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One of God’s many titles is “Jehovah” which the Israelites used when referring to Him and it is mentioned 6,519 times in the Old Testament. In the Authorised Version it is mostly translated as “Lord”. It means the unchanging, eternal, self-existent God. However is there evidence that the Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New Testament? (By the way we are not Jehovah’s Witnesses.)
1. GOD FROM ETERNITY
1.1 Seeing The Lord Of Hosts
Old Testament Prophecy
Isaiah 6:5 the prophet said, ‘For mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD (Jehovah) of hosts.’
Fulfilment by Jesus
The apostle John referred to this same event in the context of John 12:37 ‘But although He (Jesus) had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him.’ Then he said ‘These things Isaiah said when he saw His [contextually Jesus Christ’s] glory and spoke of Him’ (John 12:41). John made it clear that the Person whom Isaiah saw was actually Jesus.
1.2 The First And The Last
Old Testament Prophecy
‘Who has performed and done it, Calling the generations from the beginning? “I, the LORD (Jehovah), am the first; And with the last I am He”’ (Isaiah 41:4). ‘Thus says the LORD (Jehovah), the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD (Jehovah) of hosts: “I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God’” (Isaiah 44:6). ‘“… And I will not give My glory to another. Listen to Me, O Jacob, And Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last”’ (Isaiah 48:11-12). So Jehovah of the Old Testament declares Himself to be the First and the Last.
Fulfilment by Jesus
‘“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” … I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book …”’ (Revelation 1:8, 10-11). So the Jehovah of the Old Testament as “the first and the last” is the Lord Jesus of the New Testament.
1.3 Jehovah’s Glory Is Jesus’ Glory
Old Testament Prophecy
‘“I am the LORD (Jehovah), that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, …”’ (Isaiah 42:8).
Fulfilment by Jesus
‘Jesus spoke these words, … “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was”’ (John 17:1, 5). Therefore Jesus claimed that Jehovah’s glory was His glory.
1.4 Creator of All Things
Old Testament Prophecy
‘You alone are the LORD (Jehovah); You have made heaven, … The earth and everything on it, The seas and all that is in them, And You preserve them all’ (Nehemiah 9:6). ‘For with You (v7 God) is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light’ (Psalm 36:9). ‘For thus says the LORD (Jehovah), Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, … “I am the LORD (Jehovah), and there is no other”’ (Isaiah 45:18). So the Old Testament clearly teaches that only God is the giver of life.
Fulfilment by Jesus
‘All things were made through Him (The Word v1 Who became Man v14), and without Him nothing was made that was made’ (John 1:3). ‘The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand’ (John 3:35). ‘and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live’ (1 Corinthians 8:6). ‘For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers’ (Colossians 1:16). The New Testament shows that Jesus Christ was the Creator.
1.5 A Conversation About Sitting At My Right Hand
Old Testament Prophecy
‘The LORD (Jehovah) said to my Lord (Adoni), “Sit at My right hand”’ (Psalm 110:1). This describes a conversation between God the Father and God the Son.
Fulfilment by Jesus
‘He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying: The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand. … If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?”’ (Matthew 22:43-45). Here Jesus applied these words to Himself.
1.6 The Messiah is God
Old Testament Prophecy
‘For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace’ (Isaiah in 9:6). The prophet Isaiah calls the Messiah the ‘Mighty God’. In Psalm 45 the psalmist wrote of the Messiah (emphasised in v1-7) and says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever’ (Psalm 45:6). Accordingly the Old Testament teaches that the coming Messiah would be God Himself.<
(In the Quran, surah 3:45 says ‘… his name will be the Messiah Iesa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary) …’ 4:157 ‘“And because of their saying (in boast), “We killed Messiah Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), the Messenger of Allah,” – but they killed him not, nor crucified him.” So additionally the Quran recognises that Jesus is the Messiah.)
Fulfilment by Jesus
‘And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled’ (Matthew 26:57) where there was a mock trial. ‘And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God! Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven”’ (Matthew 26:57, 63-64). ‘But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever”’ (Hebrews 1:8 which links with Psalm 45:6). Consequently, when Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, He was also claiming to be God.
2. GOD IN RELATION TO THE EARTH
2.1 The Voice Of One Crying In The Wilderness: “Prepare The Way Of The Lord”
Old Testament Prophecy
In Isaiah 40:3 ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD (Jehovah); Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.”’
Fulfilment by Jesus
‘The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.” The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight”’ (Mark 1:1-3). The same passage is applied to Jesus Christ because John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus.
2.2 The Light
Old Testament Prophecy
‘The LORD (Jehovah) is my light’ (Psalm 27:1).
Fulfilment by Jesus
‘In Him (The Word v1 Who became flesh v14) was life, and the life was the light of men’ (John 1:4). ‘Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life”’ (John 8:12).
2.3 The Lord As Israel’s Rock
Old Testament Prophecy
‘For I proclaim the name of the LORD (Jehovah): Ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, … “Of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful, And have forgotten the God who fathered you”’ (Deuteronomy 32:3, 4, 18). ‘The LORD (Jehovah) is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust’ (Psalm 18:2). ‘Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved’ (Psalm 62:1-2). These are a few example of the Old Testament repeatedly refers to Jehovah as Israel’s Rock.
Fulfilment by Jesus
‘And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ’ (1 Corinthians 10:4). So the New Testament clearly identifies this Rock as Jesus Christ.
2.4 The Bridegroom
Old Testament Prophecy
‘… And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you’ (Isaiah 62:5). ‘“And it shall be, in that day,” Says the LORD (Jehovah), “That you will call Me ‘My Husband,’ And no longer call Me ‘My Master”’ (Hosea 2:16). Therefore Jehovah described as a bridegroom/husband.
Fulfilment by Jesus
‘“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom’” (Matthew 25:1). In the same manner Jesus spoke of Himself as being the bridegroom.
2.5 The Lord was Pierced
Old Testament Prophecy
‘“In that day, saith the LORD (Jehovah), … And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn’ (Zechariah 12:4, 10). Please note that Jehovah says, “They shall look upon ME whom they have pierced.”
Fulfilment by Jesus
‘And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him (Jesus v33-34) whom they pierced”’ (John 19:37). ‘“Behold, He (Jesus Christ v5) is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen”’ (Revelation 1:7). Consequently the One Who was pierced can only refer to Jesus.
2.6 Forgiving Sins
Jesus’ Claim
‘When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you” (Mark 2:5). The scribes’ reaction was, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (2:7). Jesus proved that His claim of God’s right to forgive sins was not an empty statement by healing the man, and showed direct evidence that what He had said about forgiving sins was also the truth.
Others’ Confirmation of Jesus’ Claim
‘Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, … “Him (Jesus v31) God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins”’ (Acts 5:29a, 31). ‘Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do’ (Colossians 3:13). So the apostles Peter and Paul further confirm that Jesus Christ can forgive sins.
2.7 Raising the Dead and Judging All
Old Testament Prophecy
‘“And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people’” (Ezekiel 37:13). ‘“I (Jehovah v4) will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction!”’ (Hosea 13:14). Therefore God raises the dead.
‘Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the LORD (Jehovah)? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Saviour; There is none besides Me’ (Isaiah 45:21). ‘For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil’ (Ecclesiastes 12:14). ‘Valley of Jehoshaphat; For there I (Jehovah v8) will sit to judge all the surrounding nations’ (Joel 3:12). Accordingly God is the final judge.
Fulfilment by Jesus
‘“For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will”’ (John 5:21). ‘“Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. … and come forth–those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrect-ion of condemnation”’ (John 5:25, 29). ‘Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). ‘“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son’” (John 5:22). “… the Father … has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man” (John 5:26a-27). Jesus therefore claimed both the Divine prerogatives of being able to raise and judge the dead.
Jesus confirmed, sometimes boldly in front of crowds, that He has the power, that only God has, to raise people from death: Jairus daughter (Matthew 9:18-19, 23-26; Mark 5:22-24, 35-43; Luke 8:41-42, 49-56), the widow of Nain’s son (Luke 7:11-18) and Lazarus (John 11:1-45).
Others’ Confirmation of Jesus’ Claim
The apostle John, ‘“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last … v18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death’ (Revelation 1:11, 18).
The apostle Peter: ‘Then Peter opened his mouth, … And He (Jesus v38) commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead’ (Acts 10:34a, 42).
The apostle Paul: ‘Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, … Because He (God v30) has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead’ (Acts 17:22a, 31). ‘Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing’ (2Timothy 4:8).
2.8 Whoever Calls On The Name Of The Lord Shall Be Saved
Old Testament Prophecy
‘And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD (Jehovah) shall be saved’ (Joel 2:32).
Fulfilment by Jesus
‘And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved’ (Acts 2:21). ‘That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. … For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved”’ (Romans 10:9, 13). Consequently it is on the Lord Jesus’ Name that sinners must call on for salvation.
2.9 The Lord Is My Shepherd
Old Testament Prophecy
‘The LORD (Jehovah) is my shepherd; I shall not want’ (Psalm 23:1).
Fulfilment by Jesus
‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own’ (John 10:11, 14). ‘Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant’ (Hebrews 13:20). King David showed that Jehovah was his great Shepherd and the New Testament says the same about Jesus.
2.10 A Stone Of Stumbling And A Rock Of Offense
Old Testament Prophecy
‘The LORD (Jehovah) of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread. He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, …’ (Isaiah 8:13-14) prophetically states that Jehovah will be “for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence.” The stone/rock of God’s truth is in people’s paths but those who do not believe would sadly fall to their hurt.
Fulfilment by Jesus
‘Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone, A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed’ (1 Peter 2:7-8). Meaning that God has decreed that all who refuse to obey by believing in the Lord Jesus will stumble. Not that God has appointed people not to believe. Suitably these verses in Isaiah are applied to Jesus.
2.11 Every Knee Shall Bow, Every Tongue Shall Swear
Old Testament Prophecy
‘Look to Me (Jehovah v21), and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath’ (Isaiah 45:22-23).
Fulfilment by Jesus
‘Therefore God also has highly exalted Him (Jesus Christ v5) and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, v11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father’ (Philippians 2:9-11). Jehovah says in Isaiah 45:23 ‘that unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.’ So in Philippians 2 this Isaiah passage is applied to Jesus Christ, before Whom all will someday bow.
2.12 For The Lord Of Hosts Will Reign On Mount Zion And In Jerusalem
Old Testament Prophecy
‘For the LORD (Jehovah) of hosts will reign On Mount Zion and in Jerusalem And before His elders, gloriously’ (Isaiah 24:23). ‘The LORD (Jehovah) has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD (Jehovah), is in your midst; You shall see disaster no more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. The LORD (Jehovah) your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing’ (Zephaniah 3:15-17).
Fulfilment by Jesus
‘And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin … The virgin’s name was Mary. … And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. … and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David {This will be in Jerusalem as seen from Ecclesiastes 1:1 ‘The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.’} And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end’ (Luke 1:26-27, 31-33).
‘And Jesus said unto them (Jesus’ disciples v25), … in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel’ (Matthew 19:28). “When the Son of Man (Jesus referring to Himself) comes in His glory, …, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, … Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”’ (Matthew 25:31-32, 34). ‘And I saw thrones, … Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, … And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years’ (Revelation 20:4). The Old Testament shows that Jehovah Himself will reign in Jerusalem during the coming kingdom\millennial age and will be in the midst of His people. The New Testament shows that the future, Millennial King will be Jesus Christ.
3. JESUS CLAIMS ABOUT HIMSELF
3.1 The Great “I Am”
Old Testament Prophecy
‘And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.” Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The LORD (Jehovah) God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations’” (Exodus 3:14-15). So Jehovah is the great “I AM.”
Fulfilment by Jesus
‘“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins’” (John 8:24). ‘Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM”’ (John 8:58). Jesus not only asserts His existence before Abraham but equality with the “I AM” of Exodus 3:14. The listening Jews clearly understood Jesus claim to Deity because 8:59 says ‘Then they took up stones to throw at Him {i.e. for what they thought was blasphemy}; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.’ ‘Jesus … said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground’ (John 18:4-6).
Consequently in Jesus claims equality with Jehovah.
3.2 Oneness With God the Father
‘Jesus answered them … “I and My Father are one.” Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God”’ (John 10:25a, 30-33). The Jews obviously understood that the Jesus was claiming Deity.
3.3 The Son has Equal Honour With the Father
‘Then Jesus answered … “that all should honour the Son just as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent Him’ (John 5:19, 23). Consequently Jesus was claiming that He should be honoured as God.
3.4 Jesus’ Claim Of Being The Christ
‘And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. … And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!”’ (Matthew 26:57, 63-65). At this mockery of a trial Jesus clearly claimed to be the Messiah and therefore claimed to be God.
‘Then he (Jesus v15) said unto them … “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”’ (Luke 24:25a, 26-27) confirms this.‘“Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?’” (Matthew 26:54). By Jesus saying that He must fulfil the Scriptures, which speak of Him as the Messiah, means that He is further claiming to be the Christ or Messiah.
3.5 Worshipping God
Old Testament Statement
‘And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the LORD (Jehovah) your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth’” (Exodus 20:1-4). ‘“I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image-any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them”’ (Deuteronomy 5:6-8). So the Old Testament forbids worshipping anyone other than God.
Angels/Men Refusing Worship
‘Now I, John, … I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel … Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. … Worship God’” (Revelation 22:8-9). ‘As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man”’ (Acts 10:25-26). ‘Then the priest of Zeus, … intending to sacrifice …. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they crying out …, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God’” (Acts 14:13-15).
The New Testament harmonises with the Old Testament commandments by showing that angels and men refused worship.
Jesus Accepting Worship
‘And behold, a leper came and worshipped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean”’ (Matthew 8:2). ‘While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshipped Him, … (Matthew 9:18). ‘And behold, a woman of Canaan … Then she came and worshipped Him’ (Matthew 15:22, 25).
‘Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”’ (Matthew 16:16). ‘And when they (Jesus and Peter v27-28) got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshipped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God’” (Matthew 14:32-33). ‘Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons (James and John, see Matthew 10:2) came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him’ (Matthew 20:20). After Jesus was risen from the dead, “And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, … And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”’ (John 20:26a, 28). All worshipped Jesus without a word of rebuke from Him which could only be done by a person who totally believed Himself to be God.
3.6 Jesus also put His words on the same level as God’s Commandments
Old Testament Statement
‘“And He wrote on the tablets according to the first writing, the Ten Commandments, which the LORD had spoken to you in the mountain from the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly; and the LORD gave them to me”’ (Deuteronomy 10:4). This shows that God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses.
Jesus’ Claims
‘Then He (Jesus 4:23) opened His mouth and taught them, saying: … “You have heard that it was said to those of old, … But I say to you …”’ (Matthew 5:2, 21-22) is repeated over and over again. ‘Jesus said, … ‘“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another’” (John 13:31, 34).
3.7 Jesus Claimed God’s Prerogative of Total Authority
‘And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations’” (Matthew 28:18-19). ‘He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all’ (John 3:31). ‘The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand’ (John 3:35). ‘But Jesus answered them, … For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son’ (John 5:17a, 22).
3.8 Jesus Claimed That His Own Words Would Last Longer Than Time
‘Then He (Jesus 4:23) opened His mouth and taught them, saying: … “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled’” (Matthew 5:18). Jesus therefore said that heaven and earth will not pass away until all the smallest things of the law are fulfilled. However concerning His own words he said, ‘“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away”’ (Matthew 24:35).
‘Jesus cried and said, … “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him–the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day’” (John 12:44a, 48). Consequently Jesus totally expected His words to be equal in authority with God’s statements in the Old Testament.
Conclusion
So with the number and various aspects when Jesus claimed to be God, any impartial reader of the Bible, and particularly the Gospels should understand that Jesus of Nazareth did claim and declare that He was God in human flesh, that is, the Jehovah of the Old Testament. This is what Christians believe.
However do you know the everlasting benefits of the Lord Jesus Christ in your life? He did not just claim, and by His life prove, that He was the Son of God but we read “… the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). ‘Then said Jesus unto them … “I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again”’ (John 7:7, 17-18). Jesus Christ did this when ‘Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures’ (1 Corinthians 15:3b-4). ‘That whoever believes in Him should not perish {that is go to hell} but have {as an assured present possession} eternal life’ (John 3:15).