His Claims

His Claims

If you read closely some of the statements Jesus made, and look deeper at some of His claims, one is given little choice but to believe that either Jesus was God, or a madman. And one must ask, "Why would Christ give up His life for a lie? And why would His followers also give up their lives just to propagate a lie?"

One of His claims, which angered the religious leaders of Israel, was that He was the only way to reach God. In fact, that claim still angers many people today. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me." (John 14:6).

This claim also angered the religious leaders, and when He told a person their sins were forgiven, it always caused an uproar. In the book of Luke 5:20-21, we read, "When Jesus saw their faith, he said, 'Friend, your sins are forgiven.' The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, 'Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?'" The teachings of the early church echoed Jesus claim. To the church at Ephesus, Paul wrote concerning Christ, "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." (Ephesians 1:7).

Several times, Jesus warned His disciples, "We are going up into Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again." (Luke 18:31-33). In another instance, the apostle John records Jesus' words, "Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life; only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." (John 10:17).

The apostle John writes the words of Christ, "And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began." (John 17:5). John also testifies of Jesus' preexistence and writes that Jesus played a role in the creation of the earth, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-3, 14).

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son," Jesus said, "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:16-17). John also records Jesus' words, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." (John 11:25).

He claimed He would return to earth to judge the nations and set up a kingdom.

"When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep and the goats." (Matthew 25:31-32). Matthew also records Jesus' statement, "So as the lightening comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory." (Matthew 24:27-30). Before Pontius Pilate, Jesus testified, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." Pilate responded, "You are a king, then!". Then Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king." (John 18:36-37).

No man is perfect and without sin, yet Jesus claimed to be sinless. "Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." (John 6:46-47). The apostle Paul writes to the Hebrews, substantiating Jesus claim, "(He) was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15). The apostle Peter wrote that we are redeemed "with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Peter 1:18-19).

The Jews sought to kill Jesus "because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God." (John 5:18). Jesus spoke, "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.... Believest not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake." (John 14:7, 10-11). "I and my Father are one", Jesus proclaimed (John 10:30).