ADULLAM FILMS

Did Jesus ever really say He was the Christ?

This is an important question.  Before I became a Christian, I remember hearing from repeated sources that Jesus Himself never actually claimed to be “the Christ.”  

It is often said that Jesus told His followers not to call Him the Christ based upon this passage in the Gospel of Matthew:

“Then charged he his disciples that they

should tell no man that he was Jesus the

Christ.” (Matthew 16:20)

There have been films and documentaries that have grossly misinterpreted the above passage.  Many teachers who ascribe to new age and neo-Gnostic beliefs, have used this verse to suggest that Jesus shunned the idea of Christ-hood, but that it was put upon Him by His disciples --  against His will.  This was once a real stumbling block for me before I was saved; and was a chief source of investigation on my way to learning who Jesus really is – according to the Bible. 

The Identity of Christ

What’s most important is to know what Jesus said about Who He is, and the power given to Him by God the Father.  The Lord gives us this guideline for discernment:

“And if any man hear my words, and believe

not, I judge him not … He that rejecteth me,

and receiveth not my words hath one that

judgeth him: the word that I have spoken,

the same shall judge him in the last day.”

(John 12:47-48)

We find a picture of this judgment in Revelation 19, where Christ appears with a “sharp sword” from His mouth (v.15) while Paul tells us that “the sword of the spirit … is the word of God” (Eph 6:17).  Ultimately, all men are judged based upon God’s revealed Word (John 3:19).  On the issue of being the “Christ” or “Messiah” of God, the Lord’s words in Mark’s gospel tell us clearly:

“Again the high priest asked him, and said

unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the

Blessed?  And Jesus said, I am …”

(Mark 14:61-62)

While Jesus as the Christ is information that most Christians take for granted, I have been amazed at how many people are simply unaware of the above passage.  A number of years ago, while attending a Bible study at a Disciples of Christ Church (which I cannot recommend), there were elders and deacons in the class who were unaware of this passage!  This proved to be a real problem for them and the members of that congregation.  A young woman was confused about the identity of Jesus, had heard the new age lie, and thought that Jesus never actually admitted to being the Christ. Then I showed her Mark 14.  Her eyes lit up, and she said, “Well, that’s pretty clear.”

A few years later, I heard this same thing again on an ABC special hosted by Peter Jennings (shortly before he died).  In 2004, Jennings presented “Jesus & Paul, the Word and the Witness” in which he said: “Scholars also debate whether or not Jesus led people to believe that He was the Messiah.  In the Bible, He never says it directly.”  We can only hope that Jennings learned the truth before his death, but he was simply repeating what he had been told by so-called “experts” on the Bible.

Understanding the Person of Jesus Christ is the most important part of witnessing on His behalf, and in our times is crucial if we are to guide souls away from the “other Jesus” that Paul warned against (2 Corinthians 11:4). “Another Jesus” cannot save.  According to Christ Himself, it is the Jesus sent by “the only true God” that brings a soul to life eternal (John 17:3). 

What follows are a collection of Scriptures that are broken up into two simple categories: 1) What Jesus said about Himself; and 2) what the apostles, who repeatedly declared that they were “eyewitnesses” said about Him.

What Jesus said about Himself:

“All power is given unto me in heaven and

in earth.”  (Matthew 28:18)

“For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and

giveth them life, even so the Son giveth life

to whom he will.  For the Father judgeth no man,

but hath committed all judgment unto the Son;

that all men should honor the Son, even as

they honor the Father.  He that honoreth not

the Son honoreth not the Father, who hath

sent him.” (John 5:21-23)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth

my word, and believeth on him that sent me,

hath everlasting life, and shall not come into

judgment, but is passed from death unto

life.” (John 5:24)

“I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me

shall never hunger, and he that believeth on

me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)

“I am the light of the world; he that followeth

me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have

the light of life.” (John 8:12)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man

keep my saying, he shall never see death.”

(John 8:51) 

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the

door of the sheep.  All that ever came before

me are thieves and robbers … I am the

door; by me if any man enter in, he shall

be saved …” (John 10:7-9)

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd

giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

“… I lay down my life, that I might take it

again.  No man taketh it from me, but I lay

it down of myself.  I have power to lay it

down, and I have power to take it again.

This commandment have I received of my

Father.” (John 10:17-18)

“I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30)

“I am the resurrection and the life; he

that believeth in me, though he were dead,

yet shall he live.  And whosoever liveth and

believeth in me shall never die. Believest

thou this?” (John 11:25-26)

“I am come a light into the world, that

whosoever believeth on me should not abide

in darkness.  And if any man hear my words,

and believe not, I judge him not; for I came,

not to judge the world but to save the world.

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my

words, hath one that judgeth him: the word

that I have spoken, the same shall judge

him in the last day.”  (John 12:46-48)

“Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say

well; for so I am.” (John 13:13)

“I am the way, the truth, and the life;

no man cometh unto the Father, but by

me.” (John 14:6)

“I am the vine, ye are the branches.  He

that abideth in me, and I in him, the same

bringeth forth much fruit; for without me

ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

“To this end was I born, and for this cause

came I into the world, that I should bear

witness unto the truth.  Everyone that is of

the truth heareth my voice.” (John 18:37) 

“These are the words which I spoke unto

you, while I was yet with you, that all things

must be fulfilled, which were written in the

law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in

the psalms, concerning me. … Thus it is

written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer,

and to rise from the dead the third day; and

that repentance and remission of sins should

be preached in his name among all

nations …” (Luke 24:44,46-47)

“I am the first and the last; I am he that

liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am

alive forevermore, Amen, and have the

keys of hell and of death.”

(Revelation 1:17-18)

“And behold, I come quickly, and my reward

is with me, to give every man according as his

work shall be.” (Revelation 22:12)

We will end this section on “What Jesus said about Himself” with the Lord’s final words at the end of the four gospels:

“Follow thou me.” (John 21:22)

What the Apostles wrote & declared about Jesus:

The apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ repeatedly declared that they were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ earthly ministry (Luke 1:2, Acts 2:32, 3:15, 5:32, 10:39, 10:41, 13:31, 2 Peter 1:16, 1 John 1:1-2); of His teachings, miracles, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven.  The apostle John gives, perhaps, the most beautiful testimony of this:

“That which was from the beginning, which

we have heard, which we have seen with our

eyes, which we have looked upon, and our

hands have handled, of the Word of life; for

the life was manifested, and we have seen it,

and bear witness …” (1 John 1:1-2)

Because of this, the testimony of the apostles is unique throughout all of history, and is why believers are “built upon the foundation of the apostles …” (Ephesians 2:20) The apostles’ testimony is confirmed by Jesus and the prophets (Luke 24:27, Acts 3:22-24) with Christ Himself as the “only foundation” (1 Corinthians 3:11) and chief corner stone (Acts 4:11) of the Church. 

What follows are some of the most important things written in the New Testament about the Lord Jesus Christ:

“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary:

for thou hast found favor with God.  And, behold,

thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring

forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.  He

shall be great, and shall be called the Son of

the Highest … also that holy thing which shall

be born of thee shall be called the Son of

God.” (Luke 1:30-31,32,35)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the

Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without

him was not anything made that was made

.… And the Word was made flesh, and

dwelt among us …” (John 1:1-3, 14)

“The Father loveth the Son, and hath given

all things into his hand.  He that believeth the

Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth

not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath

of God abideth on him.” (John 3:35-36)

“[He] is the image of the invisible God, the

firstborn of every creature: for by him were

all things created, that are in heaven, and

that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether

they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities,

or powers: all things were created by him

and for him: and he is before all things, and

by him all things consist.  And he is the

head of the body, the church: who is the

beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that

in all things he might have the preeminence.

For it pleased the Father that in him should

all fullness dwell …” (Colossians 1:15-19)

“Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified

… This is the stone which was set at nought of

you builders, which is become the head of the

corner.  Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name under heaven

given among men, whereby we must be

saved.” (Acts 4:10-12)

“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.”

(Philippians 2:10-11)

“God … hath in these last days spoken unto

us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir

of all things …” (Hebrews 1:1-2)

“Though he were a Son, yet learned he

obedience by the things which he suffered;

and being made perfect, he became the

author of eternal salvation unto all them

that obey him …” (Hebrews 5:8-9)

“… we are sanctified through the offering

of the body of Jesus Christ once for all … this

man, after he had offered one sacrifice for

sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of

God … For by one offering he hath perfected

for ever them that are sanctified … Now

where remission of these is, there is no more

offering for sin.” (Hebrews 10:10,12,14,18)

“… our Lord Jesus Christ: which in his times

he shall show who is the blessed and only

Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

who only hath immortality, dwelling in the

light which no man can approach unto, who

no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom

be honor and power everlasting.  Amen.”

(1Timothy 6:14-16)

“For there is one God, and one mediator

between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

who gave himself a ransom for all, to be

testified in due time.” (1Timothy 2:5)

“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every

eye shall see him, and they also which pierced

him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail

because of him.  Even so, Amen.”

(Revelation 1:7)

-- CJP