Is Jesus God...or just another person, teacher or prophet?

This is a paper that looks at WHO Jesus is. Was He just a moral teacher? Was He a prophet? or was He something more? Something so out of our ability to comprehend that it takes God to reveal it to us? Many people put Jesus in the same category at Buddha, Gandhi, or Muhammad. However when you study His claims about Himself.... He was claiming to be something way more than a mere man. None of the other 3 claimed to be anything but enlightened teachers or prophets. Jesus is someone way outside of that realm.

The Jews of Jesus’ day understood his claims to be more than a mere man.... and wanted to stone Jesus for it!
"We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." John 10:33

The fullness of God existed in Jesus’ physical body... as a human:

"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form..." Colossians 2:9

All thing that were created were created by Jesus... the context of this chapter is talking about Jesus:

"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. " Colossians 1:16 (whole chapter is good)

Jesus is in very Nature God, but became a man:

Colossians 2:5 "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness."

All the Fullness of God existed in the man Jesus.
Philippians 1:19 "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him...

Jesus is the Exact representation of the invisible creator God in a human body.
Hebrews 13:3 "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word."

Jesus forgave people their sins. Only God can forgive sins. The Jews knew this and charged Jesus with blaspheming. By doing this Jesus was claiming to be God and not a mere man, teacher or prophet.
Matthew 9:1 "Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."
At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!"
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Get up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." And the man got up and went home."

John 10:30 "I and the Father are one."

Jesus uses the Old Testament Name of God to describe Himself! And secondly, he claims to have existed before Abraham was even born!
John 8:58 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds."

Conclusion

Jesus is a teacher and prophet.... but in the end He is something so much more! How do you conceive of God, who created the earth, people, angels and the universe, becoming a human being? How do you stare in the eyes of the One who made your body, soul and spirit? It terrified the disciples at times because they realized He was so 'other' than their mere mortal lives. And yet, we are the focus and desire of this Eternal One!

Questions? Comments? Email me at ChrisSarris@hotmail.com