Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Christian Podcast Central

Home
Evangelical - Sponsored
Jesus’ Deity, Death and Resurrection with Nabeel Qureshi

Jesus’ Deity, Death and Resurrection with Nabeel Qureshi

Last updated on: February 26, 2024 at 8:34 am by Christian Podcast Central

Jesus’ Deity, Death and Resurrection with Nabeel Qureshi 2024-02-26T08:34:35-08:00 Christian Podcast Central

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Summit Lecture Series Slider

To purchase the entire DVD set of the Summit Lecture Series, visit summit.org.

Now, remember that Muslims believe that the Gospels are the inspired word of God. They refer to the story of Jesus Christ as the Injil, and it is one of the four Islamic holy books. And, when we take a look at what Jesus said and did, as well as what others said about Him and how they reacted to Him, it becomes very clear that Jesus did claim to be God.

In Mark 14:62, the Jewish High Priest asks Jesus, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” And Jesus’ response is, “I AM. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

When we read Jesus’ words today, it doesn’t seem to make much sense. But, when we read it from the perspective of a first century Jew, it makes all the sense in the world.

Jesus starts out by saying the words, “I AM”. These are the same words God answered with when Moses asked Him, “Who are you?” as he stood before the burning bush. Many other times throughout the Old Testament, God uses the words, “I AM” in reference to Himself. Then, in John’s Gospel, we see Jesus using the same words in reference to Himself.

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”

57 The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?”

58 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am!” (John 8:56-58)

But, John isn’t the only account that quotes Jesus in this way. We read Mark 14, and earlier in Mark’s Gospel (chapter six) when Jesus’ disciples saw Him walking on the sea of Galilee, they were filled with fear. But, Jesus’ response to them was, “Take courage. I AM.”

Now, in most English translations, we read Jesus’ words as, “Don’t be afraid, it’s Me.” But, when we look at the original Greek writings describing this moment, it says “Take courage. I AM.”

This matters because the Old Testament says that only Yahweh can walk on water:

He alone has spread out the heavens
and marches on the waves of the sea. (Job 9:8)

Yet, we read in both Matthew and Mark’s Gospels about Jesus walking on water. Then He referred to Himself with “I AM”.

Image: Darla Jones

Going back to Mark 14:62, Jesus went on to say**, “you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power…”**

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus calls Himself the “Son of Man” more than anything else. This particular time, He is once again referencing the Old Testament, going back to one of Daniel’s visions:

13 As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.

And that’s the Guy who Jesus claims to be!

Jesus also claims to be the One sitting at the right hand of Power, which is a reference to Psalm 110:1,

The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”

In addition to what Jesus said, lets look at what Jesus did.

He forgave people’s sins. Yet, the Old Testament says that only God alone has the prerogative to forgive sins.

5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” (Mark 2:5-12)

Jesus also performed miracles in His own Name. Throughout the Old Testament, whenever someone does something miraculous, they pray in God’s name in order for it to be done. But, when Jesus raised a little boy from the dead in Luke 7:11-17, Jesus used the words, “I say to you, arise.” (Not “in the Name of God, arise”, as Old Testament prophets would have said).

“Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” (Luke 7:14-16)

Also, in Matthew 9:27-31, when two blind people approached Jesus and asked Him to heal them, He asked them, “Do you have faith that I can do this?” They respond, “Yes. We have faith that YOU can do this.”

Jesus then told them, “By your faith, it shall be done.”

Did you catch that? Not by their faith in their Creator, but faith in Him… Jesus! Jesus did something no one has ever done… He performed Godly miracles in His own Name!

Also, what other people said about Jesus throughout the Gospels indicates that Jesus claimed to be God as well. In John 20:28, the Apostle Thomas stood before Jesus after His resurrection and exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”

And, of course, we see Jesus being worshipped as God throughout the New Testament. Additionally, the Jews killed Him for the crime of blasphemy. The only way that He could be found guilty of that is if He claimed to be God.

Finally, throughout the New Testament, there are quotations of things that were written before the New Testament. For instance, Philippians 2:5-11 tells us,

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

These words in Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi aren’t his own. Paul is quoting Daniel 7 as well as other Old Testament writings. Paul is also saying that, by His very nature, Christ is God. Paul quotes Old Testament writings regarding Jesus’ death, deity, and His resurrection.

Also, many scholars believe that Mark’s passion narrative – his account of Jesus’ beating, crucifixion, and death – predates the rest of Mark’s Gospel. It also testifies to Jesus’ death, deity and His resurrection.

Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth – believed by scholars to be written less than two years after Jesus’ death says,

Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)

The earliest stratum of Christian history that we have proclaims Jesus’ death, deity, and His resurrection. That is something that we all ought to take with us. The core of the Christian faith is the very first thing that we ever had: Jesus is God, He claimed to be God, He died for our sins and He rose from the dead.

Jesus claimed to be God

Jesus rose from the dead

muslims

Nabeel Qureshi

Previous Post

April 19, 2016

The Big Picture 71: The Feminization of the Church, part 5

Next Post

April 20, 2016 Reflections of Grace 117: When He Whispers Your Name

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Brad Stine Has Issues Christian Podcast Central Classic Podcast Experience God Life Grounded Ouxano Parent Like You Mean It The Protest Show with Thor Ramsey The Summit Lecture Series Uncategorized What You’ve Been Searching For

Select a Month July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz