Jesus is Eternal
Just as God has always existed, so too has Jesus. There was never a time when He was not.
Psalm 90:2 (NKJV): "Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God."
Jesus was not created; He existed eternally alongside God. John's Gospel beautifully affirms this:
John 1:1-3 (NKJV): "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made."
The "Word" didn't become; He was. "With God" suggests both equality and association, and "The Word was God" declares His full deity without confusion of persons. As Jesus Himself stated;
John 17:5 NIV [5] And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Hebrews 1:8-11 and Colossians 1:15-17 underscore His eternal nature and role in creation, firmly establishing Him as divine and pre-existent. He is the "image of the invisible God," through whom and for whom "all things were created."
Colossians 1:15-17 NIV[15] The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. [16] For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. [17] He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Hebrews 1:8-12 NIV [8] But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. [9] You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” [10] He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. [11] They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. [12] You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”
Unlike humanity, which is limited by a physical body and can only be in one place at a time, God is Spirit and can be present throughout the universe simultaneously. This attribute is intrinsically linked to His limitless power and knowledge. God's presence extends to every corner, enabling Him to see, know, and act in all places at once.
Jesus promised His disciples His omnipresence, assuring them of His presence no matter where they gathered:
Matthew 18:19-20 (NKJV): "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV): "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
The global gathering of believers in Jesus' name, often simultaneously, attests to His omnipresence. While on earth, Jesus voluntarily limited His physical presence by taking on a human body. Yet, His inherent divine capacity to be everywhere at once, seeing, knowing, and acting upon events globally, remained an undeniable characteristic of His deity.
Only God possesses unlimited power over all creation; nothing is impossible for Him.
Job 42:1-2 (NKJV): "Then Job answered the LORD and said: 'I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.'"
Christ Himself created the entire universe, a testament to His infinite power.
John 1:1-3 NKJV[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
While God's omnipotence means He can do anything He chooses, it doesn't mean He does everything He has the power to do. For example, He voluntarily limited His power in certain instances. Jesus, while fully God, limited the exercise of His power during His earthly ministry to fulfill His purpose as a human savior.
Nonetheless, Jesus consistently demonstrated His divine power over:
- Nature
Luke 8:24-25 NKJV[24] And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. [25] But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”
- Physical Diseases
Matthew 8:2-4 NKJV[2] And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” [3] Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. [4] And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
- Demonic Spirits
Mark 1:32-34 NKJV [32] At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. [33] And the whole city was gathered together at the door. [34] Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
- Death
John 11:14-15, 41-44 NKJV [14] Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. [15] And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.”
[41] Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. [42] And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” [43] Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” [44] And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.
It logically follows that if God has unlimited power, He also possesses unlimited knowledge and wisdom.
Psalm 147:4-5 (NKJV): "He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite."
Colossians 2:1-3 NKJV [1] For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, [2] that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, [3] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (emphasis mine)
Scripture provides numerous examples of Jesus' omniscience. He knew exactly where to direct Peter and his fellow fishermen to find a miraculous catch, even after they had toiled all night with no success.
Luke 5:4-11 NKJV [4] When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” [5] But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” [6] And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. [7] So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. [8] When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” [9] For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; [10] and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” [11] So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
His disciples affirmed His all-knowing nature, and He never contradicted their claims.
John 16:29-30 NKJV [29] His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! [30] Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”
John 21:17 NKJV He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. (emphasis mine)
He even knew where Peter could find a coin in a fish's mouth to pay taxes.
Matthew 17:24-27 NKJV [24] When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?” [25] He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” [26] Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. [27] Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”
A common question arises: if Jesus is God and all-knowing, why did He state that only the Father knows the day and hour of His return?
Matthew 24:36 NKJV “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”
This remains a mystery within divine revelation, but an understanding can be approached through the lens of His earthly ministry. During this time, Jesus operated in the power of the Holy Spirit and fully as a man "under the Law"
John 1:32 NKJV And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.
Galatians 4:4-5 NKJV [4] But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
In His humanity, Jesus was completely dependent on the Father and experienced the limitations inherent to being human. His statement was not a denial of His deity, but rather an acknowledgment of His surrendered state in human form.
Scripture unequivocally states that only God is to be worshiped.
Exodus 20:3 NKJV “You shall have no other gods before Me.
Matthew 4:10 NKJV Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
Yet, countless accounts in Scripture show people worshiping Jesus, and He never once rebuked or stopped them.
Matthew 8:2 NKJV And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
Matthew 9:18 NKJV While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.”
Matthew 28:9-10, 17-20 NKJV [9] And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. [10] Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
[17] When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. [18] And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (emphasis mine)
John 20:28 NKJV And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Contrast this with instances where individuals attempted to worship angels or even Jesus' disciples; in those cases, the worshipers were immediately corrected and told to worship God alone.
Revelation 22:8-9 NKJV [8] Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. [9] Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
Acts 10:25-26 NKJV [25] As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. [26] But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.”
If Jesus were not God and allowed worship, He would have sinned, rendering Him unqualified to be our sinless Savior. His acceptance of worship is a powerful testament to His divine nature.
Yes, Jesus is God
Jesus "emptied Himself" by taking on the form of man and walking among His creation for thirty-three years, but He was and remains God.
1 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV): "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory."