Is Jesus God?
The Bible irrefutably proves Jesus is God in numerous ways.
Firstly, the Scriptures record direct claims from multiple sources testifying for the divinity of Christ.
Secondly, the Bible equates Jesus with God the Father in authority, attributes, and actions.
Thirdly, the New Testament account of Jesus perfectly aligns with the Old Testament revelation about God and the Messiah.
This article demonstrates in-depth proof of Christ’s deity and the supernatural connections between the New and Old Testaments.
All this will build up your faith and theological knowledge so that you can defend your faith and destroy arguments against Jesus’ divinity.
This is a complete package for you.
Let’s get to it.
Contents
How is Jesus God in Christianity?
Jesus is the eternal Son of God who incarnated as a human being historically around 2000 years ago in Israel. He was born of the Virgin Mary, from whom He has His human nature. He is fully God, the second divine person of the Godhead. Jesus is 100% man and 100% God.
Jesus is distinct in His personhood from God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, the other two divine persons of the Godhead (Matthew 28:19), but one with them in divine essence. In other words, Jesus is God, but He is not the Father or the Holy Spirit.
How do we know Jesus is God?
The Bible presents multiple ways to understand Jesus as God. Biblical evidence can be divided into three categories: claims, equality, and continuity.
The Bible provides multiple direct claims of Jesus’ deity. The claims come from
- God the Father
- The eyewitnesses and divinely authorized writers of the New Testament
- Jesus Himself
The Scriptures provide evidence for Jesus’ equality with the Father in:
- Authority
- Actions
- Attributes
Jesus’ life in the New Testament is in continuity with the Old Testament revelation of:
- Messianic prophecies
- The Trinity
Let’s start with the direct claims.
The Father testifies Jesus is God
You will find one of the best passages to prove that Jesus is God from Hebrews 1:8-12. In this passage, the Father speaks about the Son, Jesus Christ, in the following manner.
The Father testifies Jesus is God
You will find one of the best passages to prove that Jesus is God from Hebrews 1:8-12. In this passage, the Father speaks about the Son, Jesus Christ, in the following manner.
Hebrews 1:8-12
But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
And,
“You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth.
The heavens are the works of your hands.
They will perish, but you continue.
They all will grow old like a garment does.
You will roll them up like a mantle,
and they will be changed;
but you are the same.
Your years won’t fail.
The Father calls the Son God, says the Son created the heavens and the earth, and vouches for the eternality of the Son.
The verses 11-12 quote Psalm 102:25-27 in which Yahweh is the everlasting Creator who made the heavens and earth. Psalm 102 is dedicated to Yahweh (see Psalm 102:1), so the Father says through His inspired Scriptures in Hebrews 1 that the Son is the everlasting Yahweh God.
The disciples and apostles claimed Jesus is God
Below, you will find the best individual verses in which the disciples and apostles of Jesus testify for His deity.
If you are looking for a detailed explanation of each verse, click to see “Where in the Bible does it say Jesus is God”?
John 20:28
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
John 1:1, 14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Romans 9:5 ESV
To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
Titus 2:13
looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
2 Peter 1:1
Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
Jude 1:4
For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Jesus claimed to be God
Is Jesus God?
According to Jesus himself, He is God. Jesus claims to be God in multiple ways in all four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Jesus is “I AM”
The significance of God’s name “I AM” (Exodus 3:14) lies in its declaration of God’s self-existence, eternal nature, and unchanging character. In Hebrew, “Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh” means “I AM WHO I AM,” signifying that God is independent of time and creation.
God declares His name, “I AM,” to Moses from the burning bush at Mt. Sinai. In this famous scene, when Moses asks God’s name, He answers the following.
Exodus 3:14
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
In John 8:58, Jesus uses “I AM” to identify Himself with this divine name, asserting His deity and eternal nature, directly connecting Himself to the God of the Old Testament.
John 8:58
Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.
Did the Jews understand Jesus claimed to be God? You bet they did. This wasn’t a cryptic message for them. The next verse, John 8:59, proves this because it says, “Therefore they took up stones to throw at him.”
Jesus is the divine bridegroom of Israel
In Mark 2:18-20, Jesus claims to be the bridegroom of Israel. This is what John the Baptist also tells his disciples in John 3:29: John is the bridegroom’s friend, and Jesus the bridegroom.
Mark 2:18-20
John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and they came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don’t fast?”
Jesus said to them, “Can the groomsmen fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they can’t fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.
How is this significant and a claim for deity?
It’s significant because, in the Old Testament, Yahweh is Israel’s bridegroom and husband and Israel Yahweh’s bride.
Isaiah 62:4-5
You will not be called Forsaken any more,
nor will your land be called Desolate any more;
but you will be called Hephzibah,
and your land Beulah;
for Yahweh delights in you,
and your land will be married.
For as a young man marries a virgin,
so your sons will marry you.
As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
so your God will rejoice over you.
Isaiah 54:5
For your Maker is your husband; Yahweh of Armies is his name.
The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer.
He will be called the God of the whole earth.
When Israel broke the covenant and went after the multiple idols they devised and worshipped, God called the nation a harlot (Jeremiah 3:1, 6-8; Ezekiel 16:27-30).
In Jeremiah 31:31-32 above, Yahweh again tells how Israel broke His covenant even though He was like a husband to them. Yahweh promises to make a new covenant with Israel, which Jesus established by His death on the cross. The Jews broke the old covenant, and in Matthew 16:1-4, Jesus berated them as “an adulterous generation” because they couldn’t recognize the visitation of their divine Husband.
Jesus is the divine Son of Man
The term Son of Man is a synonym for man. It means someone whose nature is human. So, when Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of Man, He means He is truly human.
But the Son of Man does not mean only a human being. It is also used as a divine title.
The Old Testament refers to a divine figure who looks like a human being in several instances. One of the instances is the Son of God in Daniel 3, and another is someone in the likeness of man on a throne in heaven in Ezekiel 1. Still, the best example is found in Daniel 7.
Let’s read the key verses of Daniel’s night vision.
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
“I watched until thrones were placed,
and one who was ancient of days sat.
His clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool.
His throne was fiery flames,
and its wheels burning fire.
A fiery stream issued and came out from before him.
Thousands of thousands ministered to him.
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The judgment was set.
The books were opened.
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. Dominion was given him, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom one that which will not be destroyed.
The vision shows a scene from heaven where the Ancient of Days, God the Father, sits on His throne. Daniel sees a Son of Man coming with the clouds of the sky to the Ancient of Days, and everlasting dominion is given to the Son of Man.
The Ancient of Days is clearly divine and distinct from the Son of Man. The Son of Man is also divine because He is given everlasting dominion, and all the peoples, nations, and languages serve Him. In Daniel 7:14, the service and everlasting kingdom are given to the Son of Man, but in Daniel 7:27, they are given to the Most High. The text handles them as if they are the same.
Daniel 7:27
The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey him.’
Three things indicate that the Son of Man is divine.
- He comes with the clouds of the sky. In the Old Testament, “riding on the clouds” is something that only God does (Psalm 104:3, Isaiah 19:1, Nahum 1:3, Psalm 68:4). It is a divine function.
- All the nations serve Him as they serve God.
- He is given an everlasting kingdom, suggesting He is eternal.
Ask yourself, how is it possible that the Son of Man is served the same way as the Most High if the Son of Man is not divine?
Keep this in mind when you read Matthew 26:63-65 and Mark 14:61-62, in which Jesus cites Daniel 7:9, 13-14 during the high priest’s interrogation that led to His crucifixion.
Matthew 26:63-65
But Jesus stayed silent. The high priest answered him, “I adjure you by the living God that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
Jesus said to him, “You have said so. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.”
Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy.
The high priest demands Jesus to answer if He is the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus answers, “You have said so,” which effectively means “yes.” The answer includes the scene from Daniel 7:9, where the divine Son of Man comes with the clouds of the sky, and the first verse of Psalm 110, where God invites David’s Lord to sit on His right hand.
Daniel 7 and Psalm 110 are key Messianic passages that depict the Messiah as divine and human. Thus, in His answer, Jesus says, “I am the divine Son of Man in Daniel 7!” The high priest’s reaction proves it since he accused Jesus of blasphemy.
Read more: Psalm 110 meaning and verse-by-verse commentary.
Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath
In Mark 2:23-28, you read about Jesus and His disciples’ encounter with the Pharisees while traveling through grain fields.
In the passage, Jesus explained to the Pharisees the spirit of the law, which was to preserve life rather than destroy it.
While educating the Pharisees, Jesus also made a bold claim to be God in the flesh.
Mark 2:23-28
23 He was going on the Sabbath day through the grain fields; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?”
25 He said to them, “Did you never read what David did when he had need and was hungry—he, and those who were with him? 26 How he entered into God’s house at the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the show bread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and gave also to those who were with him?”
27 He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 Therefore the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
The Law of Moses states that the Sabbath is the Lord’s (Leviticus 23:3, below). Yahweh owns the Sabbath and decides what can and can not be done on the Sabbath.
Leviticus 23:3 KJV
Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.
In Mark 2:28, Jesus tells the Pharisees that He, as the Son of Man, is the Lord of the Sabbath. In light of what you have just learned about the Son of Man and the Sabbath, what are the two ways Jesus claims to be God in Mark 2:28?
First, Jesus applies the divine title “the Son of Man” from Daniel 7 to Himself. Second, He says He is the Lord of the Sabbath when the Old Testament declares God is the Lord of the Sabbath.
In just one short sentence, Jesus presents two ways He is God in the flesh.
And there’s more to come. Let’s see Luke 7 next.
Jesus claims to be God in Luke 7
For the next Jesus’ claim for deity, we step first into the Old Testament to see what the prophets prophesied God would do when He came to save His people.
Isaiah 35:3-6
Strengthen the weak hands,
and make the feeble knees firm.
Tell those who have a fearful heart, “Be strong!
Don’t be afraid!
Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution.
He will come and save you.
Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,
and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
Then the lame man will leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute will sing;
for waters will break out in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert.
Isaiah 35:3-6 prophesied the following would happen when God Almighty comes to save His people:
- the blind will see,
- the deaf will hear,
- the lame will walk,
- and the mute will talk.
Read now Luke 7:18-23.
Luke 7:18-23
The disciples of John told him about all these things. John, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?” When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptizer has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?’”
In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight. Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”
Jesus relates a message to John the Baptist in which He claims that He has done the things that Isaiah 35:3-6 prophesied God would do when He comes and saves His people. The only thing not mentioned in Jesus’ message is “the mute will talk,” but that miracle He also performed during His ministry (Matthew 15:29-31, Mark 7:31-37).
Right after replying to John the Baptist, Jesus raises the stakes further by explaining to His audience who John the Baptist is.
Let’s read the next key verses in Luke 7.
Luke 7:24-27
When John’s messengers had departed, he began to tell the multitudes about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously dressed, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.
The quote in verse 27 is from Malachi 3:1. Below, you will find the verse in full.
Malachi 3:1
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!” says Yahweh of Armies.
Here, Yahweh is speaking. He says He will send His messenger to prepare a way before Him, echoing the promise in Isaiah 40:3. Jesus confirmed that the messenger was John the Baptist.
Malachi 3:1 says that a messenger will prepare the way, and soon after the messenger’s arrival, the Lord comes to His Temple. Jesus says that the messenger was John the Baptist.
God reveals further that the Lord will come to His Temple as the Messenger of the Covenant.
Here, “the Lord” in Hebrew is “Ha Adon,” which is only used for Yahweh God in the Old Testament (Isaiah 1:24), so there is no ambiguity about the messenger’s nature. He is Yahweh.
But wait a minute.
Jesus claims that John the Baptist is the messenger who prepares the way for God’s sudden coming to His temple.
Yes. First, Jesus tells John the Baptist that He is “who comes” and that there is no need to look for anyone else.
Then, Jesus says that John the Baptist prepares the way of God when He suddenly comes, as was prophesied in Isaiah.
Who came soon after John the Baptist? Jesus did.
This is yet another time Jesus claimed to be God. He did it in two different ways: by saying He is doing things that the Old Testament says God does and by saying that John the Baptist is the one who prepares the way to God and that He is that God.
Remember also that the Temple in Jerusalem was built for Yahweh (1 Kings 8, 1 Chronicles 29:1). The Messenger of the Covenant coming to His Temple means that the Messenger of the Covenant is none other than Yahweh.
This nicely ties the Messenger (the word malak for messenger in Malachi 3:1 can also mean angel) of the Covenant to the Old Testament’s Angel of the LORD. According to Judges 2:1-4, the Angel of the LORD made a covenant with Israel. In Judges 2:1, the Angel of the LORD says: “I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you.”
The Angel of the LORD swore to give the Promised Land “to your fathers.” He said that He made a covenant with all the patriarchs, plural. This makes The Angel of the LORD the Messenger of the Covenant, whom we see in Malachi 3:1 and whom Jesus claims to be in Luke 7:27. Thus, Jesus is the Old Testament’s divine Angel of the LORD and the Messenger of the Covenant who comes to His temple in Malachi 3:1.
Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last
Alpha and omega (in the above picture) are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.
Even by intuition, the phrase “first and the last” has a divine weight, the meaning of the totality baked into it. The Old Testament proves the intuition correct in the Book of Isaiah, which says Yahweh is the first and the last.
Isaiah 41:4
Who has worked and done it,
calling the generations from the beginning?
I, Yahweh, the first, and with the last, I am he.”
Isaiah 44:6
This is what Yahweh, the King of Israel,
and his Redeemer, Yahweh of Armies, says:
“I am the first, and I am the last;
and besides me there is no God.
Isaiah 48:12
“Listen to me, O Jacob,
and Israel my called:
I am he.
I am the first.
I am also the last.
In the above verses, “the first and the last,” convey God’s eternality. He is the Creator beyond time and matter who existed before the first creatures and will exist after the last ones.
In Revelations 22:13 (image above), Jesus claims to be God in three ways: first, by saying He is the totality of everything; second, by claiming He is eternal; and third, by equaling Himself with Yahweh of the Old Testament.
Read more about Revelations 22:13: What does “I and the Father are one” in John 10:30 mean?
Jesus is the divine Son of God
John 5 is full of Jesus’ claims to divinity. In this chapter, He also explains His father-son relationship with God the Father. He is the divine Son of God, equal to the Father, in perfect union with the Father yet subject to His will.
Let’s see the multiple ways Jesus shows He is God in the flesh in John 5.
God is working on the Sabbath (John 5:17, below). God is free from Sabbath observation because He needs to preserve the creation. If He does not preserve the creation, the universe would cease to exist. Therefore, God is working even on the Sabbath.
In John 5:17, Jesus says He is also working on the Sabbath. If you would ask the Jews of Jesus’ time if any human is free from Sabbath observance, they would say no one is free from it. They would say no man can work during the Sabbath.
Who does Jesus claim to be?
Jesus claims to be God by saying He works on the Sabbath, as does God the Father.
The Jews understood this and, thus, wanted to kill Him, as you see in John 5:18.
John 5:15-18
The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.” For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
The next verse, John 5:19, is a famous rebuttal attempt of the deity of Christ because it says, “The Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.”
How can the Son be God if He can do nothing of His own accord?
Jesus’ explanation defeats this rebuttal with another claim of divinity. Let’s read John 5:19-20.
John 5:19-20
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.
“The Father shows the Son all that he is doing.” Jesus sees everything, all the time, what the God the Father does. This alone should be enough to convince anyone of the deity of Jesus.
“For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” Jesus not only can see all things the Father does but can also do everything that the Father can do.
Those are powerful claims for divinity.
The counterargument is refuted because Jesus sees everything that the Father does and can do all He sees the Father doing. Can one still argue that the Son is a mere creature? No creature can see all that the Father does, and no creature can do all that the Father does.
Since Jesus can see and do everything the Father does, “the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing” speaks about the hierarchy and perfect union (also John 5:30) within the Godhead, not about Jesus’ creatureliness.
In the following verses, Jesus expounds on His relationship with the Father.
John 5:21-23
For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires. For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.
Jesus, as the Son of God,
- can give life to whom he desires,
- has all judgment over everyone,
- so that everyone would honor the Son as they honor the Father.
According to the Bible,
- only God gives and takes away life (Genesis, 1-2, Deuteronomy 32:39)
- only God judges everyone (Isaiah 33:22, Psalm 75:7, James 4:12)
- God does not share His glory, including honor, with any creature (Isaiah 48:11).
The Father has given all the judgment to the Son so that everyone would honor the Son as they honor the Father.
Why would the Father give all the judgment and, through it, the same honor to the Son as He has if He does not share His honor with any creature?
God also says in the Bible that humans are prohibited from giving the same honor to anything created as they give to Him. But now the Father demands that the same honor be given to the Son.
It’s because the Son is divine, and Jesus is God.
The Jewish leaders recognized Jesus’ claims to divinity
Several instances in the Gospels show the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders attempting to kill Jesus because they perceived His claims as blasphemous, particularly His assertions of being God and equal with God. Here are some examples:
Claiming Equality with God (John 5:15-18)
Context: Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath and instructed him to carry his mat. When questioned, Jesus said, “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working” (John 5:17).
Reaction: The Jewish leaders sought to kill Him, both for breaking the Sabbath and for calling God His Father, thereby “making Himself equal with God.”
Declaring “I AM” (John 8:58-59)
Context: Jesus told the Pharisees, “Before Abraham was, I AM.”
Reaction: They picked up stones to kill Him because His use of “I AM” directly referenced God’s self-identification in Exodus 3:14, which they considered blasphemy.
Claiming Unity with the Father (John 10:30-33)
Context: Jesus declared, “I and the Father are one.”
Reaction: The Jewish leaders picked up stones to stone Him, saying, “We are not stoning you for any good work, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
Claiming to Forgive Sins (Mark 2:5-7)
Context: Jesus forgave the sins of a paralyzed man before healing him. The scribes thought to themselves, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Reaction: Though not an explicit attempt to kill Him in this instance, their outrage set the stage for later opposition.
Jesus’ Trial Before the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:63-66, Mark 14:61-64)
Context: During His trial, the high priest asked Jesus if He was the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus replied, “You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Reaction: The high priest accused Him of blasphemy, and the council condemned Him to death.
Jesus has equal authority with God the Father
The Bible shows Jesus is God by equaling His authority with God the Father. Jesus is worshipped the same way as God the Father, He has equal divine power as the Father and is given titles that only God can have.
Jesus is worshipped equally with the Father
Revelations 5:13
I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!”
In Revelations 5:13, apostle John, the author of Revelation, really hammers home the idea that every creature gives a blessing, honor, glory, and dominion to the Father and the Lamb (Jesus). The verse clearly says that every created thing in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and on the sea gives the exact same glory to the Father and the Lamb.
The verse couldn’t be more explicit in separating the Father and the Lamb from ALL created things. On one side, there are ALL created things; on the other, there are non-created beings, the Father and Jesus.
From the verse, you can infer two things:
- The Lamb is distinguished from the creatures because every created thing gives glory to the Lamb.
- The Lamb is given the same honor and glory as the Father.
In the Old Testament, Yahweh doesn’t share His glory with others (Isaiah 42:8). Therefore, the Lamb must be God to get the same honor and glory as the Father.
Other instances of worship
The New Testament contains several other instances where Jesus is worshiped, and He accepts it, affirming His divine status. In Jewish tradition, worship (Greek: προσκυνέω, proskyneō) is reserved for God alone, making these moments significant in demonstrating Jesus’ divinity.
Other instances where Jesus is worshipped as God are listed below. Remarkably, Jesus is worshipped as God as a baby before His ministry, during His ministry, after the resurrection, and after His ascension, leaving no ambiguity about when He is considered as God. He is always God.
1. The Magi Worship Jesus as a Child (Matthew 2:11)
Context: The Magi (wise men) came to see the infant Jesus.
Verse: “And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him.”
Significance: Even as a child, Jesus is considered worthy of worship reserved only for God.
2. Jesus Calms the Storm (Matthew 14:33)
Context: After Jesus walked on water and calmed the storm, His disciples responded in awe.
Verse: “And those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”
Significance: The disciples’ worship reflects their acknowledgment of Jesus’ divine power.
3. The Healing of the Blind Man (John 9:38)
Context: After Jesus healed a man born blind, the man recognized Him as the Son of God.
Verse: “He said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshiped Him.”
Significance: The man’s worship signifies his faith in Jesus’ divine authority.
4. The Women at the Tomb (Matthew 28:9)
Context: After Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to women who had come to the tomb.
Verse: “And behold, Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.”
Significance: The women’s worship of the risen Jesus highlights His triumph over death and divine identity.
5. The Disciples Worship the Risen Jesus (Matthew 28:16-17)
Context: Before His ascension, Jesus appeared to His disciples in Galilee.
Verse: “When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.”
Significance: Worship in this instance affirms Jesus as the exalted Lord.
6. Thomas’ Confession of Faith (John 20:28)
Context: After Jesus’ resurrection, Thomas saw His wounds and believed.
Verse: “Thomas answered Him, ‘My Lord and my God!'”
Significance: While the term “worship” isn’t explicitly used, Thomas’ declaration and posture reflect worshipful acknowledgment of Jesus’ divinity.
7. Jesus’ Ascension (Luke 24:50-52)
Context: After Jesus blessed His disciples and ascended into heaven.
Verse: “And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.”
Significance: The disciples’ worship demonstrates their recognition of Jesus’ divine nature and authority.
Jesus accepts worship without rebuking it, unlike angels or apostles who reject worship directed at them (Revelation 22:8-9, Acts 14:14-15). In Revelation 22:8-9, the angel specifically tells to “proskyneō” God and not him.
Thus, the above instances of worship and Jesus’ acceptance of it indicates that Jesus claimed a status deserving of divine honor, aligning with His identity as God the Son.
Jesus and the Father have equal power
John 10:27-30
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
The phrase “I and the Father are one” in John 10:30 declares Jesus’ divinity and unity with God the Father. The Jews at Jesus’ time understood this claim as they wanted to stone Jesus afterward (John 10:33).
In the above four verses, Jesus talks about sheep, hand, and eternal life. In this context, sheep means believers and hand in the Bible means power (Isaiah 1:25, Luke 1:66).
Firstly, Jesus says that he gives eternal life to the believers. This is a divine act that only God can do.
Secondly, Jesus says no one is able to snatch the believers out of His or His Father’s hand. Jesus tells us that He and the Father have the exact same believers (especially so in light of the Old Testament passages below and John 10:30). Those who believe in the Father also believe in Jesus.
And thirdly, Jesus and the Father have the same power to retain the believers.
In Isaiah 43:13 and Deuteronomy 32:39, Yahweh says, “There is no one who can deliver out of my hand.” In John 10:28, Jesus says no one can deliver out of His hand.
In Psalm 95:6-8, the believers are “the sheep of God’s hand,” like in John 10, they are the sheep of Jesus’ hand. The Psalm continues, “Today, if you hear His voice,” meaning that God’s sheep hear God’s voice, just like in John 10, the sheep hear Jesus’ voice.
Isaiah 43:13
Yes, since the day was, I am he.
There is no one who can deliver out of my hand.
I will work, and who can hinder it?”
Deuteronomy 32:39
“See now that I myself am he.
There is no god with me.
I kill and I make alive.
I wound and I heal.
There is no one who can deliver out of my hand.
Psalm 95:6-8 (ESV)
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
Thus, John 10:30 compresses Jesus’ three claims for a deity—the same believers, equal power with the Father to give eternal life, and retention of believers—into one clear and easy-to-remember sentence: “I and the Father are one.”
This is what you saw earlier in John 5:19. Jesus sees all things that the Father is doing and can do all that He sees the Father performing.
John 5:19
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
Jesus and the Father have equal power to perform divine deeds. However, having equal power is not the only feat that showcases how Jesus and the Father are one. Elsewhere in the Bible
- Jesus and the Father share the same priests.
- Jesus and the Father share the same throne.
- Jesus and the Father are the everlasting temple.
- Jesus and the Father are the only light in New Jerusalem.
- Jesus and the Father have the same first fruits.
- Jesus and the Father are the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega.
Read about the above six examples with verses and explanations in the article, Meaning of “I and the Father are one.”
As you see, the Bible profoundly shows in many different ways that Jesus is God.
Next, you will learn how Jesus’ divine titles and names make Him equal in authority with the Father.
Jesus’ divine titles and names
The New Testament ascribes to Jesus several divine titles and names that affirm His deity. These titles are linked to attributes and roles unique to God, and their application to Jesus is evidence of His divine nature.
Christ, the Messiah (Matthew 26:63-64, Psalm 2:2)
Meaning: The title “Christ” (Greek: Christos) and “Messiah” (Hebrew: Mashiach) both mean “Anointed One.”
Significance: The Jews awaited a promised Messiah, a divinely appointed king who would establish God’s kingdom (Daniel 7:13–14, Isaiah 9:6–7).
The Son of David (Luke 1:32-33, Matthew 21:9)
Meaning: The Messianic “Son of David” is not just an earthly king but also David’s divine Lord. (Psalm 110:1, Matthew 22:41-45)
Significance: Jesus as the “Son of David” is not just a human king—He is the divine Messianic King who will rule over an everlasting kingdom.
Immanuel (Matthew 1:23)
Meaning: “God with us” (from Isaiah 7:14).
Significance: Indicates Jesus’ incarnation as God dwelling among humanity.
Son of God (John 10:36; Luke 1:35)
Meaning: A title denoting Jesus’ unique relationship with God the Father. The Son reveals God to humanity.
Significance: This title implies divinity, as in Jewish understanding, claiming to be God’s Son equated to equality with God.
Read more: Is Jesus the divine Son of God?
Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 26:64)
Meaning: A Messianic title referring to the divine figure in Daniel’s vision who has eternal authority.
Significance: Jesus frequently used this title to assert His role as the divine Messiah who has the ultimate authority.
Lord (Kyrios) (Philippians 2:11; Luke 2:11)
Meaning: In Greek, “Lord” (Kyrios) is often used for God in the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament).
Significance: The New Testament applies this title to Jesus, equating Him with Yahweh (e.g., Romans 10:9; Joel 2:32).
Word (Logos) (John 1:1-14)
Meaning: The eternal, preexistent divine Word through whom all things were created.
Significance: Identifies Jesus as God Himself who became flesh (John 1:1, 14).
Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13)
Meaning: “The first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Significance: These terms are used for God in Isaiah (Isaiah 44:6) and applied to Jesus, showing His eternal nature.
King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16)
Meaning: Titles of supreme authority, used for God in the Old Testament and for the Father in the New Testament (Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 136:3; 1; Daniel 2:47; Timothy 6:15).
Significance: Jesus is depicted as sovereign over all creation.
I AM (John 8:58)
Meaning: A direct reference to God’s name revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:14).
Significance: By declaring, “Before Abraham was, I AM,” Jesus claimed eternal existence and identified Himself with Yahweh.
Savior (Luke 2:11; Titus 2:13)
Meaning: One who delivers from sin and its consequences, a role attributed to God in the Old Testament (Isaiah 43:11).
Significance: Jesus’ role as Savior underscores His divine authority to forgive sins (Luke 5:20-21).
The Holy One (Acts 3:14; John 6:69)
Meaning: A title of moral purity and divinity, often used for God in the Old Testament (Psalm 16:10; Proverbs 30:3).
Significance: Jesus is identified as the Holy One of God, emphasizing His sinless nature and divine origin.
The Good Shepherd (John 10:11; Psalm 23:1)
Meaning: A shepherd cares for, protects, and saves His flock.
Significance: Jesus fulfills the role of God as the shepherd of His people, as described in the Old Testament.
Judge of the Living and the Dead (Acts 10:42; 2 Timothy 4:1)
Meaning: The ultimate arbiter of humanity’s destiny, a role reserved for God.
Significance: Jesus fulfills the role of the judge of all people, as described to God in the Old Testament (Isaiah 33:22, Psalm 75:7).
Light of the World (John 8:12)
Meaning: A source of life, truth, and salvation.
Significance: This title aligns with God being the source of light and life in the Old Testament (Psalm 27:1).
The Lamb of God (John 1:29)
Meaning: The sacrificial lamb who takes away sin, fulfilling Old Testament sacrifices, particularly the Passover Lamb whose blood applied to door posts, saved believing Israelites from death (Exodus 12).
Significance: Jesus’ role as the Lamb highlights His divine mission of redemption.
Bridegroom (Matthew 9:15; Revelation 21:2)
Meaning: The one united with His people in an eternal covenant relationship.
Significance: In Jewish thought, God is the Bridegroom of Israel; Jesus takes on this role, equating Himself with God.
The above titles reflect Jesus’ unique divine nature, His eternal existence, and His authority over all things.
Jesus’ divine acts prove He is God
Certain acts are universally recognized in Scripture and theology as exclusive to God due to His omnipotence, omniscience, and sovereignty. These acts are often cited to affirm Jesus’ deity because He performs them in the New Testament, demonstrating His divine nature.
Here are the key divine acts.
Creation of the Universe
God is the Creator of all things, bringing the universe into existence from nothing.
Old Testament:
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
“The everlasting God, Yahweh, the Creator of the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 40:28)
Jesus’ Role:
“All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:3)
“For by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth, visible things and invisible things” (Colossians 1:16)
Sustaining the Universe
God continuously upholds and governs creation by His power.
Old Testament:
“In his hand are the deep places of the earth. The heights of the mountains are also his”. (Psalm 95:4)
“You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their army, the earth and all things that are on it, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all.” (Nehemiah 9:6)
Jesus’ Role:
“He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.” (Colossians 1:17)
“His Son is the radiance of his glory, upholding all things by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3)
Forgiveness of Sins
Sin is ultimately against God, so only He has the authority to forgive it.
Old Testament:
“Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage?” (Micah 7:18)
“Against you, and you only, I have sinned” (Psalm 51:4)
Jesus’ Role:
“But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Mark 2:10)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Judging the World
Ultimate judgment belongs to God, who is righteous and omniscient.
Old Testament:
“For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14)
“For Yahweh is our judge. Yahweh is our lawgiver. Yahweh is our king. He will save us.” (Isaiah 33:22)
Jesus’ Role:
“For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22)
“For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)
God comes to judge all people and pay them according to their deeds.
- In the Old Testament, Yahweh repays each man according to his works: Psalm 62:12; Jeremiah 32:19, Jeremiah 17:10; Ezekiel 18:30; Proverbs 24:12.
- In the New Testament, Jesus comes and repays everyone according to his works: Matthew 16:27; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 22:12.
Giving Eternal Life
God alone has the authority to grant eternal life.
Old Testament:
“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2)
“For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption. You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever more.” (Psalm 16:10-11)
Jesus’ Role:
“I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28)
“One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:36)
Power Over Life and Death
The power to give life and take it away belongs to God.
Old Testament:
“See now that I myself am he. There is no god with me. I kill and I make alive.” (Deuteronomy 32:39)
“Yahweh kills and makes alive. He brings down to Sheol and brings up.” (1 Samuel 2:6)
who redeems your life from destruction (Psalm 103:3)
Jesus’ Role:
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies” (John 11:25)
“No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” (John 10:18)
These acts—creating the universe, forgiving sins, sustaining the world, judging all people, granting eternal life, and controlling life and death—are universally acknowledged as belonging only to God. Jesus performing these acts and claiming this authority is powerful proof of His deity.
Jesus’ divine attributes prove He is God
The Bible gives attributes to Jesus that are unique to God, affirming Jesus’ divine nature. These divine attributes provide a compelling case for the deity of Christ in Scripture.
Omniscience (All-knowing)
God is all-knowing.
Job 37:16
Do you know the workings of the clouds,
the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?
Psalm 147:5
“Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure.”
1 John 3:20
because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
Jesus is all-knowing. The verses below show that He was all-knowing before and after His resurrection.
John 16:29-31 (before resurrection)
His disciples said to him, “Behold, now you are speaking plainly, and using no figures of speech. Now we know that you know all things, and don’t need for anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came from God.”
Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?
John 21:17 (after resurrection)
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?”
Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, “Do you have affection for me?” He said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Eternality
God has no beginning or end. He is beyond time, eternal.
Psalm 90:2
Before the mountains were born,
before you had formed the earth and the world,
even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.
Jesus is eternal.
Revelation 22:13
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Omnipotence (All-Powerful)
God has unlimited power to accomplish His will.
Genesis 18:14
Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes around, and Sarah will have a son.”
Jesus is omnipotent.
John 5:19
Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.
Omnipresence (Everywhere Present)
God is present in all places at all times.
Psalm 139:7
Where could I go from your Spirit?
Or where could I flee from your presence?
Jesus is omnipresent.
Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”
Immutability (Unchanging)
God does not change in His nature, character, or promises.
Malachi 3:6
“For I, Yahweh, don’t change; therefore you, sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
Jesus is unchanging.
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Self-Existence (Aseity)
God exists by His own power and depends on nothing outside Himself.
Exodus 3:14
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
Jesus is self-existing.
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
Sovereignty
God has ultimate authority and control over all things.
Psalm 103:19
Yahweh has established his throne in the heavens.
His kingdom rules over all.
Jesus is sovereign.
Matthew 28:18
Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
Infinity
God is limitless in being, and existence.
Psalm 145:3
Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised!
His greatness is unsearchable.
Jesus is infinite.
Colossians 2:9
For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily
Holiness
God is completely set apart, perfect in purity, and morally flawless.
Isaiah 6:3
One called to another, and said,
“Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of Armies!
The whole earth is full of his glory!”
Jesus is holy.
Acts 3:14
But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
Is Jesus God according to the Old Testament?
Jesus’ incarnation, life, death on the cross, and resurrection are in a perfect continuum with the Messianic prophecies and the concept of the Trinity in the Old Testament.
Jesus fulfills the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament
As the author of creation and history, God has demonstrated His sovereignty through fulfilled prophecies, especially those concerning the Messiah.
Biblical scholars have identified hundreds of prophecies concerning the Messiah in the Old Testament. These Messianic prophecies foretold the following about the Messiah, the Savior of the people.
He would be born of a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14)
- Fulfillment: (Matthew 1:18-24)
He would be a Jewish man and live among Israelites. (Deuteronomy 18:18, Zechariah 2:10)
- Fulfillment: (John 1:11; Romans 9:4-5)
He would be God in flesh. (Psalm 110, Isaiah 9:6-7)
- Fulfillment: (John 1:14; Matthew 22:43-44)
He would be born in Bethlehem, Judea. (Micah 5:2)
- Fulfillment: (Matthew 2:1)
He would be King David’s descendant from the tribe of Judah. (Jeremiah 23:5, Genesis 49:10)
- Fulfillment: (Matthew 1:1; Luke 1:32-33)
He would live during a specific timeframe in the time of Jesus, as foretold in Daniel’s 70 weeks (Daniel 9:24-27)
- Fulfillment: Luke 2:1-2. The specific timeframe coincides with Daniel’s prophecy of 483 years (69 weeks) from the decree to restore Jerusalem (445 B.C.) to the coming of the Messiah.
He would heal the blind, deaf, mute, and lame. (Isaiah 35:4-6)
- Fulfillment: (Matthew 9:30; 9:33; 11:5; 12:22; 15:30-31; 20:34; 21:14; Mark 7:31-37; 9:25; 10:52; Luke 11:14)
He would suffer for the sins of the people and be pierced at His hands and feet (Psalm 22:16, Isaiah 53)
- Fulfillment: (John 19:16-18; 1 Peter 2:24).
He would conquer His enemies and be given an everlasting dominion. (Psalm 110, Isaiah 9:7, Daniel 7:13-14)
- Fulfillment: (Matthew 28:18; Hebrews 1:8)
Each Messianic prophecy limits the potential pool of people like a triangle gets narrower and narrower when reaching its peak, leaving only a dot on the tip of the triangle.
The prophecies foretold the town where the Messiah was born, when he was born, His background as a Jewish man from the tribe of Judah who would heal sick people, suffer for the sins of His people, His hands and feet would be pierced, and that He would be exalted in the end to receive an everlasting kingdom.
Who else than Jesus of Nazareth, born in Bethlehem two thousand years ago, who healed the sick, died on the cross suffering for the sins of His people, and who is worshiped as God and King of Kings could the Messiah be?
Jesus fulfilled over 300 of these Messianic prophecies through His incarnation, ministry, death, and resurrection. The remaining prophecies will be fulfilled at His Second Coming.
Jesus reveals the Trinity of the Old Testament
A careful study of the Old Testament reveals evidence of more than one divine person within the Godhead, a concept discussed in ancient Jewish thought as the “two powers in heaven.”
Figures such as the Voice of the Lord, the Word of the Lord, the Angel of the Lord, and the Son of Man in Daniel 7 point to a distinct divine power who shares in God’s identity yet is distinguishable from God the Father.
The second power is often described as appearing in human form, interacting with God’s chosen people at pivotal moments in salvation history. He bears God’s name, performs divine actions, accepts worship, and establishes multi-generational covenants. These characteristics resonate with the New Testament depiction of Jesus as the Son of God.
The Father-Son relationship is not foreign to the Old Testament, which portrays God as Israel’s Father and describes Israel as His firstborn son.
Also, Proverbs 30:3-4 intriguingly suggests that the Father has a divine Son who was active in creation, further affirming the Son’s preexistence and divinity.
Additionally, the Old Testament references the Spirit of God dozens of times, portraying Him as distinct from the Father, performing divine actions, and exhibiting personal traits. Together, these elements reveal that the God of the Old Testament is multi-personal.
Through Jesus’s incarnational revelation, this foundational concept in the Old Testament developed into the fully realized Trinitarian theology of Christianity.
All of the above concepts are fully covered in the following articles. It is highly recommended that you study all of them.
- The definitive guide to the Trinity in the Old Testament
- Two powers in heaven
- 8 proofs the Angel of the LORD is Jesus
- Who is the Son of Man in Daniel 7?
- “Two Yahwehs” in Genesis 19:24
- List of Theophanies in the Bible
Is Jesus God? Summary
In this article, you explored the profound question, “Is Jesus God?” by examining extensive evidence drawn from Scripture, both the Old and New Testaments.
The Bible provides irrefutable proof of Jesus’ divinity through direct claims made by Jesus, His disciples, and even God the Father.
Jesus’ divinity is further demonstrated through His actions, attributes, and authority, which belong exclusively to God.
The article underscored the continuity between the Old and New Testaments, highlighting how Jesus fulfills Messianic prophecies to the dot and fully reveals the multi-personhood in the Godhead that is evident in the Hebrew Bible in concepts such as “the two powers in heaven” and the Angel of the LORD.
Hopefully, the evidence will be of blessing to you in building up and defending your Christian faith.