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For Christians, the deity of Jesus is so fundamental to our faith that we rarely consider it as debatable, much less controversial. But to unbelievers, this bedrock principle represents a stumbling-block (1 Corinthians 1:22-24); as many will concede that Jesus was a good man – maybe even a prophet – but decline to declare him the Son of God, and thus their Savior. (Muslims in particular believing Jesus was indeed a prophet and even a messiah, but certainly not God’s Son and never God as part of the Trinity.)

Some, like biblical skeptic Bart Ehrman, claimed Jesus’ deity was a fabrication of the later church; although even he now admits that all evidence points to a very early belief in such. Muslims insisting Jesus never personally claimed any equality with God, contrary to scripture which claims otherwise. Others prefer to believe Jesus was a son of God in the sense we all are. (Taking inspiration from John 10:33-36. But scripture can only rightly be interpreted in its proper context. Jesus sometimes veiling his pronouncements till the proper time and place.)

In truth, all four gospels speak to the deity of Jesus, none more so than John, whose very first verses allegorically place him at creation, actively involved as the living embodiment of God’s Word. He then continues by depicting Jesus as worthy of the honor due God (John 5:23); as encouraging people to trust in him as they do God (14:1); as being the source through whom God saves sinners (3:16 & 5:21); as the earthly manifestation of God (14:6-8); the king of “another place” – “not of this world” i.e. heaven(18:36,37); having dominion over all things (3:35); able to grant the requests of those in need, even after he is gone – inferring omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence (14:31); responding to those who were critical of his claims, albeit cryptically, concerning his centrality to salvation (8:24); claiming to pre-exist Abraham (8:58) ; using the holy identifier of God – “I AM” from Exodus 3:13-16 (I AM WHO I AM signifying endlessness, eternity of being. His name defining his nature. Jesus using this formula throughout John, none to greater effect than when he declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6,7) Later, having shown himself to his disciples in his resurrected form, he received the response he desires and deserves. “My Lord and my God!” John 8:27,28 (See also 2 Peter 1:1 & Titus 2:13)1

But some argue that since John’s gospel was circulated some 60 years after Jesus’ life and death, it might not be entirely dependable. (Even though historically this is a remarkably short span of time for that age.) So what about Mark’s gospel, the first gospel to be circulated and believed to predate John’s by 30 years, who some argue never depicted Jesus as claiming to be God. Or does He?

First, we must understand that Mark’s gospel was meant to persuade Jews that Jesus was their Messiah, referring to Jewish sources – the Old Testament – over 70 times; with a decided preference for Isaiah. Mark’s emphatic point being: Jesus is Yahweh, even if he reflects the Jewish hesitancy to use His name “out loud.” At the outset of his gospel, however, he states unequivocally that his chronicle is about, “Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Immediately following that with a quotation from Is. 40:3-5, using it as a proof-text in identifying John the Baptist as “a voice of one calling in the desert.”; preparing the way for the one the Baptist characterized as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29) One more powerful than John, with the ability to baptize with the Holy Spirit.

Mark then continues by recording Jesus forgiving a paralyzed man’s sins, a favor only God can grant, proving his right to do so by exercising another Godly prerogative – healing the man’s disease. (Mark 2:3-10) Reminding his listeners of Psalm 103:2,3 “Praise the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,…”

Mark further recording Jesus as describing himself as the Son of Man (Mark 2:28 See also Matthew 8:20 & 12:8 & 40), harking back to Daniel 7; the prophet there “seeing” a son of man riding the clouds – as only Yahweh can, and then receiving everlasting dominion and glory over his kingdom – as only Yahweh deserves. The inference being Jesus is this Son of Man – the Son of God; in this instance claiming superiority over the traditional practice and limitations of Judaism. (See also Psalm 110:1 Sitting at God’s right hand or on his throne denoting one as an heir of God, sharing his sovereignty.) These verses being the most commonly quoted Old Testament scripture in the New Testament, a deeply ingrained principle of Christian theology dating to well before its completion.

Jesus’ rescue of his disciples from a raging storm at sea in Mark 4:35-41, again mirrors Psalm 107:25-30. Yahweh likewise shown as calming a storm, hushing its waves. A similar miracle described in Mark 6:45-52, where Jesus walks out to his struggling disciples – on the surface of the water – echoes Job’s declaration that, “He (Yahweh) alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the sea.” Job 9:8

Mark’s purpose is clear, declaring Jesus as Yahweh. Finally uttered explicitly by Jesus at both of his trials before his crucifixion. Standing before the Sanderin, he is asked specifically, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” (An unlikely question if he hadn’t been suspected of claiming just that.) To which Jesus responded, “I am.” Expounding further and sealing his fate by claiming “…you will see the Son of Man (ME) sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Mark 14:61,62 (Again alluding to Daniel’s vision, quickly understood as such by his accusers.)

And then, maybe less dramatically, when questioned by Pilate as to whether he was indeed the King of the Jews, Jesus again replied, “Yes, it is as you say.” Mark 15:2 (The gospel of John adding the disclaimer that, “My kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36

Check back next week for more on the question of the deity of Jesus

1From Nabeel Qureshi’s book, No God But One; Allah Or Jesus, Zondervan Publishing

"The Way" from Kevin Pauley

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