Now that we’ve established Jesus was a real historical person, we must confront the next question:
What did He claim about Himself?
Because it’s one thing to admire Jesus as a teacher.
It’s another to hear what He actually said.
And what He said leaves us with no comfortable middle ground.
Was Jesus Just a Good Moral Teacher?
Many people today describe Jesus as:
- A wise rabbi
- A peaceful prophet
- A revolutionary reformer
- A moral example
But when you read His words in the Gospels, something becomes clear:
Jesus did not merely teach morality.
He made claims about His identity that no ordinary teacher would dare to make.
“Son of Man” — More Than a Title
Jesus frequently referred to Himself as the “Son of Man.”
To modern ears, that sounds humble. But to first-century Jews, it echoed the prophecy in Daniel 7, where the “Son of Man” is given:
- Authority
- Glory
- An everlasting kingdom
- Worship from all nations
When Jesus used that title, He wasn’t downplaying Himself.
He was identifying with a divine, apocalyptic figure.
His audience understood this—which is why they reacted strongly.
“Son of God” — A Claim of Unique Relationship
When Jesus called God His Father in a unique sense, the religious leaders accused Him of blasphemy.
In John 5:18, they sought to kill Him because:
He was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
Jesus did not correct them.
He leaned in.
The “I AM” Statements
One of the most striking moments comes in John 8:58, when Jesus says:
“Before Abraham was, I AM.”
That phrase—I AM—directly echoes God’s self-identification to Moses in Exodus 3:14.
The response?
They picked up stones to kill Him.
They understood exactly what He was claiming.
Authority to Forgive Sins
In Mark 2, Jesus forgives a paralyzed man’s sins.
The religious leaders think:
“Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
That’s precisely the point.
Jesus didn’t simply declare forgiveness on God’s behalf.
He forgave as the offended party—as if all sin ultimately stood against Him.
Authority Over Nature, Demons, and Death
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus:
- Commands storms—and they obey
- Casts out demons with a word
- Raises the dead
- Accepts worship
Prophets point to God.
Jesus acted with the authority of God.
He Accepted Worship
When people bowed before Him, He did not rebuke them.
In Jewish culture, worship belonged to God alone.
Yet Jesus received it.
That alone demands explanation.
The Crucifixion: Why It Happened
Jesus was not executed for being kind.
He was crucified because His claims were seen as:
- Blasphemous by religious leaders
- Threatening by Roman authorities
Claiming to be divine in first-century Judaism was not poetic metaphor.
It was punishable.
And Jesus never backed down.
The Trilemma: What Are Our Options?
C.S. Lewis famously framed the dilemma this way:
If Jesus claimed to be God, then He must be:
- A liar
- A lunatic
- Or Lord
What He cannot reasonably be is merely “a good moral teacher.”
Because good moral teachers do not falsely claim divinity.
The Question Now Becomes Personal
History tells us Jesus existed.
His words tell us He claimed:
- Divine authority
- Unique sonship
- Eternal existence
- The right to forgive sins
- The authority to judge
So now the question shifts from historical to personal:
Who do you say that He is?
That question is as alive today as it was in the first century.
And everything hinges on it.
Next in the #WWJD Series:
What Did Jesus Do?
Because His actions either confirmed—or contradicted—His claims.
And they revealed something even deeper: His heart.
Click here to read post 3, or scroll down for the biblical references used for this post.
Biblical References
#WWJD — What Did Jesus Claim to Be?
1️⃣ “Son of Man” — Authority, Glory, and Eternal Kingdom
Old Testament Background
- Daniel 7:13–14 — The Son of Man given dominion, glory, and an everlasting kingdom; all peoples serve Him.
Jesus Applying This Title to Himself
- Mark 2:10 — “The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
- Mark 14:61–64 — Jesus tells the high priest they will see “the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power,” quoting Daniel 7. This leads directly to the charge of blasphemy.
- Matthew 24:30 — The Son of Man coming on the clouds with power and great glory.
This was not a humble nickname. It was a claim to divine authority.
2️⃣ “Son of God” — Unique Relationship With the Father
- John 5:17–18 — Religious leaders sought to kill Him because He called God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
- John 10:30–33 — “I and the Father are one.” The crowd attempts to stone Him for blasphemy.
- Matthew 16:15–17 — Peter confesses Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and Jesus affirms it.
The reaction of His audience shows they understood the implication.
3️⃣ The “I AM” Statements — Eternal Identity
Old Testament Background
- Exodus 3:14 — God reveals Himself to Moses as “I AM.”
Jesus’ Claim
- John 8:58–59 — “Before Abraham was, I AM.” They attempt to stone Him.
- John 6:35 — “I am the bread of life.”
- John 10:11 — “I am the good shepherd.”
- John 11:25 — “I am the resurrection and the life.”
- John 14:6 — “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
These are not metaphors about being helpful. They are identity claims.
4️⃣ Authority to Forgive Sins
- Mark 2:5–12 — Jesus forgives the paralytic; leaders respond, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- Luke 7:48–50 — Jesus tells a sinful woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”
He does not pray for forgiveness to be granted.
He declares it.
5️⃣ Authority Over Nature
- Mark 4:39–41 — Jesus rebukes the wind and sea; the disciples ask, “Who then is this?”
- Matthew 14:25–33 — Jesus walks on water; the disciples worship Him.
Creation obeys Him.
6️⃣ Authority Over Demons
- Mark 1:27 — “He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”
- Luke 4:36 — Authority and power over demons.
7️⃣ Authority Over Death
- John 11:43–44 — Raising Lazarus.
- Luke 7:14–15 — Raising the widow’s son.
- Mark 5:41–42 — Raising Jairus’ daughter.
8️⃣ He Accepted Worship
- Matthew 14:33 — “Those in the boat worshiped Him.”
- Matthew 28:9 — The women take hold of His feet and worship Him.
- John 9:38 — The healed blind man worships Him.
In contrast, angels and apostles refuse worship:
- Revelation 22:8–9
- Acts 14:14–15
Jesus does not refuse it.
9️⃣ Authority to Judge
- John 5:22–23 — The Father has entrusted all judgment to the Son; all must honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
- Matthew 25:31–32 — The Son of Man separates nations in judgment.
🔟 The Central Question
- Matthew 16:15 — “But who do you say that I am?”
This question is not historical only.
It is personal.
📌 Summary of His Claims (From Scripture)
Jesus claimed:
- Divine authority (Mark 2:10)
- Unique Sonship (John 5:18)
- Eternal existence (John 8:58)
- The right to forgive sins (Mark 2:5–12)
- Authority over nature, demons, and death
- The right to receive worship (Matthew 14:33)
- The authority to judge humanity (John 5:22)
Those claims leave no neutral ground.
Click here for Part Three of this series.
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