Jesus’ Radical Self-Understanding

What Did Jesus Claim?

Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Mark 12:1–9): Jesus portrayed Himself as God’s unique Son, the final messenger, and heir of Israel, distinct from all prophets.
Explicit Claim as God's Son (Matthew 11:27; Luke 10:22): Jesus identified Himself as the exclusive Son of God, with sole authority to reveal God the Father to humanity.

The worship of Jesus as God incarnate by monotheistic Jews within two decades of His death suggests that Jesus Himself must have made divine claims.

The early church's belief in Jesus as the Messiah is best explained by Jesus' own claims. Evidence includes:

Peter’s confession (Mark 8:27–30)
Jesus’ answer to John the Baptist (Matt. 11:2-6; Luke 7:19–23)
His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:1–11; John 12:12–19)
His cleansing of the temple (Mark 11:15–17)
His condemnation by the Sanhedrin (Mark 14:61–65)
His crucifixion as “King of the Jews” (Mark 15:26)

Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of God through:

This was Jesus’ favorite self-designation, referencing the divine-human figure in Daniel 7:13–14. He used it in contexts such as:

Jesus also made implicit claims to divinity through:

His Preaching of the Kingdom: He spoke of His central role in the kingdom of God (Matt. 19:28).
His Authority:
- He taught with unparalleled authority, often contrasting His words with the Law (Matt. 5:31–32).
- He used the phrase, “Truly, I say to you,” to preface His teachings (Mark 8:12; 9:1).
- He cast out demons by His own power (Luke 11:20).
His Forgiveness of Sins: He claimed an authority reserved for God alone (Mark 2:1–12).
His Miracles: His miracles served as signs of His divine authority (Matt. 11:4–5).
His Role as Judge: He claimed He would be the final judge of humanity (Luke 12:8–9).

For a further explanation of what these titles mean:

Last modified: 28 September 2025