by the saints and popes throughout Christian history. The divinity of Jesus and His role as the Saviour are not just doctrinal positions but are the foundation of Christian faith. For those who believe in Him, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and through Him, salvation is assured.

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus demonstrated His divine power and authority, confirming the ancient prophecies and fulfilling the promises of God. As believers, we are called to recognize and proclaim this truth, finding our hope and salvation in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and God. The promises of Jesus to those who believe in Him as God are both comforting and empowering, offering us peace, joy, protection, and the assurance of eternal life. Let us hold fast to these promises and live in the fullness of faith, knowing that in Jesus Christ, we have found the true God and Saviour of the world.