Bible Question: Did Jesus ever say that He was the Son of God?

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Bible Question:Did Jesus ever say that He was the Son of God?

Bible Answer: Yes! Jesus claimed to be God. On several occasions Jesus openly declared that He was God. Here are several examples.

John 5:18 - Early in Jesus' ministry the religious leaders understood that He had claimed to be equal with God. Jesus had just healed a man and a discussion followed between Jesus and the religious leaders and then we read the following,

For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. John 5:18 (NAS95S)

The religious leaders thought that Jesus was claiming to be "equal" with God. The Greek word that is translated as "equal" is ISOS. ISOS means "pertaining to that which is equal, either in number, size, quality, or characteristics." They understood that Jesus was claiming to be more than just a man. But they did not understand that Jesus was claiming that He was more than just ISOS.

John 8:58 - Jesus was trying to help them understand that He was God. Notice what Jesus says in the following passages,

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” John 8:56-58 (NAS95S)

Now notice that Jesus called Himself, "I am." This is the same thing that God called Himself in Exodus 3:6 and 14.

He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" . . . God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM” . . . Exodus 3:6, 14(NAS95S)

The Jews understood exactly what Jesus did. Jesus was declaring that He was the God they worshipped - the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And they picked up stones to kill Him (John 8:59) because he had declared that He was God.

John 10:33- Sometime later Jesus clearly stated that He was God and the Jewish leaders once again understood.

“I and the Father are one." The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, "I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?" The Jews answered Him, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God." (NASB) John 10:30-33

The Jewish leaders understood that He was claiming to be God, so they wanted to stone Him to death. That was the penalty for blasphemy. Jesus responded by asking them to give a reason for their actions. They answered that He had blasphemed. Their answer was pointed and specific. They said that He was a man and could not be God. They understood that He was claiming to be God. But they rejected His statement just as others have. Today, people may claim that Jesus never said He was God, but the religious leaders understood that He did. People do not want to believe Jesus said this because they do not believe He is God. The expression “Son of God” was a phrase that meant Jesus was God. It did not mean that Jesus was God’s offspring (compare John 10:33 with 10:36) or that He was a child of God. Jesus explained the meaning of the phrase Himself in John 10:36. Later in John 19:7 the Jewish leaders used this claim against Jesus once again.

Other Statements - Just before Jesus returned to heaven the apostle Thomas stated this,

Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28 (NAS95S)

If Jesus had never taught them that truth, why would Thomas say that? Thomas believed Jesus was God and he declared it. Also, notice the words written at the end of 1 John.

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:20 (NAS95S)

Jesus is God. Please visit "Did Jesus ever claim to be God?" for further elaboration.

Conclusion:Jesus said that He was God, the Son of God. The disciples believed He was God and the writers of the epistles in the New Testament believed that He was God. Anyone who says that He never claimed to be God and that the New Testament never says that He is God has never seriously read the New Testament or they did not understand what they were reading. May God bless you.