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On This Page
Emphasis Mine In Bible Verses
The Claims Jesus Made
Jesus Did What The Father Said He Himself Would Do
Who Is The Alpha And The Omega, The First And The Last,
The Beginning And The End"?
Four Extremely Significant Titles Jesus Gave Himself During His Time On Earth
1.) He Said He Was The "I Am"
2.) He Repeatedly Called Himself "Son Of Man”
3.) He Called Himself The "Son Of God" (A Title That Needs Clarification)
4.) He Referred To Himself As The "Good Shepherd"
Hypocrisy Unlimited?
Jesus Never Rebuked Anyone For Worshipping Him
In Spite Of The Fact That The Scriptures Teach That Yahwh Alone Is To Be Worshipped,
The Claims Jesus Made
Those that argue that Jesus was a "good man" or a great "spiritual leader" rather than the Son of God haven't thought it through. In view of the several claims Jesus made about Himself there are only two choices. Either He was who He said He was or He was a raving lunatic who had some some very grandiose delusions that indicated serious mental problems.
So what did He say about Himself? Jesus Claimed
1) To have existed in heaven before His earthly incarnation,
Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." (John 8:58 NASB)
And He was saying to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. (John 8:23 NASB)
"No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. (John 3:13 NASB)
2) To be one with the Father and especially sent by Him
He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. (Matthew 10:40), "I and the Father are one." (John 10:30) and ""He who hates Me hates My Father also. (John 15:23)
"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (John 6:38 NASB)
3) To fulfill all of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah
Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." (Luke 24:44 NASB)
Note: This is an amazing claim considering how many prophecies were made about every aspect of the Messiah's life. See Messianic Prophecies Besides which He was the ONLY religious leader who was Foretold DETAILS
4) To be greater than Solomon and even the Temple,
"But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here". (Matthew 12:6 NASB)
"The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. "The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here". (Matthew 12:41-42 NASB)
5) To have Knowledge of the future,
The Gospels are replete with examples of Jesus' supernatural knowledge beyond the capabilities of any human. For example, in Matthew 17.27 Jesus knew that the first fish Peter would catch would have a coin in its mouth - enough to pay the tax for both of them.
However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me." (Matthew 17:27 )
Also note how many times in the New Testament we are told of Jesus "knowing" things that only God could know
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;" (Luke 22:31 NASB)
Jesus told Nathaniel that He had seen him under a fig tree and knew him to be a man without guile (John 1.48).
But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. (John 6:64 )
And that was far from all. In Matthew 24 He warned the disciples about the many signs that would precede His coming, including false christs (Vs. 4-5). Wars, famines, plagues and earthquakes which will be the beginning of sorrows (Vs. 7). Persecution of his followers (V. 9). That many would fall away often misled by false prophets (Vs. 10-13, 24). The Gospel would be preached in the entire world (V. 14). The Abomination of Desolation (Vs.15). The Severity of the Great Tribulation (Vs. 21-22), Warning against False christs (24:23-28). The conditions immediately preceding the appearance of the Son of Man, and the fact that He will return "the clouds of heaven with power and much glory" (Vs. 29-31)
6) Interpret Divine law on His own authority
The Old Testament prophets spoke on behalf of God. The phrase "Thus saith the Lord" was used over 400 times in the Old Testament. However, Jesus spoke on His own authority even when interpreting Divine Law.
You have heard that the ancients were told, 'you shall not commit murder' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell..... "You have heard that it was said, 'you shall not commit adultery'; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:21-22. 27-28 NASB)
See Jesus and The Law
7) To be sinless -
"Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? (John 8:46 NASB)
"He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. (John 7:18 NASB)
8) To be able to forgive other people's sins
When a paralytic was brought into the room where Jesus was teaching, He told the man that his sins were forgiven, upon which the scribes accused Him of blasphemy, asking, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?". Jesus then asked them which was easier... to say a persons sins are forgiven; or to miraculously cause them to walk. He then told the scribes that in order for them to know that the Son of man had authority on earth to forgive sins, He healed the man, who stood, took up his bed, and went home. (Mark 2:1-12)
9) To be able to give freedom
"So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36 NASB)
10) To be able to grant eternal life,
and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. (John 10:28 NASB)
11) To have the authority to judge the world
Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. (John 5:25-27 NASB)
12) To have the power to send the Holy Spirit
"When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, (John 15:26 NASB)
13) His words would outlast heaven and earth
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. (Mark 13:31 NASB)
Note the parallel verse in the Old Testament... The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. (Isaiah 40:8 NASB)
And That Certainly Wasn't All
14) To be able to raise himself from the dead ...
Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body. (John 2:19-21 NASB)
And So He did! See Section on The Resurrection
15) And that He would return in 'the glory of the Father' accompanied by angels
"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38 NASB)
Jesus Did What The Father Said He Himself Would Do
The Father Said He Himself Would Redeem, Forgive, and Grant Eternal Life
The Old Testament very clearly tells us that God the Father 1) Redeems From Iniquities, 2) Has Power To Forgive and 3) Grants Eternal Life
1. O Israel, hope in the Lord (Heb. Yahweh); For with the Lord (Heb. Yahweh) there is loving kindness, And with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. (Psalms 130:7-8 NASB)
2. "They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord (Heb. Yahweh),' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the Lord (Heb. Yahweh), "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." (Jeremiah 31:34 NASB)
3. And the testimony is this, that God (Gr. theos) has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. (1 John 5:11 NASB)
Jesus Claimed to Have Done All Three. (If Jesus was not God then one has to wonder at His audacity)
1. looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2:13-14 NASB)
2. Seeing their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." (Luke 5:20 NASB)
3. and I (Jesus) give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. (John 10:28 NASB)
Who Is 'The First and The Last', 'The Alpha and the Omega', 'The Beginning and the End'?
The First and The Last
God
Speaking through the prophet Isaiah God declared that He is The First and The Last. (The First and The Last is equivalent to saying that never was a time before God (never a time when He was not). And there never will be a time after Him (never a time when He will not be). He is eternal, i.e. has always existed, and will always exist.)
"Thus says the Lord (Heb. Yahweh), the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. (Isaiah 44:6 NASB)
Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last. (Isaiah 48:12 NASB)
Jesus
In Revelation 1 and 2 Jesus called Himself the "First and Last". We can know He was speaking about Himself because God the Father never died.
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. (Revelation 1:17-18 NASB)
"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: (Revelation 2:8 NASB)
It has been theorized that Jesus was called The First and The Last because He was the first and last one raised from the dead by God. Every other believer will be raised by Jesus Himself. However, the First and The Last is a one title. One cannot separate The First from The Last, then thumb through the Bible to find any reference to Jesus being the first or last of anything.
Besides which John used the exact title that Isaiah did when he spoke of the eternal, everlasting, unchanging God - the Creator who was before all things and who will be after all things.
"Who has performed and accomplished it, Calling forth the generations from the beginning? 'I, the LORD, am the first, and with the last. I am He.'" (Isaiah 41:4 NASB)
"Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. (Isaiah 44:6 NASB)
The Alpha and The Omega / The Beginning and The End
God
Note: Because Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, God calling Himself the Alpha and The Omega is the same as Him saying He is the First and the Last, or the Beginning and the End.
In the book of Revelation God the Father is twice called the One who was, who is, and who is to come.
1.) John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood-- (Revelation 1:4-5 NASB)
In the quote above, the benediction is given by three different Beings - the first can only be God the Father.
(Note: there is little consensus of opinion as to the nature of the seven spirits. However, it is very likely that the reference was to the seven angels mentioned more than once in Revelation. See 1:20, 4:5, 8:2 15:1, 17:1 etc.
2.) And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come." And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, (Revelation 4:8-9 NASB)
Revelation 21:6-7 adds the titles of the Alpha and the Omega and the Beginning and the End. Verse 5 clearly indicates that God the Father was speaking
(5) And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He *said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." (6) Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.(Revelation 21:5-6 NASB)
Jesus
Revelation 22:12-13 says the holder of all three titles will return to repay every person according to what he or she has done. In Matthew 16:27 Jesus He was the one who would do this
"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (Revelation 22:12-13 NASB)
"For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds. (Matthew 16:27 NASB)
Additionally verse 16 says "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."
Revelation 1:7-8:
We know Jesus who is referring to Himself as "the Alpha and the Omega " because verse 7 reads "He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him.
(7) Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. (8) "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:7-8 NASB
Revelation 1:17 Also note the Father's words in Isaiah 44:6
"Thus says the Lord (Heb. Yahweh), the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord (Heb. Yahweh) of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God (Heb. Elohim) besides Me. (Isaiah 44:6 NASB)
Quite obviously there can be only one "First and Last". However, without doubt or question in Revelation 1:17 Jesus says He is the First and The Last (only Jesus was dead and is alive forevermore)
(17) When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, (Revelation 1:17 NASB)
Coming in Clouds
Additionally, there are several passages in the Old Testament that describe God coming to earth in a cloud...
The Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever." Then Moses told the words of the people to the Lord. (Exodus 19:9 NASB)
It happened that when the priests came from the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. (1 Kings 8:10-11 NASB)
The New Testament describes Jesus Christ's second advent as Him coming in the clouds
And the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. "Then they will see the Son Of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. "And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven. (Mark 13:25-27 NASB)
And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:9-11 NASB)
Four Titles Jesus Gave Himself
The significance of these titles were not lost on His opponents who realized they were declarations of equality with God and lost no time in accusing Him of blasphemy. Jesus called Himself
1. The "I Am".
2. "Son of Man" which He did over and over again.
3. The 'Son of God' - a title that needs clarification
4. The 'Good Shepherd'.
"I Am"
When Jesus told the Pharisees that any man who kept His Word would never see death (John 8:51) they responded by saying Abraham and the prophets had all died and asked if he (Jesus) thought Himself better than Abraham. To which Jesus replied
"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." So the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." (John 8:56-58 NASB)
That the Pharisees immediately tried to stone Jesus (Vs. 59) tells us that His words were considered blasphemy of the most extreme kind. To understand why we have to travel back in time to the days just preceding the Exodus. When, at the burning bush Moses was told that he had to go to Egypt and bring the children of Israel out, he asked what his reply should be in case they asked him for the name of the God of their fathers. God answered him thus
God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" (Exodus 3:14 NASB)
How God identified Himself that day shows that He does not measure his existence as we do ours. Although not a name as we understand it, the present tense "I AM" indicates His continued and unchanging existence. The Israelites would have recognized that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - the God who is both everlasting and unchanging was the very same God who was sending Moses to them (Vs. 15-17).
So, when Jesus said "Before Abraham was born, I am" (John 8:56-58), He was not only claiming existence prior to Abraham but was using the same appellation God gave Himself...
Son of Man.
Jesus most frequently referred to Himself as "Son of Man" - a term that is used over 80 times - particularly in the Gospel of Matthew. It is possible that Jesus did not refer to Himself as the Messiah because the various opinions concerning the anticipated Messiah might have made the title a misleading one. Many of Jesus' contemporaries believed that the "Messiah" would be a human political leader and/or military leader - perhaps even a king who would liberate them from their Roman oppressors. The following statement by Tracey R Rich is from the website Judaism 101
The mashiach will be a great political leader descended from King David (Jeremiah 23:5). The mashiach is often referred to as "mashiach ben David" (mashiach, son of David). He will be well-versed in Jewish law, and observant of its commandments (Isaiah 11:2-5). He will be a charismatic leader, inspiring others to follow his example. He will be a great military leader, who will win battles for Israel. He will be a great judge, who makes righteous decisions (Jeremiah 33:15). But above all, he will be a human being, not a god, demi-god or other supernatural being". [01]
See Messianic Expectations in 1st Century - Documentation From Non-Christian Sources).
Was Jesus simply affirming His humanity by calling Himself "Son of Man"?
However, considering that He looked like a man, got weary, hungry, tired etc. like the rest of us do it hardly seems necessary that Jesus needed to stress that He was human. However, if one pays attention to what Jesus said about the Son of Man, it becomes clear that He wasn't talking about any ordinary human being. For example, in Matthew 25, Jesus described the Son of Man as someone enthroned in heaven, surrounded by an angelic host and judging all nations. Certainly no flesh and blood human being.
But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; (Matthew 25:31-32 NASB)
Son of Man in Daniel
In other words, there was more to the designation "Son of Man" than first meets the eye. But to gain insight into what exactly Jesus meant by the term we have to turn to a conversation between Him and the high priest when He was taken before the council...
The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, "Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?" But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" And Jesus said, "I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." Tearing his clothes, the high priest *said, "What further need do we have of witnesses? "You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?" And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. (Mark 14:60-64 NASB)
The high priest's extreme reaction cannot be accounted for by the innocuous title 'Son of Man" used over 100 times in the Old Testament - most often in Ezekiel. However, Jesus saying the the high priest would see "see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven" made him realize that Jesus had just identified Himself with the figure in Daniel's prophecy - the only place in the OT where the title "Son of Man" was used of a divine personage
"I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. "And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14 NASB)
All Authority
Also notice that the one "like unto a son of man" in Daniel's vision was given sovereignty over an everlasting kingdom and people of all nations and language would serve Him. The New Testament tells us that Jesus is given all authority.
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18 NASB)
For this reason also (being obedient to the point of death), God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 NASB)
Son of God - Was Jesus God's Offspring?
Jesus was called the "Son of God' many times in the Scriptures. (I believe He only twice referred to Himself by that term John 5:25 and 11:4)
And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, "and let all the angels of God worship Him." (Hebrews 1:6 NASB)
The Father called Jesus His "Son" at His' baptism and Transfiguration
and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." (Matthew 3:17 NASB)
Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!" (Mark 9:7 NASB)
However Jesus did not become the Son of God. Rather the Son of God, who existed before Mary or any other human did, became Jesus.
See Footnote I for more examples of the extreme versatility of the word "Son" in the Scriptures...
Jesus Was God's "First-Born" - to Immortality
There are several verses in the New Testament that refer to Jesus as the "firstborn" among many brethren or firstborn of the dead
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; (Romans 8:29 NASB)
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood (Revelation 1:5 NASB)
These texts imply that there will be others after Him. And so there will be. (Note however that although Jesus was not the first person ever to be raised from the dead, others like Lazarus whom Jesus Himself raised undoubtedly died again. Jesus was the only one who rose to immortality). As Eric Lyons from apologeticspress.org points out
The widow's son of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:22), the son of a Shunammite (2 Kings 4:32-35), the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:21-24,35-43), the widow of Nain's son (Luke 7:11-16), Lazarus (John 11:1-45), Tabitha (Acts 9:36-43), and Eutychus (Acts 20:7-12) all were raised from the dead, but none received worship. Jesus' followers recognized that His resurrection was different. It was a proof of His deity. [02]
Thus when the Bible tells us that Jesus was the firstborn of the dead it means many other believers will also be raised for all eternity and will never die again. This was foretold centuries earlier by the third of seven annual feasts the Jews were required to keep.
See The Seven Feasts of Israel
The historic and prophetic significance of yhese holy convocations that took place at "appointed times" is one of the most fascinating of all Biblical studies. Although believers are not required to keep them every Christian should be very familiar with the Feasts as they not only celebrate a historical event in Israel's past but are also a prophecy of future events that concern us all. They were types that, in Christian theology, are actual historical events that were a rough draft or a glimpse of one or more events yet to occur.
Also See Typology
In Christian theology typology is the study of types - prefigurative symbols in Scripture. They can be 1) An actual historical thing or event which, at the time it occurred, was a rough draft or glimpse, of one or more actual events yet to come, although the significance may not have been apparent at the original occurrence. Or 2) A person who prefigured the Messiah in some way. These 'personal' types were in addition to the many specific Old Testament Messianic prophecies. In short, a type was one or more event or person that foreshadowed, pointed to, and culminated in one final and very important event (or person) called the anti type.
When does this happen? the Apostle Paul was pretty clear that it occurs at His coming. See The Seventh Trumpet
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, (1 Corinthians 15:20-23 NASB)
Jesus - The Good Shepherd
It first has to be noted that the completely misplaced break between the ninth and tenth chapters of the Gospel of John gives the impression that the chapters are independent of each other. This is not the case. The two together form one continuous narrative. Chapter and verse divisions, added for convenience much after the books were written, often ignore natural divisions and interrupt the continuity of narrative.
In the ninth chapter we are told of Jesus showing that He was the "light of the world" by healing a man who was born blind (Vs. 9:1-5). This eventually led to a confrontation between Him and the Pharisees - the Saviour telling them that He was the "Good Shepherd" who would lay down His life for the sheep (John 10:11)
The Jews would not have missed the fact that when the Lord called Himself as the 'Good Shepherd' He was making two hugely significant points. (Note: Except when otherwise indicated, every instance of "Lord God" is the Hebrew adônây or Yahweh)
1) The religious leaders of the nation Israel, were the bad shepherds who ill-treated and abused the flock Note:
(1) Then the word of the Lord (Heb. Yahweh) came to me saying, (2) "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, 'Thus says the Lord (Heb. adônây) God (Heb. Yahweh), "Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? (3) "You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock. (4) "Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them. (5) "They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every beast of the field and were scattered. (6) "My flock wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill; My flock was scattered over all the surface of the earth, and there was no one to search or seek for them."' (Ezekiel 34:1-6 NASB)
2) Ezekiel also wrote that God the Father (Yahweh) was a good shepherd would deliver His sheep from those shepherds and take care of them.
(9) therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord (Heb. Yahweh) : (10) 'Thus says the Lord (Heb. adônây) God (Heb. Yahweh) "Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand My sheep from them and make them cease from feeding sheep. So the shepherds will not feed themselves anymore, but I will deliver My flock from their mouth, so that they will not be food for them."'" (11) For thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. (12) "As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day. (13) "I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land. (14) "I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down on good grazing ground and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. (15) "I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest," declares the Lord (Heb. adônây) God (Heb. Yahweh) . (16) "I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgment. (Ezekiel 34:9-16 NASB)
In declaring Himself the 'Good Shepherd', Jesus was telling them that He was the fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy - He was the shepherd who had come to save the lost sheep and give them eternal life. This declaration of equality and oneness with the Father was considered blasphemy of the highest order by the Jewish religious leadership.
Hypocrisy Unlimited?
The Biblical condemnation of idolatry, i.e. the worship of any cult image, idea, or object as opposed to the worship of a monotheistic God is very strongly worded and found all through Scripture. It is singled out in the Bible as the most abominable of sins - so much so that the first two commandments state...
Then God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. "You shall have no other gods before Me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, (Exodus 20:1-5 NASB)
From cover to cover, the Scriptures explicitly teach that Yahweh alone is to be worshipped and warns of the consequences of worshipping other gods. Yahweh will never allow another to receive the honor which is due Him alone nor will He permit graven images to receive praise for what He alone has accomplished....
But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim --for you shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God-- (Exodus 34:13-14 NASB)
Beware that your hearts are not deceived, and that you do not turn away and serve other gods and worship them. "Or the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its fruit; and you will perish quickly from the good land which the Lord is giving you. (Deuteronomy 11:16-17 NASB)
I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images. (Isaiah 42:8 NASB)
Jesus reiterated the message even telling Satan that only God was to be worshipped and served.
Then Jesus *said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'you shall worship (Gr. proskuneo) the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'" (Matthew 4:10 NASB)
Yet, there is no record of Jesus ever rebuking anyone for worshipping Him - not even when Thomas called Him Theos (John 20:28). Jesus accepted the worship of the Magi (Matthew 2:11), the leper (Matthew 8:2), a synagogue official (Matthew 9:18), the disciples in the boat (Matthew 14:33), the Gaderene demoniac (Mark 5:6), the disciples after the resurrection (Luke 24:52) etc.
Even more tellingly not only was Jesus worshipped with God the Father's knowledge but on His instruction.
And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, "And let all the angels of God worship (Gr. proskuneo) Him" (Hebrews 1:6 NASB)
Conclusion
If Jesus is not God yet accepted worship without protest, then one has to wonder how it is possible that God the Father calls Jesus "Son", declares that He is "pleased" with Him, and even told Peter, James, and John, to "hear" Jesus.
Has God given His glory to another?
Jesus offers us a clue to the contrary. In the garden of Gethsemane asked that He be restored to the glory He shared with the Father before the creation of the world
"Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. (John 17:5 NASB)
As this verse from Revelation shows one day in the near future Jesus will have honor, glory, and dominion for all eternity.
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:11-14 NASB)
Footnote I - "Son" in The Scriptures
Although the Bible often uses the word "son" in terms of offspring or biological children, it also indicates 'a close association with'. For example, believers who share no blood relationship with Abraham, are called "sons of Abraham" in Galatians 3:7. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said peacemakers 'shall be called "sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). In Job 1:6 created heavenly beings were also called "sons of God".
"Son" is also used in a wide variety of other contexts such as a person's tribe, people, city, and country of birth etc. And can also mean "sameness" as when a person displays the characteristics or qualities of someone or something else.
For example, Jesus referred to James and John as "sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17) that may refer to them wanting to call down fire down from heaven on a Samaritan village that would not receive the Messiah (Luke 9:53-54). In the same vein, Judas was called the "son of perdition" (John 17:12). In the Old Testament, wicked men have been called the "sons of Belial (worthlessness)" (Judges 19:22) while others were called sons of peace (Luke 10:6), sons of the world, and sons of the light (Luke 16:8).
A Domestic Servant: And Abram said, "Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house (literally a son of my house) is my heir." (Genesis 15:3 NASB)
A Group of Prophets: Now a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to another by the word of the Lord, "Please strike me." But the man refused to strike him. (1 Kings 20:35 NASB)
The Arrow (literally son of a bow) cannot make him flee; Slingstones are turned into stubble for him. (Job 41:28 NASB)
Anointed Ones: Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones (literally sons of oil) who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth." (Zechariah 4:14 NASB)
Foreigners: "Foreigners (literally sons of strangers) will build up your walls, And their kings will minister to you; For in My wrath I struck you, And in My favor I have had compassion on you. (Isaiah 60:10 NASB)
Guests of the Bridegroom: And Jesus said to them, "The attendants (literally sons of the bridechamber) of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. (Matthew 9:15 NASB) {PLACE IN TEXT}
End Notes
[01] Tracey R Rich. The Messianic Idea in Judaism. http://www.jewfaq.org/mashiach.htm
[02] Eric Lyons, M.Min. Jehovah's Witnesses and the Worship of Jesus http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2679
CONTINUE ON TO PART III - Jesus' Claims - Authenticated By Some Very Impressive Evidence
Miracles, Prophecy, and The Strikingly Significant Parallels between Yahweh in The Old Testament and Jesus in the New. HERE
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