Deity of Christ Handout
Jon Topping – The Deity of Christ
www.jontopping.com Ultimate Questions Podcast with Jon Topping
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Bible reading: John 10:24-33
The Jews who were there gathered round him, saying,
‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’
Jesus answered, ‘I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.’
Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, ‘I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?’
‘We are not stoning you for any good work,’ they replied, ‘but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.’
Why didn’t Jesus say the words “I am God, worship me”?
Julius Caesar never said “I am the dictator of Rome” = Are we then justified to disbelieve that?
Jesus spoke this way on purpose (Mat 13:10-16)
Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
Many people refuse to have faith = The truth is hidden from them.
If you want to have faith = There is plenty of evidence that Jesus taught He is God.
What did Jesus think of Himself?
Prophets of God always point back to God = Jesus continually pointed to Himself.
Jesus used the divine title “I AM” to refer to Himself.
Exodus 3:15 = Origin of the name of God “YHWH” and title of God “I AM”.
Matthew 14:27; Mark 6:50; John 6:20 = Jesus walks on water while saying “I AM”.
Job 9:8 = Only God walks on the waves of the sea.
John 8:24, 58 = Jesus declares “I AM” while saying He saves, and existed before Abraham.
John 18:6-8 = Jesus states “I AM” and the power of the words knock down the soldiers.
Jesus saw Himself as the source of salvation
John 8:24 = Unless you believe Jesus is “I AM” you will die in your sins.
Isaiah 43:10, 11 = No savior except for YHWH God.
Jesus calls Himself the source of salvation = Explains why prophets point to God, Jesus to Himself.
Historical context in hermeneutics = Everyone present understood what Jesus was saying.
This is why they wanted to kill Him for blasphemy.
All four Gospels give this reason = (Mat 26:62-65; Mark 14:61; Luke 22:70-71; John 10:31-39)
John 10:33 = They wanted to kill Jesus, why? “For blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
When on trial before the Sanhedrin, Jesus makes one of His strongest divinity claims
Mark 14:61-63 = “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed?” “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.”
Interesting = Mark is understood to be the earliest of the Gospels.
This shows us the divinity of Jesus didn’t evolve over time, because we see one of our strongest examples within the earliest Gospel.
Elements of what Jesus said to the Sanhedrin
Son of Man = From the prophecy in Daniel 7.
This prophecy said the Messiah would ride the clouds, given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that everyone would serve Him, that His dominion would be eternal.
Riding the clouds
This is how people described divine figures back then (gods ride on clouds).
Bible describes God as riding clouds (Deut 33:26; Psalm 104:3; Isa 19:1; Dan 7:13-14)
Right hand of Power = From the prophecy in Psalm 110:1
The Lord (YHWH) said to my Lord (Adonai). ‘Sit at my right hand’.
This “Adonai” that YHWH is speaking to is given god’s kingdom, holy splendor, judge the nations.
Jesus is the “Son of the Blessed One”
Cannot be referring to Mary = She wasn’t thought of as “blessed” by the Jewish religious leaders.
“Blessed One” = Refers to God (Luke 22:70 phrases it, “are you the Son of God?”)
Jesus’ response = “I AM” (again, using the divine title).
Why would they even ask Jesus if He’s the Son of God? Because it was commonly said of Him.
Son of God = Luke 1:32, 35; 22:70; John 1:34, 49; 10:36; 11:4, 27; Mat 8:29; 16:15-17; 27:43, 54
Jesus is claiming to be the unique Son of God, the fulfillment of the prophecies in Daniel 7 and Psalm 110, where He is the Son of Man who is the Lord Adonai of king David, He has holy splendor, given power, and glory, and authority from God, and an eternal kingdom from Zion that He will reign over forever. He rides on the clouds like a god, and the whole world will serve Him.
Response of the High Priest?
Proper hermeneutics (biblical interpretation) = How was it understood in the original historical context?
Tore his clothes (sign of mourning) = Said Jesus was obviously blaspheming.
Claiming to be the Messiah isn’t blasphemous = They believed there would be a Messiah!
Claiming to be God is blasphemous.
They knew exactly what Jesus was saying, which is why they were so upset.
Jesus also accepted worship
Proskuneo = Greek for “worship” (Persian understand is fall down, Greek understanding is religious)
Word is used for God = Mat 4:9-10; John 4:20-24; Rev 4:10; Rev 14:7.
When used for others, they deny it = Acts 10:25-26; Rev 19:10; Rev 22:8-9.
Used for Jesus many times = Mat 2:11; Mat 9:18; Mat 14:33; Mat 28:9; John 9:35-38; Mat 28:16-17; John 9:37-38; Heb 1:6.
Jesus claimed He could forgive sins
Mat 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Lu 5:17-26 = Paralytic man, friends lower him from the roof to get healed.
Religious leaders = Only God can forgive sins, you’re blaspheming because you say you’re God.
To prove He can forgive sins, Jesus supernaturally healed the man, proving He’s God.
The disciples of Jesus, and the Early Church, all believed Jesus is God.
Clement of R., Ignatius, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Melito, Irenaeus, Clement of A. Tertullian, Origen.
