Jesus Prayer 1.1.1

The question of whether Jesus is God has been the subject of extensive theological debate throughout history. The overwhelming majority of Christians, encompassing Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions, subscribe to the belief that Jesus embodies both divine and human natures. This duality is reflected in various scriptural references within the New Testament, identifying Jesus as "the Word of God," "the Son of God," "the Son of Man," and indeed, God Himself.

While these beliefs are central to Christian doctrine, they are not universally accepted. Islamic teachings regard Jesus as a prophet, distinct from the concept of divinity or as the "Son of God." Historical context reveals that during Jesus' lifetime, many Jewish individuals were incensed by his assertions of being the "Son of God" and the claims made by his followers that he was the "Messiah," a belief not embraced by most Jews.

Numerous biblical verses serve to articulate the belief among Christians that Jesus is God:

• "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." - John 1:1-3, ESV
• "The Word became a human being. He made his home with us. We have seen his glory. It is the glory of the one and only Son. He came from the Father. And he was full of grace and truth." - John 1:14, NIRV
• "Jesus said... 'I and the Father are one.'" - John 10:30, ESV
• "Christ is God over all, blessed forever." - Romans 9:5, ESV
• "[We are] waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." - Titus 2:13, ESV
• "In [Jesus] the fullness of the deity dwells bodily." - Colossians 2:9, ESV

Additionally, Jesus is referred to as "the Son of God":

• "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." - John 1:14, ESV
• "In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power." - Hebrews 1:2-3, ESV
• "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." - 1 John 5:20, ESV

All Christians hold these verses as affirmations of Jesus' divine nature. Moreover, they believe that Jesus' sacrificial death offers forgiveness for sins to all who sincerely ask for it, promising eternal communion with God in Heaven.

Notably, Mohandas Gandhi encapsulated a universal spiritual sentiment when he stated, "I am a Muslim, and a Hindu, and a Christian, and a Jew," despite being born into Jainism.

From a Christian perspective, Jesus' earthly existence reflects God's plan to bridge humanity's understanding of Him. Conversely, those holding non-Christian views often interpret Jesus' identity through differing lenses.

Key biblical references further illustrate this concept:

• "...and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." - John 1:14

In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus frequently identifies as "the Son of Man," a designation drawn from Old Testament texts which emphasize humanity's distance from divine presence. Psalm 8 exemplifies this sentiment when King David questions God's attention towards humankind despite their imperfections.

For instance, in Matthew 24:30, Jesus proclaims: "...They shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory," differentiating between his human experience and his divine authority as God's Son.