Jesus’ message was completely about the Father and not about himself. He did not make an explicit and open claim of deity. He did not say in so many words “I am God.” What we do find are his claims about his deity. For example, Jesus said that he would send “his angels” (Matthew 13:41); in other places they are called “the angels of God” (Luke 12: 8-9; 15:10).

There are many prerogatives that Jesus asserts regarding his deity. This is what you need to know.

First, his claim to forgive sins. When his friends took the paralytic down through the clouds, Jesus did not respond with a comment about the man’s physical condition or his need for healing. Rather, his opening comment was “My son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2: 5).

Second, Jesus also speaks of judging the world (Matthew 25: 31-46). He will sit on his glorious throne and divide the sheep from the goats. The power to judge the spiritual condition and assign the eternal destiny of all people belongs to Him. Certainly, this is a power that only God can wield.

Third, the authority that Jesus claimed and exercised is also clearly seen with respect to the Sabbath. God had established the sacredness of the Sabbath (Exodus 20: 8-11). Only God can repeal or modify this regulation. However, consider what happened when Jesus’ disciples gathered grain on the Sabbath and the Pharisees objected that the Sabbath regulations were being violated. Jesus responded by pointing out that David had violated one of the laws by eating the bread reserved for the priests. Then, turning directly to the current situation, Jesus stated: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath; therefore the Son of man is lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2: 27-28). He was clearly claiming the right to redefine the state of the Sabbath, a right that belongs only to someone virtually equal to God.

Fourth, Jesus also claims to have an unusual relationship with the Father. Jesus claims to be one with the Father (John 10:30); and that seeing and knowing him is seeing and knowing the Father (John 14: 7-9). There is a claim to pre-existence in his statement in John 8:58, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” Another allusion to pre-existence is found in John 3:13, where Jesus states: “No one has ascended into heaven except he who came down from heaven, the Son of man.” There is also a simultaneous and co-terminal work claim with the Father: “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will go to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23).

Fifth, the clearest indication of Jesus’ self-understanding is found in relation to his trial and condemnation. The charge according to John’s account was that he “made himself the Son of God” (John 19: 7). Matthew reports that the high priest said at the trial: “I conjure you by the living God; tell us, if you are the Christ, the Son of God” (Matthew 26:63). Jesus replied: “You have said it. But I tell you that from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:64).

Sixth, Jesus also accepted the attribution of divinity to him by his disciples. The clearest case of this is his response to Thomas’s statement, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). This was an excellent opportunity to correct a mistake (if that’s what it was), but Jesus didn’t. Seventh, Jesus made his most emphatic statement in his words to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even though he dies, will live” (John 11:25).

Belief in the deity of Christ is an important requirement for our salvation. To deny Christ is to deny his death and resurrection and, therefore, to deny the assurance of our salvation. We have to believe what Jesus says: “I AM THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NOBODY COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME” (John 14: 6).