77 FAQs About God and the Bible by Josh McDowell

Author:Josh McDowell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

* For a more comprehensive and compelling case for the life and claims of Jesus see Evidence for the Historical Jesus. For more information about Evidence for the Historical Jesus, see the back of this book.

41.

HOW DID JESUS BACK UP HIS CLAIM TO BE GOD?

Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and the only way to God. And he wasn’t being arrogant about it.* But did he actually give proof that he was God? How did he back up his claim to deity?

Jesus’ disciples were having a little difficulty understanding just who their Master was and what he was really up to. So he made this statement: “Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of what you have seen me do” (John 14:11). Here Jesus was appealing to both his authoritative teaching on the kingdom of God and his many miracles in order to substantiate and verify he was in fact God in human form. In regard to miracles, he was in effect saying, “You are finding it hard to believe that I am God in the flesh—well, look how I as creator of all things have complete command of the forces of the universe—the weather, the human body, gravity, life, and death.”

Listen to these words: “I have a greater witness than John,” Jesus said, “my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me” (John 5:36). “The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me” (John 10:25 NIV). Jesus’ miracles became credible proof that he was who he claimed to be. So let’s look at a few miracles he performed.

But first, what actually is a miracle? It can be defined as a religiously significant intervention of God in the system of natural causes. Some people contend that miracles cannot occur because it is impossible to violate the laws of nature. But those who make this contention assume that nothing exists outside of nature. They believe we live in a closed system.

However, if God exists as the Creator of the universe, then he exists outside of the laws of nature he created. He can thus step into his creation and intervene as he wills. And he has. He entered the sphere of humanity by taking on human form in the person of Jesus. And to give us evidence he was God, Jesus performed miracles.

Here are examples of his miracle-working power from the New Testament, which documents that he was able to

• calm a storm (see Matthew 8)

• make a mute person speak (see Matthew 9)

• feed 5000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish (see Matthew 14)

• cast out demons (see Mark 5)

• walk on water (see Mark 6)

• bring sight to the blind (see Mark 10)

• make a fig tree wither up by cursing it (see Mark 11)

• foretell the future (see Mark 14)

• heal a paralyzed man (see Luke 5)

• raise a boy

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