We have been transported back in time to 1st-century Palestine. We’ve found Jesus by following the crowds who are inexplicably drawn to Him. We’ve seen Him show compassion to the masses and drive out demons from the demon-possessed. We’ve heard some of His teachings, and we’ve observed some of His miracles. We know that He is a great teacher, and His miracles have convinced us He is from God. But will we believe He is God?
When observing Jesus, we have been looking at Him from our distant 21st-century vantage point. We need to come a little closer and look at Him from a 1st-century Jewish vantage point to understand what we are about to hear from Jesus.
Jesus Claimed to Be God
As we listen more closely, we hear Jesus say, “The Father and I are one” (John 10:30). From our 21st-century American vantage point, these words may not carry the same meaning as they would from a 1st-century Jewish perspective. To the Jewish religious leaders who heard them, these words were blasphemy. As soon as Jesus said them, the people picked up stones to kill Him. When Jesus asked why they wanted to stone Him, they replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You a mere man, claim to be God” (John 10:31-33).
On another occasion, Jesus warned unbelievers that “unless you believe that I AM who I claim to be, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). When Moses asked God what he should tell the people of Israel, God’s name was, “God replied, ‘I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:13-14). There was no doubt in the Jewish mind about who Jesus claimed to be. Not only did Jesus claim to be God, but He also backed up His claim by clearly demonstrating His authority.
Jesus Spoke With Authority
We also notice that Jesus spoke with authority when He taught, unlike other rabbis who appealed to the authority of other teachers by quoting them or naming them. Philip Yancey, in The Jesus I Never Knew, says that Jesus “was not so much seeking truth as pointing to it, by pointing to himself” (p. 96). In other words, Jesus made Himself the ultimate authority. We heard this when He said, “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery. But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). Jesus was not changing the law but lifting it to the level that God intended it to be when He gave it to Moses. “He was the source, and as He spoke, He made no distinction between his own words and God’s” (Yancey, 97). In addition to Jesus’ claim to be God and speaking with authority that only God can, He also never rebuked those who worshiped Him.
Jesus Never Rebuked Worship
Matthew tells us that after walking on water in front of His disciples, He and the other disciples worshiped Jesus. They exclaimed, “You really are the Son of God!” (Matthew 14:33). Later, we learn that after Jesus’ death and resurrection, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to His tomb, where an angel appeared to them and spoke, exclaiming that Jesus had risen. As the women ran from the grave, they met Jesus, and “they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him” (Matthew 28:8-9).
Worship is only acceptable if it is directed toward God. This is clearly demonstrated in Acts 10:25-26, where Cornelius prostrates himself before the Apostle Peter and worships him. Peter pulled him up and rebuked him, saying, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” Jesus, on the other hand, never condemned anyone for worshiping Him.
There is no doubt that Jesus claimed to be God. The Pharisees did not believe His claim and instead accused Him of blasphemy. They wanted Him stoned. Others, like His disciples and Mary Magdalene, believed He was God. They worshiped Him. Ultimately, the Pharisees got their way as Jesus was put to death on the cross for blasphemy.
I Believe
I’d like to think that upon hearing Jesus say that He was God, the great I AM that I would have believed Him and fallen at His feet in worship. I’d like to think that witnessing His miracles and hearing His teachings would have been enough to change my heart of stone into a heart of flesh. I’d like to think that I’d have been one of His disciples sitting at His feet, holding on to every one of His words, quietly anticipating what He’d say next.
I cannot know for sure what my reaction to Jesus would have been if I had met Him in first-century Palestine. But I do know that right here, and right now in the 21st century, I believe that Jesus is God, the great I AM. He has changed my heart of stone into a heart of flesh. I worship Him, sit at His feet, and hold on to every one of His words. Centuries may separate me from Jesus in the flesh, but Jesus in the Spirit is enough for me. I believe!
Questions for Reflection
- How does understanding Jesus’ words in their 1st-century Jewish context deepen your grasp of His claim to be God?
- What stands out to you most about the ways Jesus revealed His divinity — through His claims, His authority, or His acceptance of worship?
- If you had lived in the 1st century, how do you think you might have responded to Jesus’ claim to be the great I AM? How do you respond to Him now?
Prayer Focus
Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing Yourself as the great I AM. You are not only a teacher or miracle worker, but God Himself — worthy of all worship. Give me faith to trust Your words, courage to follow Your authority, and a heart that bows before You in worship. I believe. Please help me keep believing. Amen.
Series Navigation
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Getting to Know Jesus: His Humanity
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If you missed earlier posts in this series, you can catch up here:
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Getting to Know Jesus: What Would You Have Noticed About Him in the Gospels?
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Getting to Know Jesus: Would We Have Believed Jesus Was God?
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Making Him Known August 13, 2025 4:20 pm