There are those who say that Jesus never claimed to be the Son of God, equal with God. I don’t understand that. It seems to me he made his claim perfectly clear. The religious leaders of the time seemed to understand it.

When Jesus told them: ”I and the Father are one.’ The Jews took up stones again to stone Him.” (John 10:30) Stoning was the supreme punishment, only for breaking the law for something deserving of death. Jesus clarified their reasoning. He asked them which good work of his was prompting the stoning.

‘The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” (Verse 33) See? They got his meaning with no problem.

Today, why do so many want to avoid it? So many want to say he was a good man, a prophet, a guru, a guy whose philosophy of life is worth following but they do not want him to actually BE God.

Perhaps the reason is that things get a little too black and white for comfort when this truth sits in the balance. Once the Jews understood what Jesus was really saying they could no longer avoid a decision. Many of his followers left him and the Pharisees realized they had to either accept him or get rid of him permanently. Of course we know which option they chose.

The choice is really no different today. Either he is God incarnate and worthy of our worship and allegiance or he was a poor misguided liar. One thing is for sure: he was not just a good man.