In part 1 of this blog post series, I went through the book of Matthew and found many examples of what Jesus said about himself. In this post (part 2) I go through the book of John to highlight thirty six more testimonies of Jesus Christ about himself. Sorry this is so long but I don’t know how else to communicate all of this. The Gospel of John has many unique accounts of Jesus testifying about his own identity.
These posts are written mostly in response to people teaching that Jesus never actually claimed to be God himself in scripture. I find it impossible for an honest person to come to this conclusion, whether you believe it or not is a separate issue. The overwhelming evidence if taken together is that Jesus repeatedly claimed to be God, a man, the messiah, the beginning of a new creation, and many other things which only God can claim.
So read on and hear what Jesus testifies concerning himself then go and testify likewise.
36 Things Jesus Said About Himself in the Book of John
John 3:13 “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, the Son of Man”…15”so that whoever believes in him will have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:31 He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all… 35 the Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.
- I noticed here in John that when Jesus began to evangelize in Israel it was about him personally, believing in him. It was not about his work of salvation as separate thing from him. So we also ought to preach about him personally, he personally is the gospel, not what one or two things he has done in order to get us into heaven.
The person of the Lord Jesus Christ, this is the central topic of the universe, the pinnacle and the definition of life.
John 4:25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” “when he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
- Here he is claiming title of messiah point blank.
John 5:17 But Jesus answered them and said, “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.
- Yes, that is exactly what he was doing making himself equal with God.
John 5:20 for as the father loves the Son and shows him all things that he himself does and he will show him greater works than these that you may marvel. 21 For as the father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son. 23 that all should honor the son just as they honor the Father, he who does not honor the son does not honor the father whom he sent.
- In this exchange Jesus equates and points all worship and honor for God to himself!!!
John 5:25 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. 26 For as the father has life in himself so he has granted the son to have life in himself 27 and has given him authority to execute judgement also, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice 29 and come forth…30 I can of myself do nothing. As I hear I judge, and my judgment is righteous, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the Father who sent me.
- Here Jesus calls himself Son of God and Son of man interchangeably, he took both titles and loved them both for he was both God and man. He also claims God gave him his life in himself. He also says again he can do nothing of hmsellf because he only seeks the will of the father.
John 5:39 You search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life, and these are they which testify of Me.
- Here he amazingly claims that all their scriptures (Old Testament) are about him. No prophet would do this.
John 5:45 “Do not think that I shall accuse you to the father; there is one who accuses you-Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about me. 47 But if you do not belive his writings, how will you believe my words?”
- Here Jesus says Moses’ writings accuse these Pharisees and that he was writing about him.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in Him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
- Jesus claims the ability to resurrect people on the last day, who but God can do this?
John 7:37 “if anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink 38 He who believes in Me as the scripture says, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
- He calls on people to believe in him personally and makes promise of living water flowing out of their spirit. Prophets don’t do this.
John 8:12 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.”
- “I am the light”, “follow me” “shall have the light of life”, prophets don’t say these things about themselves but they testify these things about God. Jesus was functioning as both prophet and the God who was being prophesied about.
John 8:14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh, I judge no one. 16 and yet if I do judge, My judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me. 17 it is written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am one who bears witness of myself, and the father who sent me bears witness of me.
- He said here “I am with the father”, speaking of his spiritual fellowship and oneness with the father.
John 8:23 you are from beneath, I am from above, You are of this world, I am not of this world. 24b for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.
- No prophet demands belief in them personally and then goes further and claims that belief or unbelief in HIM decides their fate.
John 8:28 Then Jesus said to them, “when you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing of myself, but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And he who sent me is with Me. The father has not left me alone, for I always do those things that please him.
- You will know that I am he.
John 8:42 If God were your Father you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of myself, but he sent me. . you are not able to listen to my word.44 you are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning (Adam and Eve) and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources for he is a liar and the father of it.
- “He who is of God hears Gods words therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” Rejection of Jesus is satanic, acceptance is of the Lord.
John 8:51 Most assuredly I say to you, if anyone keeps my word he shall never see death.”
- God alone can say this!!!
John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad. 58 “most assuredly I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM”
- Here he claims Abraham who in heaven, saw this day of Jesus and he was glad, then he goes further and says he was before Abraham and he claims for himself the name I AM. This I Am name was also the name that God gave to himself when speaking with Moses in the mountain. Men who are only prophets do not claim to be I AM.
John 9:29 “We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where he is from.”
- This is a major indictment of religious humanity, “we do not know where the Lord is from”, they cannot recognize God, they refuse to recognize God, even when he is right in front of them. They only cling to ancient ideas of God often manipulated by tradition, or they come to believe in no God, make up their own God. Later in verse 40-41 Jesus associated their claim to be able to see, despite not being able to see Jesus or to know God, with their sin remaining in them.
John 9:35 Jesus said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” 36 He answered and said, “Who is he Lord; that I may believe in Him?” 37 And Jesus said to Him, “You have both seen him and it is He who is talking with you. 38 Then he said, “Lord I believe!” And he worshipped him.
- Here Jesus claims to be the Son of God and also accepts worship.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me 28 and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of my Fathers hand. 30 “I and My Father are one.”
- God is one, Jesus is God and he is ONE with the Father
John 10:33 Jews answered; “For a good work we do not stone you but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.” …38 “but if I do (the works of my father) though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in him.
- The Jews testify here that Jesus makes himself out to be God. They were actually present and to claim he wasn’t doing that is deception.
John 11:25 Jesus said to her (Martha) “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? 27 She said to him, “Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
- I am the resurrection!
- Belief in him decides our life or death, these are the words of God and are way beyond talk of a prophet about God.
John 12:23 “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies it remains alone but if it dies it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me, and where I am there my servant will be also if anyone serves Me, him My father will honor.
- Jesus saying that his death would result in him multiplying, here he was one individual but after his death and resurrection he would become a life-giving spirit all over the world and greatly multiply.
John 12:44 Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent me. 45 And he who sees me sees him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”
- Belief and seeing of Jesus = belief and seeing of God the father.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 “In My fathers house are many mansions” if it were not so. I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
- Here Jesus equivocates belief in God to belief in himself, claiming the position of God.
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.
- Here Jesus claims exclusive access to God the father, he is much more than a prophet, much more than God’s the Son, he now is becoming all this and more the one and only exclusive narrow path to God.
John 14:9b He who has seen Me has seen the Father.
- Here Jesus claims the image of the father.
John 14:11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
- Here Jesus claims he is inside of the Father and that the Father is inside of Him.
John 14:19 A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 at that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to Him.
- Here Jesus tells that he will live in his people, and they will live in him, extending the same relationship he just explained to them about the father and he. He also claims they will be able to live by the commandments with this new life accompanied with the Holy Spirit who will teach them all things and with his peace in them for those that love them. He is expanding love, life and mutual-indwelling, this is what he wanted since the beginning.
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my father is the vinedresser…5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in ME, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing. 7 if you abide in ME, and MY words abide in you, you will as what you desire; and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you will be my disciples. If you keep my command (to love one another, lay down life for one another) you will abide in my love. You are my friends if you do whatever I command.
- Here Jesus actually replaces the law of Moses with himself and teaches Christian living, personal discipleship and church fellowship all in one.
John 15:26 But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
- The Holy Spirit proceeds from the father and he testifies of the Lord Jesus Christ, He doesn’t testify to himself but of the Lord Jesus.
John 16:13 However when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak on his own authority but whatever He hears He will speak; and he will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for he will take of what is min and declare it to you. All things that the father has are mine. Therefore I said that he will take care of mine and declare it to you.
- Notice the Holy Spirit is the vehicle of God to guide us into all truth (which is synonymous to testifying of Jesus Christ and glorifying Jesus Christ personally) and tell us things to come, not our disciplined bible study, not a pastor or a prophet or great sermons we accumulate.
John 16:26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you, for the father Himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from God. 28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again I leave the world and go to the father.
John 17:2 as you (Father) have given Him (Jesus Christ) authority over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him.
- Prophets do not have authority over all flesh.
John 17:3 and this is eternal life that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent….5 And now O Father glorify Me together with yourself with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
- Claiming pre-creation glory with the Father.
John 17:10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.
- Claiming ownership of human beings with the Father and glory for himself.
John 17:24 Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.
- Claiming pre-creation love from the Father.
And finally, back to the book of Mark, chapter 14 verse 61 But he kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him. “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus said, “I am, And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
- Here Jesus claims point blank that he is Christ, he will sit at the right hand of God and will come with the clouds of heaven.
Some of these are implications and not direct statements, taken as a whole the evidence is overwhelming who Jesus was claiming to be. Not to mention the fact that he was killed for blasphemy. The Pharisees, who were not dumb men, sentenced him to death for “making himself out to be equal with God.”
What an amazing Lord, a prophet yes but also so much more than a prophet!
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