In our last article, we asked the question of The Lord Jesus’s deity as God and looked at some scriptures which support Him as God. Click here If you missed the first article. For quick reference these are the scriptures we looked at (John 1:1–3, John 1:14, Genesis 1:3, John 3:19, Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 3:16–17, Exodus 3:14, John 8:33, John 8:56–58).

We are familiar with the Gospel message, but for the sake of those who might not be, I’ll quickly explain.

Gospel
The definition: εὐαγγέλιον euangélion, yoo-ang-ghel’-ee-on; a good message, i.e. the gospel: — gospel. Or simply “the gospel” in plain words means good news or glad tidings, the message is the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The apostle Paul wrote in his epistle to the church at Corinth to the fact of Christ’s resurrection. Jesus Christ through His work on the cross has defeated sin and death, is triumphant and seated at the right hand of God. And offers you eternal life by trusting in His sacrifice, dying for you paying a great price by taking the judgement you and I deserve as guilty sinners. God gave His Son as a ransom for whosoever believes in Him will have everlasting life.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

Romans epistle
In the book of Romans which is the sixth in chronological order of Paul’s epistles written in Corinth during his third visit, he writes in chapter 10 the explanation of Israels failure to keep the promises of God by their unbelief. The chapter opens up with Paul’s desire and prayer for Israel.

Romans 10:1 “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

If you might have noticed in that verse we see that “God hath raised him from the dead,” keep this in mind because the following verse will show where Jesus makes another claim of being God.

Gospel of John
Here’s another portion of scripture speaking of when Jesus went into the temple and turned over the tables of the moneychangers, these were men involved with selling in the temple and dealt unfairly, they were hated among the Jews.

John 2:12–15 “After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days. And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;”

The Synoptic Gospels 

Matthew: Since the times of the early church fathers, the apostle Matthew has always been accredited with the authorship of the first gospel (canonically). Even the title “According to Matthew” (KATA MAQQAION) is found in the earliest manuscripts, and was the most highly regarded and quoted of the gospels by the church fathers. Matthew is also called Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27), and was the son of Alphaeus (Luke 5:27). He was a tax collector (telwnhV), probably stationed on a main trade route near Capernaum where he would have collected tolls for Herod Antipas from commercial traffic. Additionally, being a tax collector might better qualify Matthew for his role as an official recorder of the life and actions of Christ. After the resurrection there is no other mention of him in the New Testament. – Blueletterbible

Mark: Though the author does not directly identify himself, there is still strong evidence to attribute the Gospel to John Mark. In addition to Markan composition, church fathers also state that Mark was the interpreter of Peter, which would give reason to believe that he wrote his Gospel under the guidance or assistance of the apostle. Like the other Gospels, the title “According to Mark” (KATA MARKON) is found in the earliest manuscripts.

With only ten verses in the New Testament making mention of John Mark, it is surprising that there is still enough information to create a sufficient biographical sketch of him. Besides being the author of the second Gospel, he was the cousin of Barnabas (Col 4:10) and the son of the Mary who provided a meeting place for early Christians (Acts 12:12). Some have even speculated that John Mark was the young man at the garden of Gethsemane during the betrayal of Jesus (Mark 14:51-52). What is certain is that John Mark accompanied Barnabas and Saul on the first missionary journey (Acts 12:25; Acts 13:5), but departed early for Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). After the Jerusalem Council, Barnabas and Paul were planning on making their second journey. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark, but Paul opposed the idea because Mark had departed from them on the first Journey. Consequently, Barnabas took John Mark, and Paul took Silas and the two groups went their separate ways (Acts 15:36-41). After Barnabas gave his cousin a second chance, Paul was later able to call him a coworker (Philem 24; Col 4:10) who was helpful to his ministry (2 Tim 4:11). It is also evident that Mark shared a special relationship with Peter. Not only does Peter call him his son (1 Pet 5:13), but they have both experienced failure and restoration. – Blueletterbible

Luke: The Gospel according to Luke exhibits several differences from the other Synoptic Gospels. For instance, Luke is the only Gospel to have a sequel, the Acts of the Apostles. These two books are often referred to as a single unit called Luke-Acts. Another difference between Luke and the other Synoptics is the prologue (1:1-4). Luke’s prologue can also be called an exordium, which is a literary device that was also used by other Greek writers. There is a striking similarity between the structure of Josephus’ Against Apion and Luke-Acts. Not only does the prologue enable readers to better understand the purpose of the Gospel, but it also makes the destination clear. Unfortunately, and in a similar fashion to the other Synoptics, the author does not directly identify himself within the text. On the other hand there is enough internal and external evidence to conclude that it was written by Luke the physician. Because the book of Acts is the sequel to Luke, it should be considered when trying to define the author. In certain sections of Acts, the author uses the first person plural in the narrative (Acts 16:10-17; 20:5-15; 21:1-8; 27:1-28:16). These are usually referred to as the we-sections and would indicate that the author of Acts accompanied Paul at these times. Luke is the only one that would fit into this mold according to Paul’s epistles. Externally, even the earliest manuscripts support the title “According to Luke” (KATA LOUKAN). Much of early church tradition also believed that Luke wrote this Gospel. – Blueletterbible

John: The Apostle John is usually credited with the authorship of the fourth Gospel. First of all, the author had to have been an eyewitness of the ministry of Jesus (1:14; 19:35; 21:24). He would have also had a decent familiarity with Palestine before the destruction of the temple in AD 70, and would have been familiar with the Jewish way of life. John the Apostle does fit the description, but it is not exclusive to him. Early traditions help to identify the author as John. Irenaeus, a disciple of John’s disciple Polycarp, is of the earliest extant sources to associate John with the fourth Gospel. Like the other Gospels, the title “According to John” (KATA IWANNHN) is found in the earliest manuscripts.

John and his brother James, accompanied by their father Zebedee, were preparing their nets in a boat when Jesus called them. Both James and John left the boat and their father to follow Jesus (Matt 4:18-22). Jesus often took Peter, James, and John aside defining them as an inner circle of disciples (13:23-24; 20:2-10; 21:2, 7, 20.). Not only is John counted among this select group, but he also refers to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved 13:23; 20:2; 21:7, 20). After the resurrection of Jesus, John continued to play an instrumental role in the early church. Paul referred to Peter, James, and John as the pillars of the church in Jerusalem (Gal 2:9). John is found with Peter going to the temple when Peter healed the crippled man (Acts 3:1-11). As a result both men went before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:1-23). Peter and John later travelled up to Samaria to confirm the work that was going on there (Acts 8:14-24). – Blueletterbible

The following verses are from the four Gospels, reading carefully we see that in Matthew, Mark and Luke the Lord Jesus says “My house” but when we come to John’s account of the Gospel we read Jesus says “My Father’s house” speaking of the temple in which they perverted the temple sacrifices selling of merchandise i.e. sheep and oxen.

Matthew 21:13 “And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Mark 11:17 “And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Luke 19:46 “Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

John 2:16 “And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.”

In that moment the religious Pharisee’s asked Jesus by what authority is He doing this by, in plain words what gives Him the right to do this? They then asked for Him to show a sign of His authority. At the end of the next verse, we see how it connects with Romans 10:9 in the previous passage saying “God hath raised Him from the dead” now Jesus is saying in this verse “and in three days I will raise it up”, He was speaking of the temple of His body.

John 2:18–19 “Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Philippians epistle
In the book to the Philippians, the apostle Paul writes to the church at Phillippi teaching the believers of the pattern, in lowly service in Christ Jesus and how we are to rejoice in it. Paul mentions the fact of Christ being in the form of God said it’s not considered robbery for Jesus to be equal with God. Remember what was mentioned in the first article about not confusing nature with position or order.

Philippians 2:5–11 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Who but God can make such bold statements of calling all people unto Himself and giving them rest? Or no man knows the Father except the Son or the Son except the Father, and it’s up to the Son if He wills to reveal that? If anyone else would make these statements would be utter blasphemy on that person’s part. These speak directly to the deity of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 11:28–30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Luke 10:22 “All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.”

The Book of Titus
Another powerful verse is found in the book of Titus speaking of God’s salvation to us and our response in living a life of righteousness because of the amazing grace of God.

Titus 2:11–13 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

During the Passover Jesus and the apostles are together in the chamber and Jesus foretells His coming for His own. Philip has asked the Lord Jesus to shew them the Father. Jesus tells them He and the Father are one, these are wonderful statements which give insight as to who Jesus is.

John 14:9 “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”

We also can’t forget what happened after the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus at Calvary, when after three days He was resurrected, the resurrected glorious Christ. And He showed Himself to the apostles for the first time but one of the apostles Thomas was not there. The other apostles told Him Christ has risen from the dead but he was doubting and said he didn’t believe. The Lord appears again speaking to Thomas in the verse below and Thomas confessing Him (Jesus) as Lord and God.

John 20:25 “The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

John 20:27–29 “Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading these biblical truths about the Lord Jesus Christ and that at the very least you’ll go away with a better understanding of who He is and that this will encourage you to read your Bible more and see for yourself who the Son of God is. The Lord will bless His word, thank you and God bless.

Written by Jason