The Divinity of Jesus Christ:
The Walk of God
​Question: Does the New Testament identify Jesus as God?
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Overview
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The divinity of Jesus is established in the New Testament by Jesus claiming divine attributes and divine authority. In addition to this, the New Testament authors apply to Jesus the exclusive titles and descriptions of God from the Old Testament. It should be noted that although Jesus is God, Jesus is not the Father and Jesus is not the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Second Person of the Triune God: Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit.
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The following is an example of Jesus being identified as God in the New Testament.
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The Walk of God
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The Old Testament states that God alone stretches out the heavens and walks or treads on the seas (Job 9:1-13). This poetic description emphasises that God is the Almighty Creator and rules supreme over creation. That Jesus is God according to the New Testament is seen from how Jesus walks where only God can walk (Mark 6:45-53, see also Matthew 14:22-34 & John 6:16-21). As the disciples of Jesus are trapped in a fierce storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus walks on the waters and thereby evidences his authority over creation as God. Two further considerations should be noted in support of this.
First, Jesus responded to the fear of the disciples in Mark 6:45-53 by saying, “Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid”. The phrase “It is I” (Greek: Ego Eimi) matches the divine name given to Moses in Exodus (Exodus 3:14). In Exodus 3:14, God reveals Himself to Moses by saying, “I Am Who I Am” (Greek: Ego Eimi Ho On). That Jesus is using the divine name as God is seen from the comment that Jesus intended to “pass by” the disciples as Jesus walked toward them on the sea. This is a peculiar phrase given that the intention of Jesus was to meet with the disciples rather than to pass them by. However, Exodus (Exodus 33:12-23) says that Moses was placed within or behind a rock when the glory of God “passed by”. Jesus is therefore reenacting or recalling the story of Moses as the disciples see the glory of Jesus (God) pass them by (so to speak). In summary, the glory of Jesus as God passed by the disciples (in fulfilment of Exodus 33:12-33) as Jesus exercised divine power (in fulfilment of Job 9:1-13) and used the divine name (in fulfilment of Exodus 3:14). See also how the confusion of the disciples in seeing Jesus walk on the sea in Mark 6:48-50 matches the description of Job as God "passes" by in Job 9:10-11.
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Second, Mark states that the disciples were confused and amazed at Jesus walking on the water because they had failed to understand the miracle of the loaves. Before Jesus had sent the disciples across the Sea of Galilee, Jesus had miraculously fed a crowd of five thousand in the wilderness by multiplying bread and fish (Mark 6:30-44). In like manner, God had miraculously provided manna and quail in the wilderness for the Israelites as they journeyed towards the promised land (Exodus 16:1-36). Mark’s point is that the disciples should have recognised this parallel and acknowledged Jesus as the God of Israel (the God who miraculously provides sustenance in lonely and destitute places) before Jesus had (again) displayed his divinity by walking on the sea. Unfortunately, the disciples had failed to recognise the true significance of either miracle, hence their bewilderment when Jesus walked on the water.
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Bible Passages
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Exodus 3:14
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(14) God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
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Exodus 33:12-23
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(12) Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ (13) If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”
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(14) The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
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(15) Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. (16) How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
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(17) And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”
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(18) Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
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(19) And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (20) But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
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(21) Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. (22) When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. (23) Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”
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Job 9:1-13
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(1) Then Job replied: (2) “Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God? (3) Though they wished to dispute with him, they could not answer him one time out of a thousand. (4) His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed? (5) He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger. (6) He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble. (7) He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars. (8) He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. (9) He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. (10) He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. (11) When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him. (12) If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ (13) God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet.
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Matthew 14:22-34
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(22) Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. (23) After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, (24) and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
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(25) Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. (26) When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
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(27) But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
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(28) “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
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(29) “Come,” he said.
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Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. (30) But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
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(31) Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
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(32) And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. (33) Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
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(34) When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.
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Mark 6:45-53
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(45) Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. (46) After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
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(47) Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. (48) He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, (49) but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, (50) because they all saw him and were terrified.
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Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (51) Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, (52) for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
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(53) When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.
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John 6:16-21
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(16) When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, (17) where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. (18) A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. (19) When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. (20) But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” (21) Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
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