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It has become culturally fashionable to make the claim that “Jesus never said he was God.”

Lots of folks would like to claim Jesus as their own but his divinity gets in the way. The Muslims claim Jesus was a great prophet to the Jews but far less than even their prophet Muhammad. Some Jewish folks would like to acknowledge him as an ancient Jewish rabbi teacher if they could leave out the God thing and ignore the terrible treatment many Jews have received from some of his misguided followers over the centuries.

Even Hindu and eastern gurus like to make the claim that Jesus traveled to India and learned everything from them. Then there is the strange case of Richard Dawkins who wants to claim that Jesus Would Be An Atheist Today.

The real problem is that the Bible gets in the way and supports the divinity of Jesus. Not only that, but Jesus clearly indicated on a number of different occasions that he was the “I am” God of the Old testament. The response of those who heard him at the time confirms it.

One is left to choose whether Jesus was a liar, just crazy, or whether he was telling the truth. Really there is no middle ground or justification for claiming that he was some kind of ethical teacher or prophet of God if he lied about something as basic as who he really was.

Here’s an excellent article from the Apologetics Guy summarizing what Jesus had to say about himself: “Did Jesus Say He Was God?”

If you happen to be talking to someone who makes the claim that “Jesus never said that he was God,” there are 3 key scriptures that I usually refer to in a pinch as a Biblical response:

1. John 8:58: “ Before Abraham was “I am” “

If you missed it, this is what the God of the Old Testament told Moses when he asked for a name. Those listening didn’t miss what he was claiming by their response in verse 9:

“they picked up stones to stone him”

2. John 10:30: “I and the Father are One”

Again those listening to him understood his claim and picked up stones to kill him (Verse 33):

“…for Blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

If you can’t remember where the first 2 scriptures are, here is the easiest one to find. Turn to the first book of the New Testament- Mark and find the record of his trial before the Sanhedrin toward the back of the book in chapter 14.

Here, the religious leaders respond to the claims of Jesus during his trial.

3.  Mark 14:61-65: The Trial of Jesus

Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"

"I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." 

The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked.

"You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"  They all condemned him as worthy of death. –NIV

Obviously the religious authorities believed that Jesus was claiming to be divine and deemed him worthy of death for his blasphemy.

These are just 3 key scriptures that prove that Jesus claimed to be God. Again, for more and for greater details and a good short summary of the Biblical evidence, read the Apologetics Guy’s article:

“Did Jesus Say He Was God?”                *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Jesus Would Be An Atheist Today?
2. -Early References to Jesus

Richard Dawkins: "Jesus Would Have Been An Atheist If He Had Known What We Know Today"

This is probably the most offensive thing he has ever said. As usual he is implying here that any person with any kind of intelligence today is an atheist. So obviously it follows, from Dawkins’ perspective, that any smart person from our past if they only knew what we know today would also be an atheist?

Since Jesus was a smart moral teacher from the past that Dawkins says he actually respects, then it follows that He would also have to be an atheist today? Quite an arrogant deduction in deed that doesn’t really take into account what Jesus has to say about himself and his father.

Notice that he never mentions Muhammad in this context. Maybe he wasn’t smart enough or just maybe Richard would like to keep his head intact?

Of course, all of this flies in the face of reality. If Christians are all so stupid or ignorant then why does he continue to avoid a direct debate with any of our best minds like Dr. William Lane Craig?             *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Early References to Jesus
2. -Did 9/11 Change Attitudes About Religion?

One of the earliest and most essential teachings of Christianity is that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, dead, and buried  under Pontius Pilate and rose from the dead on the third day.

It is hard to conceive of any form of Christianity surviving the first century without the Resurrection of Jesus. Messianic movements by the hundreds had come and gone in Judea and disappeared in the sands of time when their ‘Messiah’ died or was killed. In fact, for one to die on the cross was considered to be ‘a curse’ to the Jewish folk of Jesus’ day.

One of the earliest and most authoritative references to the resurrection was made by Paul in I Corinthians 15. In fact, the Apostle Paul claims that over 500 folks had seen Jesus after his resurrection. In short, no resurrection—no Christianity.

Islam teaches that Jesus was only a prophet and did not die on the cross so had no need to be Resurrected. He only appeared to die and later was taken directly into Heaven by God:

That they said  (in boast), “we killed Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah,” but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not. -Sura 4:157

Most Muslims believe that someone else died in the place of Jesus and that he never suffered crucifixion. Since he never died –than the resurrection never happened. In fact according to Islamic teaching, Jesus never died period. God took Jesus directly to Paradise alive like he had done with Enoch and Elijah:

But Allah took him unto Himself –Sura 4:158

Response: Again, it is hard to conceive of Christianity surviving the first century except for the resurrection. Again one of the greatest disparities between Christianity and Islam revolves around Jesus—who he is, what he did, and what he is going to do.

If the prophet Muhammad is to be believed than the Apostles and the 500 or so followers of Jesus who saw the Resurrected Lord are all liars and suffered persecution and many times horrible deaths to preserve a lie. This doesn’t make sense at all. No, the very lives, actions, testimonies, and martyrdom of the Apostles stand against Islam and the ‘prophet’ Muhammad.            *Top

Links to previous posts in this series:

Comparing Islam and Christianity #6 -The Divinity of Jesus

Comparing Islam and Christianity #5 -Miracles and Spiritual Gifts

Comparing Islam and Christianity #4 -The Holy Spirit

Comparing: Islam and Christianity #3 -The Virgin Birth of Jesus

Comparing: Islam and Christianity #2 -The Righteousness and Justice of God

Comparing: Islam and Christianity #1 -God’s Love?

From Operation513-Apologetics Blog:

“When Jesus died, did both of his Natures die?”

Q&A with Dr. William Lane Craig

Question:

My question is one I have never been able to get a clear answer on. When Jesus died on the cross, did God die? That being, did the essence of Jesus actually die? …

Response:

<<Read Dr. Craig’s clear and able response>>

There really could be dueling Jesuses in the future—Isa-Almasih (Jesus Messiah in the Quran) of Islam verses Jesus Christ of Christianity.

First of all the birth of Jesus is portrayed in similar ways by both religions but the results are quite different. Both teach that Mary was a virgin and the angel appeared to her but in the New Testament, God is the Father of Jesus while the Quran teaches that the angel Gabriel was somehow responsible.

As strange as it seems, I believe that there is a strong possibility that the two might actually meet up and battle each other at the end of history—That’s right—two claiming to be the real Jesus.

One who supports the coming Mahdi and tries to destroy all who reject Islam particularly the Jews, and another who is the Son of God who comes in the clouds with the host of Heaven where everyone can see Him and saves Jerusalem and what is left of Israel.

What it really amounts to is dueling scriptures—the Quran verses the New Testament.

I started thinking about this possibility when I received the following in a comment from a Mohammad in Pakistan:

“I believe soon the promised one will reappear and fill this earth with justice.  …we are waiting for the promised one our Mahdi our imam our love our respect our leader our heart. …O my imam my leader soon we will pledge with you along with all good inhabitants in this world along with Jesus Christ who will pray behind you and will ask his followers to accept the straight path of Islam.”

There is one scenario I can see where the prophetic eschatological expectations of both the Quran and the Bible may be largely fulfilled.

Those in Islam are looking for a Mahdi to appear on the scene and become the ruler over the entire world—with one world government and one official World religion–Islam. Isa-Almasih, the historical Jesus is supposed to come back and support the Mahdi and ask all of his followers—the Christians to convert. Those who don’t are to be beheaded. Meanwhile he is also suppose to be instrumental in conquering Jerusalem, defeating the Dajjal (Evil One) and finally killing off the Jews who naturally refuse to join.

In the New Testament there is an  almost identical scenario presented, only the one world ruler is called ‘The Anti-Christ’ and the religious leader who supports him is referred to as ‘The False Prophet’. Thousands of Christians will be martyred by beheading and millions of Jews will also be killed. Just when it looks like Jerusalem will be conquered and all Israel will be eliminated, Jesus Christ appears in the clouds with the Hosts of Heaven, everyone shall see him, and He will touch down in Jerusalem and save the day. By the way—the Anti-Christ (Mahdi?) and his False Prophet (Isa?) are thrown alive into the Lake of Fire.

Like I said, the scenarios are quite similar but in a potential battle between the two Jesuses, Jesus Christ the Jewish Messiah and Son of God will prevail, the Muslims might call him the ‘Dajjal’ but it is the pretenders who will be overthrown. All of the scriptures in the Bible will be fulfilled, and He will reign for 1,000 years on planet Earth.            *Top

A continuation of the Evangelical/Mormon dialogue started with the book “How Wide The Divide” by Craig Blomberg and Stephen Robinson and continued in “Bridging The Divide” by Robert L Millet and Gregory C.V. Johnson.

Dr. Robert L. Millet is professor of religious education at BYU and Dr. Gerald R. McDemott is professor of religion and philosophy at Roanoke College and teaching pastor at St/ John Lutheran Church.  <<Read my review>>        *Top

It was written by Ekaputra Tupamahu and posted on his blog. Ekaputra currently teaches theology at Satyabhakti Advanced School of Theology (STT Satyabhakti), Indonesia.

He concludes and identifies a number of points of contact between the Muslim understanding of Isa and the Biblical Jesus. These intersecting areas can form the basis for dialogue between Christians and Muslims and potentially provide opportunities for evangelism.

Ekaputra notes that at the Second Coming, Jesus fulfills all the Biblical provisions of a Messiah that both the Christian and Jewish religions are looking for, and also could complete the Muslim expectations of a coming ‘Mahdi’.

Here are links to the 6 articles:

Isa Almasih and Jesus Christ – Part 1 -Isa as an Islamic Version of Christology

Isa Almasih and Jesus Christ – Part 2 -Historical Consideration

Isa Almasih and Jesus Christ – Part 3 -Isa as Almasih or Messiah in the Quran

Isa Almasih and Jesus Christ – Part 4 -Messianic Idea Among Muslim People Today

Isa Almasih and Jesus Christ – Part 5 -Islam (Isa Almasih) and Christianity (Jesus Christ): Some Point of Contacts

Isa Almasih and Jesus Christ – Part 6 -Some Implications

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