The Deity of Jesus in the Gospel of John

Who is Jesus Christ? Many people, organizations, and movements are proposing answers to this question. There are as many perspectives regarding the true nature, identity, and mission of Jesus Christ as could possibly be imagined. Some say Jesus Christ is a good man. Some say He was a good teacher. Some say that Jesus was a social reformer, or revolutionary activist. Some see Him as a passionate martyr, who died for that which He believed with all his heart. Some say that Jesus never existed. The Muslims claim Him as a prophet of their god, Allah. Many believe Jesus was a New Age teacher. A moderate amount of individuals even believe that Jesus Christ was the founder of the group known as the Masons. Still further, there are those who believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, and the Savior of the world.

So the question remains, “Who is Jesus Christ?” This is an absolutely crucial question for people to answer if they take Him seriously. Jesus Himself said that believing in Him was an issue of eternal life in the third chapter of John in the Bible. If you do not know exactly who Jesus is, you cannot believe in Him. So who is Jesus? It is the aim of this essay to answer that question by examining the testimony of the word of God, the Bible.

One of the most important portions of Scripture that needs to be studied to come to a conclusion on who Jesus Christ is, is the first verse of the first chapter in the book of John. It reads, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This verse is amazing concerning the nature and identity of Jesus Christ. First of all, it needs to be established that when this verse uses the word, “Word,” it does in fact refer to Jesus Christ. In verse fourteen of John chapter one, John the apostle says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…full of grace and truth.” Later in the chapter John explains who this is through which grace and truth came. He wrote in verse seventeen, “…grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” So the Word who is referred to in John 1:1 is Jesus Christ who became flesh, or body, and lived among human beings bringing grace and truth to mankind. J. C. Ryle said concerning Jesus Christ and this verse, “He it is, beyond all question, whom St. John means, when he speaks of, ‘the Word.’”[1] Ryle saw what is obvious in the text.

Given the truth that this verse clearly speaks of Jesus, there are a few things that can be noted in answering the ultimate question, “who is Jesus Christ?” The first thing that the apostle John tells humanity about Jesus Christ is where He came from when He came to earth. He came from eternity. John says Jesus was in the, “beginning.” John’s statement mirrors the words recorded in Genesis 1:1. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” John says, “In the beginning was the Word.” The Word existed before the beginning, just as God is said to have existed in the beginning. This demonstrates what is called the eternality of Jesus Christ. Jesus did not come into existence at creation. He is not a product of creation. He existed before creation. This cues the reader in on the fact that Jesus is more than mere man, as John explains later in this verse. Jesus is the eternal Word. So, Jesus was (He existed) in the beginning.

Another thing John says regarding Jesus is that He is the “Word.” This is the Greek word logos. William Hendriksen commented: “A word serves two purposes: a. it gives expression to the inner thought, the soul of the man, doing this even though no one else is present to hear what is said or to read what is thought; and b. it reveals this thought…to others. Christ is the Word of God in both respects: he expresses or reflects the mind of God; also, he reveals God to man.”[2] This is what is meant when the apostle refers to Jesus Christ as “the Word,” by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the expression of God to mankind. Jesus is the personage of what God has to say about Himself to human beings. Jesus explains what God is like in His character, words, and works. All of this adds more light for understanding how to properly answer the question, “who is Jesus Christ?” He is the eternal expression of God.

Hebrews chapter one and verse three affirms the fact that Jesus is God’s expression
of Himself to mankind. It states concerning Jesus that He is “the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person.” This verse describes the relationship of Jesus Christ in His incarnation to God the Father. Jesus Christ is the express image of the Father. He is the brightness of the glory of the Father.

A third thing that the apostle John says in the first verse of the gospel which bears his name, is that Jesus, “was with God,” from the beginning, meaning, before the existence of creation. In other words, Jesus did not become God’s Son at creation. He did not become God’s Son at baptism. Jesus did not become God’s Son at the resurrection. Jesus was always, “with,” God. There was never a time when He was not with God. He was not introduced to the Father at any time, for the first time, during His stay on earth. Jesus was always with God.

The fourth thing that John says regarding Jesus Christ the Word is, “the Word was God.” That is amazing! Jesus is not merely eternal. Jesus isn’t merely the expression of God’s character, mission, and truth to humanity. Jesus was not merely, “with,” God from all eternity. Jesus Christ is God! Jesus Christ is divine.

A couple of conclusions need to be drawn here. First, since Jesus Christ existed as eternal God at the beginning of the creation of the world, when He came to earth and became flesh He became the God-man incarnated. So, Jesus Christ, in His incarnation accomplished some two thousand years ago, acquired a dual nature. He is not merely God, but God and man in the same Person. This is another piece of the answer to the question, “who is Jesus Christ?”

Second, while Jesus is God, as John clearly declares here, He was also with God. How can Jesus be with God and also simply be God? The fact that John says Jesus is both with God, and also is God, shows that God exists in multiple Persons. It can be said of Jesus that He is God, and is yet also with God, because the True God exists in tri-personality. The Father, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit are all God sharing the same essence, but they are three separate Persons. So, Jesus is the only One who is Jesus in the God-head, but He is the same God that the Father and Holy Spirit are. He is God, but He is also with God, meaning the other Persons of the Trinity, the Father and Holy Spirit.

The verdict is in on Jesus Christ. Though the first verse of the Gospel of John does not explain every aspect of the inexhaustible Person of Jesus Christ, it does explain His essential nature. Jesus Christ is eternal. He is the expression of God to humanity. He is both God, and with God, as the second Person of the triune God-head. He is not only God, but He is also man at the same time. He is God who took on human flesh. Though not exhaustively, this is who Jesus Christ is, essentially. He is deity.

Some would say that this is the only verse that seems to teach the divinity of Jesus Christ. To refute this false idea, some additional verses that teach the divinity of Jesus Christ need to be considered. First of all, John 5:16-18 should be considered. It reads:
“For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.’ Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.”
In context, Jesus had just had been healing people on the Sabbath day. The Jews wanted to kill him for doing these things. As He was explaining why He was healing people on the Sabbath, Jesus called the Father His Father. John comments that the Jews really wanted to kill Him after claiming that God was His Father, because for Jesus to claim God as His Father, means that Jesus is claiming His own divinity. John says that the claim that God was His Father was the same as claiming equality with the Father.

John is correct in his assessment. The Jews knew that Jesus was claiming equality with God. That is why they wanted to kill Him! They thought He was a man who was blaspheming by claiming to be equal with the God of the Jews, and the Jewish Old Testament. So here again, the divinity of Jesus is taught. Jesus Himself is pictured as affirming His own deity.

Another passage of Scripture that teaches the divinity of Jesus Christ is John 8:58-59: “Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’ Then they took up stones to throw at Him…” Jesus said this to a group of Jewish people, and leaders. He told them that before the patriarch Abraham ever existed, He existed. Actually, He goes further than that. “I AM,” is in the present tense. Jesus was saying that before Abraham existed, He was ever present! Jesus is teaching His eternality again. Abraham was alive some four to five thousand years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus is clearly teaching His eternal, divine nature here. Further, in referring to Himself as “I AM,” He was equating Himself with the, “I AM,” of the Old Testament. He was saying that He is the, “I AM,” who sent Moses to deliver the Jewish people from bondage in Egypt, which is recorded in Exodus 3:14. He was calling Himself the Jews’ God. This is exactly why those present sought to stone Him to death again as a blasphemer. They knew exactly what He was saying; He was declaring His deity.

A third passage that teaches the divinity of Jesus Christ is John 10:31-33: “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.” Again, Jesus had been healing people. The Jews asked Him if He was the Christ. He appealed to the works He had been doing, and encouraged the people to determine the answer to that question based on His miraculous ministry. In doing so He identified God as His Father again. Thus, the Jews tried to stone Him again, identifying the reason for their actions—the fact that Jesus claimed to be God. So again, Jesus claimed to be God by calling God His Father. His hearers knew this, and that is why they wanted to kill Him with a blasphemer’s punishment.

It should also be noted that Jesus could only be saying two things about Himself in this passage. He is either saying that He isn’t good, or that He is God. Jesus was not saying that He is not good. Jesus was clearly telling this man that He is God. On other occasions He challenged people to point to any sin they could prove He had committed; they always came up empty in their accusations.

A fourth and final portion of Scripture that clearly teaches the deity of Jesus Christ is John 17:22: “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one.” Really the entire chapter of John seventeen teaches the deity of Jesus Christ. In this verse though, as Jesus is praying for those who would follow Him throughout all generations, He asks the Father to unify them as He and the Father are “One.” Jesus says that He and the Father are One. They are united. To see Jesus is to see the Father. This does not mean that Jesus is the Father. Jesus is currently speaking to the Father in this context. Jesus is not the Father, but is still one with the Father. Again, Jesus declares His unity with God the Father. Jesus is deity.

So how can Jesus Christ be God and man at the same time? It is impossible to adequately articulate or comprehend the nature of Jesus in a satisfactory way. What is clear is that the Bible teaches both the divinity, and humanity of Jesus Christ. He is God who took on human flesh. Again, note John 1:14: “And the Word (who is God) became flesh and dwelt among us.” Donald Guthrie commented on this verse:
“This concluding part of the prologue leads into the account of the historical life of Jesus, hence the Word is said to have become flesh. The most significant thing about this statement is the emphasis on the word flesh, which is used as a symbol of humanity. The statement, however, is more striking than if John had written, ‘the Word took on the form of humanity.’ Flesh draws attention to the entry of the Word into the full flow of human affairs. The divine Word had become the human Jesus.”[3]

So, Jesus is eternal God. In His incarnation He also became man. In His incarnation Jesus never ceased to be God. Rather, He took on humanity in addition to His divine nature. So, the two natures of Christ might be said to touch one another without overlapping each other. They do not mix though they exist in unity. When the Bible speaks of Jesus doing something like learning it is referring to His human side. When Jesus is spoken of as being forsaken by the Father on the cross it refers to the humanity of Jesus. When Jesus forgives sin, heals people, or performs miracles in the Bible, His divine side is seen in action. Jesus is both God and man without contradiction. This is incomprehensible, though it is apprehensible.

The biblical evidence is compelling. Who is Jesus Christ? He is not merely a good moral teacher. He is not just a nice guy. He is not a prophet of Allah. Jesus Christ is the only True God. He is the second member of the triune God-head. He is the eternal God who took on human flesh, and became the God-man. Jesus is so much more than can be comprehended, but these aspects are certainly clear from God’s Word. This is the picture of Jesus that must be contended for by His people, and accepted by the world. No other perspective counts. Only the Word of God, the Bible, will stand!

It has been spiritually enriching to do the research on a personal level. I have never been more convinced of the deity of Jesus Christ. As a born-again Christian, of course I believe that Jesus is both God and man. But going over the issue in Bible study, and comparing the many different verses that teach His deity, has sort of reaffirmed the truth all over again for me.

One way I have been edified by this study is that I have been equipped even more solidly to defend the deity of Jesus Christ. Where I live and pastor, it is crucial that I am able to do this adequately from the Scriptures. I face Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons on a daily basis, neither of who believe in the doctrine of the deity of Jesus Christ. I have people in the fellowship I oversee who are always coming to me with questions that they are being presented with by different cult members, wanting to know how to share Christ’s deity from the Bible. I am now more than ever able to go right to certain familiar portions of Scripture, to both reaffirm believers of the deity of Christ, and also help them share the truth of the deity of Christ. In this way I have been enabled by this research to help other Christians become better missionaries to the culture they live within.

One observation I made when considering the nature of Jesus really stands out to me. In the nature of Jesus, humanity and divinity come together. He is the God-man. That being the case, I notice that His very nature implies His mission. In Jesus, God and man come together! That is what the cross is all about! Because Jesus died for me, when I come to Him, I come into relationship with God (John 17:3; 1 Peter 3:18). That is the true gift of the gospel.

Jesus amazes me! He is altogether unique and holy. He is simple enough for me to understand what I need to comprehend about Him, to have a relationship with Him. Yet, He is so complex that I will never fully be able to comprehend Him, were I to investigate Him for all eternity. This leaves me in a feeling of awe toward Christ in my heart. How could I not worship Him? That is what the truth I have seen in this study has left me asking. Who is Jesus Christ? He is my wonderful, incomprehensible God, and Savior. Praise the Lord!

[1] Ryle, J.C. Expository Thoughts on the Gospels Vol. 3. Page 2
[2] Hendriksen, William. New Testament Commentary, John. Page 70
[3] Guthrie, Donald. New Bible Commentary. Page 1026.