Bible-Believing Christians Have a
Commitment to the Savior Who the Scriptures
Reveal to Be the Crucified Lord of Glory
by Mark Mountjoy
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN starts with an incredible message: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Everything was made through Him, and nothing was made without Him.” This powerful opening greets us, and as we read through the rest of John’s Gospel, we see Jesus describing himself in various ways that all connect to God’s identity. By what Jesus says, he reveals that he is God and has a unique relationship with the Father. These sections of the Gospel show us Jesus’ special characteristics and highlight his crucial role in providing salvation and spiritual nourishment for all people. Additionally, Jesus’ unity with the Father, as expressed in John chapter 17, underscores His eternal existence and divine nature. The interaction between Jesus and Thomas after His resurrection further confirms Jesus’ divinity, as Thomas acknowledges Him as “My Lord and my God!” Moreover, Jesus’ prediction of His glorious return within the lifetime of His disciples signifies His triumph over earthly powers and establishes His kingdom. This foreword sets the stage for a deeper exploration of Jesus’ identity and its implications for Christian theology.
In the following passages from the Gospel according to John, Jesus describes Himself in different ways, showing that He is connected to God’s identity.
In John 6:35, Jesus calls Himself the “bread of life,” indicating that those who come to Him will never hunger or thirst spiritually. This shows that Jesus offers something essential for spiritual nourishment.
In John 8:12, Jesus declares Himself as the “light of the world,” promising that those who follow Him will have the light of life and won’t walk in darkness. This symbolizes His role in guiding people towards truth and salvation.
In John 8:18, Jesus talks about how He bears witness of Himself, and that the Father who sent Him also bears witness of Him. This suggests that Jesus and the Father are united in their testimony.
In John 8:48-59 the Jews argued with Jesus, saying he was a Samaritan and had a demon. Jesus replied, saying he didn't have a demon, but he honored his Father. He said if anyone followed his teachings, they wouldn't die. The Jews got upset, saying even Abraham and the prophets died, so who did Jesus think he was? Jesus explained that his Father gives him glory, and he knows God while they don't. He said Abraham looked forward to his time, and he existed even before Abraham. This made the Jews angry, and they wanted to stone Jesus, but he left the temple.
In John 10:9, Jesus describes Himself as the “door,” through which people can enter and be saved. This emphasizes His role as the gateway to salvation and eternal life.
In John 10:11, Jesus identifies Himself as the “good shepherd” who sacrifices His life for the sheep, demonstrating His care, protection, and sacrificial love for His followers.
In John 10:24-33 the Jews confronted Jesus, demanding clarity about whether He was the Christ. Jesus responded by saying that He had already told them, but they didn’t believe Him. He pointed to the works He performed in His Father’s name as evidence of his identity. However, He explained that their lack of belief stemmed from not being among His followers. Jesus emphasized the special relationship He had with His followers, likening them to sheep who hear His voice and follow Him. He assured them of eternal life and protection, stating that neither He nor His Father would allow anyone to snatch them away.
Jesus boldly proclaimed His unity with the Father, declaring, “I and My Father are one.” Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. But Jesus answered them, “Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?”
The Jews replied, “For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God!”
In John 11:25, Jesus proclaims Himself as the “resurrection and the life,” implying that belief in Him brings eternal life even in the face of physical death.
In John 15:1, Jesus refers to Himself as the “true vine,” highlighting His essential role in sustaining and nourishing believers spiritually.
Finally, in John 14:6, Jesus boldly states that He is the “way, the truth, and the life,” indicating that He is the only path to the Father and eternal life, emphasizing His exclusivity as the means of salvation.
Overall, these passages from John’s Gospel show Jesus presenting Himself in various roles and functions that are closely intertwined with God’s identity, reinforcing the belief in His divinity.
In John chapter 17, Jesus shares a prayer with His disciples, expressing His unity with the Father in a profound way. He speaks of the glory He shared with the Father before the world existed, indicating a timeless connection between them. This unity goes beyond mere association; it speaks to a deep, intrinsic bond that transcends time and space.
When Jesus talks about sharing glory with the Father, it signifies more than just a shared accolade or honor. It reflects a unity of essence and nature. This unity marks Jesus as included in the Deity in every way, as He shares in the glory that is rightfully God’s alone. This concept aligns with Isaiah’s declaration that God will not share His glory with anyone else.
For Christians, this means that Jesus is not merely a messenger or representative of God, but He is God incarnate, fully embodying the divine nature. His identification with the Father before the world existed emphasizes His eternal existence and divine status. Therefore, Jesus is understood to be God in His implicate reality, inseparable from the essence and glory of the Father.
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to Thomas, who had doubted His resurrection until he could see and touch the wounds inflicted during the crucifixion. When Thomas saw the scars on Jesus’ wrists, side, and feet, he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” This declaration is profound, as Thomas acknowledges Jesus not only as his Lord but also as his God.
Jesus, rather than rebuking Thomas for his acknowledgment, accepts and endorses it. He even pronounces Thomas as blessed for coming to this realization. For Christians, this interaction between Jesus and Thomas affirms Thomas’ confession as true and valid. It demonstrates Jesus’ divinity and His acceptance of worship as God.
This moment underscores the belief that Jesus is more than just a human prophet or teacher; He is God incarnate, worthy of reverence and worship. Thomas’ confession serves as a pivotal moment of recognition of Jesus’ true identity, endorsed by Jesus Himself.
After His resurrection, Jesus foretold His glorious return to vindicate Himself and establish His kingdom. In John 21:20-23, Jesus hints at His imminent return by discussing the fate of the disciple whom He loved, commonly believed to be John. When Peter inquires about this disciple’s destiny, Jesus responds, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”
This statement sparked speculation among the disciples that John would not die before Jesus returned. However, Jesus clarifies that His words were not a guarantee of John’s longevity but rather an affirmation of His imminent return within his lifetime. This return, as described in the Book of Revelation, would occur within the lifetime of John and unfold in the context of Jewish antiquity, marked by Zealot wars and the destruction of the Second Temple, Jerusalem and the second century disappearance of the defunct Hebrew State.
This litany of timed events would serve as a public demonstration of Jesus’ triumph over earthly powers and vindication as the exalted Son of God. It underscores the importance of acknowledging the New Testament’s portrayal of Jesus without alteration or compromise in Christian theology.:
Summary
In the Gospel of John, Jesus is presented as the “Word of God who is God,” Jesus says that he is closely connected to God in many ways. He calls Himself the “bread of life,” “light of the world,” “door,” “good shepherd,” “resurrection and life,” "true vine.” He is the builder of the true house of God and “the way, the truth, and the life.” These titles show that Jesus provides spiritual nourishment, guidance, salvation, care, eternal life, and the only path to God the Father. Jesus also says that he and the Father are united as one. When Thomas sees Jesus after the resurrection, he calls Jesus “My Lord and my God!” Jesus accepts this, showing that he is divine. Finally, Jesus hints that he will return in glory soon, within the lifetime of his disciple John, to establish his kingdom and triumph over earthly powers.
Conclusion
The Gospel of John presents a clear picture of Jesus as divine and closely united with God the Father. Through his various titles and declarations, Jesus reveals his unique role in providing salvation, guidance, and spiritual nourishment. His oneness with the Father and Thomas’ confession further confirm his divinity. Jesus’ foretelling of his imminent return emphasizes his ultimate triumph. For Christians, these passages in John’s Gospel are crucial for understanding Jesus’ true identity as God incarnate and his central role in theology and faith. The New Testament portrayal of Jesus should be acknowledged without compromise.
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