Miles McKee Ministries
PO Box 541, Kingston Springs, TN 37082
Did Jesus Really Claim Equality With the Father?
by Miles McKee
by Miles McKee
I’m always amazed, and somewhat amused, when people tell me that Jesus never claimed to be God. My response is to challenge them that they have evidently not read the Bible. For indeed, if they had read the Bible they would have, no doubt, discovered John chapter five. In that marvelous chapter alone there are seven instances where Jesus claims to be God. Had they read that chapter with any measure of understanding they could not possibly have missed the bold and assertive claims of the Lord Jesus on this subject. So strong and definite were His claims on this matter that we must agree with Lewis who said if Jesus is not God then, ‘He would either be a lunatic-on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg-or else he would be the Devil of Hell.’ (C.S. Lewis: ‘Mere Christianity’)
John 5 is really quite dramatic. It’s a chapter of angels and hypocrites; cripples and miracles. It tells of how an impotent man meets ‘The Omnipotent Man’ and is dramatically healed. We read of how a poor hopeless wretch of a man lay each day by The Pool of Bethesda waiting for the supernatural visitation of an angel. Every so often, we are told, an angel would come down and trouble the water and when that happened people got healed. But this was of little use to the poor man because he had no one to help him get into the water to receive its momentary health giving benefits. His plight was desperate! And into this story walks Jesus and commits the ‘terrible crime’ of healing the helpless soul who had lain there for 38 years. The healing, you see, took place on the Sabbath. The Jewish leaders, rather than being delighted with this turn of events, were enraged with Jesus’ performance; healing on the Sabbath was, in their eyes, a criminal offense! Which brings us to the first claim Jesus makes, in this chapter, to being God in flesh appearing:
John 5 is really quite dramatic. It’s a chapter of angels and hypocrites; cripples and miracles. It tells of how an impotent man meets ‘The Omnipotent Man’ and is dramatically healed. We read of how a poor hopeless wretch of a man lay each day by The Pool of Bethesda waiting for the supernatural visitation of an angel. Every so often, we are told, an angel would come down and trouble the water and when that happened people got healed. But this was of little use to the poor man because he had no one to help him get into the water to receive its momentary health giving benefits. His plight was desperate! And into this story walks Jesus and commits the ‘terrible crime’ of healing the helpless soul who had lain there for 38 years. The healing, you see, took place on the Sabbath. The Jewish leaders, rather than being delighted with this turn of events, were enraged with Jesus’ performance; healing on the Sabbath was, in their eyes, a criminal offense! Which brings us to the first claim Jesus makes, in this chapter, to being God in flesh appearing:
Claim #1
Jn 5:16-18 “And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father has been working ‘till now, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.”
I always think the attitude of Jesus’ enemies was, in one sense, vaguely amusing. Had an angel healed on the Sabbath they would have, no doubt, welcomed him. They would have in no way tried to rebuke him. Angels, of course, would obviously have been exempt from the slavish Jewish adherence to the Sabbath. Sabbath observance was, after all, for men and not angels.
Likewise, not being a man, God is exempt from Sabbath observance. God can do whatever He pleases whenever He pleases….that’s one of the advantages of being God! So what was it exactly that enraged the Jewish leaders? They were incensed because Jesus had the audacity to claim this same Divine exemption, regarding Sabbath observation. He says, in effect, “My Father can work on the Sabbath and so can I.”
God, in actuality, was always exempt from Sabbath observance in that He had made the Sabbath for man and not for Himself. In fact, He had never stopped working at any time. True, He rested on the first Sabbath, but this rest was only from His works of creation. And ever since that first day of rest, He has been actively involved and working with mankind regardless of what day of the week it is.
This claim to Sabbath exemption was serious enough but Jesus goes even further by referring to God as uniquely his own Father. To the Jews, it was clear that Jesus, by this statement, had blasphemed for, after all, He was, in their estimation, a mere man and therefore in no way equal with God. Obviously, if a man claims equality with the omnipotent Deity then he’s claiming to be God. The Jews understood exactly what Jesus was claiming! How is, then, there are those who say that Jesus never once claimed to be God?
It should also be noted that the Jews were enraged. At least they clearly understood what today’s critics do not: they were very clear on this matter. Jesus had claimed to be God. They had heard Him, there was no mistaking Him and no ambiguity. That’s why the religious leaders of Jesus’ day were out to kill Him! Jesus could easily have backed down and averted the ensuing storm by saying, “That’s not what I meant.” But He didn’t! He stood by His statement. Both He and His audience knew what he had said. Furthermore, it is only if one dismisses the clear statements of Jesus that one can conclude that He is not God!
Since Jesus was God clothed with humanity, He claimed, therefore, the divine right to heal and work on the Sabbath. The following verses must, therefore, be understood in the light of Jesus’ claim of equality with God.
I always think the attitude of Jesus’ enemies was, in one sense, vaguely amusing. Had an angel healed on the Sabbath they would have, no doubt, welcomed him. They would have in no way tried to rebuke him. Angels, of course, would obviously have been exempt from the slavish Jewish adherence to the Sabbath. Sabbath observance was, after all, for men and not angels.
Likewise, not being a man, God is exempt from Sabbath observance. God can do whatever He pleases whenever He pleases….that’s one of the advantages of being God! So what was it exactly that enraged the Jewish leaders? They were incensed because Jesus had the audacity to claim this same Divine exemption, regarding Sabbath observation. He says, in effect, “My Father can work on the Sabbath and so can I.”
God, in actuality, was always exempt from Sabbath observance in that He had made the Sabbath for man and not for Himself. In fact, He had never stopped working at any time. True, He rested on the first Sabbath, but this rest was only from His works of creation. And ever since that first day of rest, He has been actively involved and working with mankind regardless of what day of the week it is.
This claim to Sabbath exemption was serious enough but Jesus goes even further by referring to God as uniquely his own Father. To the Jews, it was clear that Jesus, by this statement, had blasphemed for, after all, He was, in their estimation, a mere man and therefore in no way equal with God. Obviously, if a man claims equality with the omnipotent Deity then he’s claiming to be God. The Jews understood exactly what Jesus was claiming! How is, then, there are those who say that Jesus never once claimed to be God?
It should also be noted that the Jews were enraged. At least they clearly understood what today’s critics do not: they were very clear on this matter. Jesus had claimed to be God. They had heard Him, there was no mistaking Him and no ambiguity. That’s why the religious leaders of Jesus’ day were out to kill Him! Jesus could easily have backed down and averted the ensuing storm by saying, “That’s not what I meant.” But He didn’t! He stood by His statement. Both He and His audience knew what he had said. Furthermore, it is only if one dismisses the clear statements of Jesus that one can conclude that He is not God!
Since Jesus was God clothed with humanity, He claimed, therefore, the divine right to heal and work on the Sabbath. The following verses must, therefore, be understood in the light of Jesus’ claim of equality with God.
Claim #2
Look what He says in the next verse;
Look what He says in the next verse;
vs19 “Then answered Jesus and said to them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for what ever things he does, these also doeth the Son likewise.”
This is an extraordinary claim! In effect what Jesus is saying is, “My deeds are divine deeds. I have no interest in doing anything based on my own agenda. I see what My Father is doing and I do exactly the same things.”
This is an extraordinary claim! In effect what Jesus is saying is, “My deeds are divine deeds. I have no interest in doing anything based on my own agenda. I see what My Father is doing and I do exactly the same things.”
Imagine someone coming up to you and saying, “I can’t do anything by myself but I can do everything God does and in just the same way He does it!” Oh yeah? Send for the men in white coats! But that’s exactly what Jesus claimed. Now, if someone is going to do everything God does then, of a necessity, he would have to be God. And that’s who Jesus claimed to be! He did nothing of Himself; in other words He has no separate interests apart from the Father’s. Whatever the Father did, Jesus did. But more than that, He not only did the same things but did them in exactly the same way the Father does them for He says, “these also doeth the Son likewise”
If your neighbor made this claim to you you’d definitely have him committed to the ‘funny farm.’ And we’ve got to face the same thing about Jesus. It’s not enough to get all sentimental about Him and say he was a wonderful man or to say he’s a great Prophet. If He was not God He’s a fraud! If He was not God he was not good, He was indeed mad or evil!
Claim #3
vs21 “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickened (gives life to) them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.”
vs21 “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickened (gives life to) them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.”
The raising of the dead and giving them life is the absolute prerogative of God. Jesus not only does this same divine act but does it as a result of His own will---- in exactly the same manner as the Father. Now if that isn’t a claim to Deity I don’t know what is! But of course, the proof of the pudding is in the eating! Did Jesus raise the dead? You know He did! Ah, but you say, so did the prophets and the disciples. This is very true, they raised the dead, but only as instruments of God. Unlike Jesus, they never once did this as a result of their own absolute will and power.
Claim #4
Vs 22 “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:”
The Son is He who is fully human and fully God---the Lord Jesus! Remember this, there will be a man on the Judgment throne of God, albeit the God/Man but a man none the less. It will be a man before whom all the nations of the earth will be commanded to appear. This perfect sinless man was, in His life on earth, subject to the frustrations of human limitations and therefore fully understands all whom He will judge. And in this we see the Divine wisdom as someone, in that day, could complain and say, what right has God to judge me! He’s never walked in my shoes! I think I hear someone say, “Ah but yes He has walked in your shoes. He knows what its like to be human with all its frustrations and disadvantages.”
If any body had it tough in life it was Jesus! He started his life in a cattle shed not a palace. As an infant, the political powers tried to kill him forcing His family to become refugees in Egypt. He knows all about being rejected, being misunderstood and being betrayed. He has gone through the full gamut of human experience. But He is not merely a man He is also God and being that He is also God it means that He knows all the facts and all the motives for all the actions of those He is to Judge.
This claim to have judgment entrusted to Him was another powerful claim He makes to being God. Remember this, In Genesis 18:25 it is the LORD, Yahweh, who is termed, “the Judge of all the earth.” In 1 Chronicle 16:33 The LORD, Yahweh, “cometh to judge the earth.” What Jesus was saying was, “By the way folks I’m the one who is going to be the end time judge.” We can’t ignore this kind of thing! Either this man Jesus is God or He’s nuts!
It should also be noted, Jesus carried this teaching of being the end time Judge all the way through His ministry. Listen to what he tells his listeners shortly before the cross. He says;
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” (Matt 25:31-33).
Jesus’ claim of being the Judge of the whole earth therefore exposes the ignorance of those who state that Jesus never said He was God.
The Son is He who is fully human and fully God-
If any body had it tough in life it was Jesus! He started his life in a cattle shed not a palace. As an infant, the political powers tried to kill him forcing His family to become refugees in Egypt. He knows all about being rejected, being misunderstood and being betrayed. He has gone through the full gamut of human experience. But He is not merely a man He is also God and being that He is also God it means that He knows all the facts and all the motives for all the actions of those He is to Judge.
This claim to have judgment entrusted to Him was another powerful claim He makes to being God. Remember this, In Genesis 18:25 it is the LORD, Yahweh, who is termed, “the Judge of all the earth.” In 1 Chronicle 16:33 The LORD, Yahweh, “cometh to judge the earth.” What Jesus was saying was, “By the way folks I’m the one who is going to be the end time judge.” We can’t ignore this kind of thing! Either this man Jesus is God or He’s nuts!
It should also be noted, Jesus carried this teaching of being the end time Judge all the way through His ministry. Listen to what he tells his listeners shortly before the cross. He says;
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” (Matt 25:31-
Jesus’ claim of being the Judge of the whole earth therefore exposes the ignorance of those who state that Jesus never said He was God.
Claim #5
vs23 “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.”
The Greek word “honour” means ‘to fix a value on’. Jesus is saying “Whatever value you place on God place on me.” This again is an obvious claim that Jesus makes to being God. Think about it----how highly do you value God? Then value Jesus in just the same way! That’s preposterous and blasphemous unless, however, Jesus is God. If Jesus is not God he is on dangerous and treacherous ground. We should remember that the God of the Bible said He would not share His Glory with anyone. We read,
“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another,” ( Isaiah. 42:8).
The Greek word “honour” means ‘to fix a value on’. Jesus is saying “Whatever value you place on God place on me.” This again is an obvious claim that Jesus makes to being God. Think about it-
“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another,” ( Isaiah. 42:8).
Yet here in John 5:23 Jesus is deliberately demanding honour which should go to God. Thus again, He is claiming equality with God. What a wicked thing to do, unless, that is, He is God. So you see how it is an impossibility to say that Jesus was the Son of God but not God or that Jesus was a great prophet but not God.
Some scholars tell us that this word honour is actually better translated as “worship.”
“Jesus claims here the same right to worship from men that the Father has. Dishonoring Jesus is dishonoring the Father who sent him. There is small comfort here for those who praise Jesus as teacher and yet deny his claims to worship.”
“Jesus claims here the same right to worship from men that the Father has. Dishonoring Jesus is dishonoring the Father who sent him. There is small comfort here for those who praise Jesus as teacher and yet deny his claims to worship.”
(Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament).
Anyway we look at it, this statement which Jesus made is totally scandalous if He is not God. If He is not God He ought to be condemned as a malignant evil doer. Here He is demanding that we value, honour and worship Him the same way we would the Father. If He is not God in human flesh then He is telling us all to commit idolatry! So away, once and for all, with these patronizing notions that He was a good teacher and great prophet but not God. If He’s not God He’s a fraud! If He is God, worship Him and follow Him.
Claim #6
vs26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;”
These are the babblings of a raving ‘loony bin’ or else they are the very words of God incarnate. They are so extreme that they preclude and prohibit all possibility of neutrality on our part.
Imagine, for example, if a Pastor or a respected Imam got up in front of his people and said, “ Listen to me, in just the same way God has non-derived life in Himself so I have non-derived life in myself!” None of us would believe him for we all know that life is not inherent to any of us. We know that our life is a derived and dependant life. It is derived from our parents and depends upon God to sustain it. But Jesus claimed that His life is derived from no one; it is inherent and uncreated. What an outrageous claim for Him to make. Do you see how radical this man Jesus is? He refuses to allow us to play sentimental games with Him by saying he was a great prophet but not God.
Imagine, for example, if a Pastor or a respected Imam got up in front of his people and said, “ Listen to me, in just the same way God has non-
Claim #7
V 28-29 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
Again we have to face it! If Jesus is not God He’s a fraud and should be totally shunned. Imagine, again, a Pastor or an Imam saying that at the end of the age all the dead will hear his voice! And furthermore as a result of hearing his voice all will rise up from the dead. This is sheer unadulterated arrogant insanity------unless, that is, it is true. And Jesus tells us not to marvel! Old John Trapp says;
Again we have to face it! If Jesus is not God He’s a fraud and should be totally shunned. Imagine, again, a Pastor or an Imam saying that at the end of the age all the dead will hear his voice! And furthermore as a result of hearing his voice all will rise up from the dead. This is sheer unadulterated arrogant insanity-
“And yet who can but marvel at this great mystery of godliness, whereat angels stand amazed?----It is truly affirmed of Jesus that he is created and uncreated, without beginning and yet began in time, human according to the flesh, and yet God blessed for ever” (John Trapp Commentaries).
Was Jesus telling the truth or lying when He made these seven claims? If he was lying then he was monstrously evil and wicked. But you say, “No I don’t believe he was God but I know he certainly wasn’t evil. No evil man did all the good things Jesus did.” I agree, but why then did He say these wretched things? Perhaps he just thought these things were true. But thinking these things are true does not make them true! The truth is, if Jesus merely thought these things were true but in actuality they were not true, we must conclude Him to be mentally unstable or as we say in Ireland “away with the fairies”. The mental asylums are filled with people who think they are God, Napoleon or the Wizard of Oz and the like and an asylum would have been a fitting place for Jesus if He was not God in human flesh.
However, these 7 claims are proof positive that Jesus claimed to be God. Only God and God only can talk this way and make such claims. If anyone other than God talks this way then that person has ‘lost the plot’ and needs professional help or else he’s trying deliberately to deceive people and lead them away from the truth.
Was Jesus telling the truth or lying when He made these seven claims? If he was lying then he was monstrously evil and wicked. But you say, “No I don’t believe he was God but I know he certainly wasn’t evil. No evil man did all the good things Jesus did.” I agree, but why then did He say these wretched things? Perhaps he just thought these things were true. But thinking these things are true does not make them true! The truth is, if Jesus merely thought these things were true but in actuality they were not true, we must conclude Him to be mentally unstable or as we say in Ireland “away with the fairies”. The mental asylums are filled with people who think they are God, Napoleon or the Wizard of Oz and the like and an asylum would have been a fitting place for Jesus if He was not God in human flesh.
However, these 7 claims are proof positive that Jesus claimed to be God. Only God and God only can talk this way and make such claims. If anyone other than God talks this way then that person has ‘lost the plot’ and needs professional help or else he’s trying deliberately to deceive people and lead them away from the truth.