Matthew 16:16; John 6:69: A Divine Savior

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“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
(Matthew 16:16; John 6:69)

We encounter a certain class of inquirers who do not believe in the divinity of Christ. Many passages shed light on this subject.

In 1 Corinthians 15:47, we are told: “The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.”

In 1 John 5:20: “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.”

Also in John 17:3: “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

In Mark 14:60-64: “And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, ‘Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?’ But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?’ And Jesus said, ‘I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.’ And the high priest tore his garments and said, ‘What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?’ And they all condemned him as deserving death.”

Iimage illustrating Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ in Matthew 16:16 and John 6:69.

What led me to believe in Christ’s divinity was this: I didn’t know where to place Him or what to do with Him if He were not divine. As a boy, I thought He was a good man like Moses, Joseph, or Abraham. I even believed He was the best man who ever lived. But I found Christ claimed more. He claimed to be God-Man, divine, from heaven. He said, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). I couldn’t grasp this, and I was driven to conclude—and I challenge any honest person to deny the inference—that Jesus Christ is either an impostor or deceiver, or He is the God-Man, God manifest in the flesh. Here’s why: The first commandment is, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). Consider the millions in Christendom who worship Jesus as God. If Christ is not God, this is idolatry. We’d all be guilty of breaking the first commandment if Jesus were merely human, a created being, and not what He claims.

Some who deny His divinity call Him the best man who ever lived, but if He were not divine, that very claim makes Him not a good man, for He claimed honor and dignity these people say He had no right to. That would make Him a deceiver.

Others say He thought He was divine but was mistaken. As if Jesus were deluded, believing He was more than He was! I can’t imagine a lower view of Christ. This would not only make Him an impostor but also suggest He was out of His mind, unaware of who He was or where He came from. If Jesus wasn’t what He claimed—the Savior of the world, from heaven—He was a gross deceiver.

But how can anyone read Christ’s life and call Him a deceiver? Impostors usually have a motive. What was Christ’s? He knew His path led to the cross, His name would be reviled, and many followers would die for His sake. Nearly all the apostles were martyrs, considered the scum and refuse among people. An impostor has a motive behind hypocrisy, but what was Christ’s? The record states, “He went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). That’s not an impostor’s work. Don’t let the enemy of your soul deceive you.

In John 5:21-23, we read: “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.”

By Jewish law, a blasphemer was to be put to death. If Christ were merely human, this is blasphemy. “Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father.” That’s outright blasphemy if Christ isn’t divine. If Moses, Elijah, Elisha, or any mortal said, “Honor me as you honor God,” equating themselves with God, it would be blasphemy.

The Jews executed Christ because He claimed to be what they denied. He was put under oath. The high priest said, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God” (Matthew 26:63). When the Jews asked, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly,” Jesus replied, “I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones to stone Him (John 10:24-31). They said they needed no more proof; it was blasphemy. He was condemned and killed for declaring Himself the Son of God (Matthew 26:63-66).

If Jesus were merely human, the Jews were right, per their law, to execute Him. Leviticus 24:16 states: “Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.”

This law required death for blasphemers. His claim to divinity cost Him His life; by Mosaic law, He deserved death. In John 16:15, Christ says, “All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” How could a mere good man use such language?

Since my conversion, I’ve never doubted this point. A notorious sinner, asked how he proved Christ’s divinity, said, “He saved me; that’s pretty good proof, isn’t it?”

An infidel once told me, “I’ve studied John the Baptist’s life, Mr. Moody. Why not preach him? He was greater than Christ. You’d do more good.” I replied, “You preach John the Baptist; I’ll follow and preach Christ, and we’ll see who does more good.” He said, “You’ll do more because people are so superstitious.” John was beheaded, his disciples buried his body, but Christ rose from the dead; He has “ascended on high, led a host of captives, and gave gifts to men” (Psalm 68:18).

Our Christ lives. Many haven’t realized Christ rose from the grave. They worship a dead Savior, like Mary, who said, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him” (John 20:13). That’s the issue for those doubting His divinity.

In Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” How can He be there if He’s merely human? These are compelling passages.

In Matthew 28:18: “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’” Could a mere man speak like that? “All authority in heaven and on earth!”

Also in Matthew 28:20: “Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” How could a mere man be with us always?

In Mark 2:7-9: “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone? And immediately, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, Jesus said to them, ‘Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Rise, take up your bed, and walk”?’”

Some say, “Didn’t Elisha also raise the dead?” In rare cases, men raised the dead by God’s power, calling on Him. But Christ didn’t call on the Father to raise the dead. At Jairus’s house, He said, “Little girl, I say to you, arise” (Mark 5:41).

He had power to impart life. When they carried the young man from Nain, He had compassion on the widowed mother, touched the bier, and said, “Young man, I say to you, arise” (Luke 7:14). He spoke, and the dead arose.

When He raised Lazarus, He called loudly, “Lazarus, come out” (John 11:43). Lazarus heard and came forth. Someone remarked it was good Lazarus was named, or all the dead within Christ’s voice would have risen.

In John 5:25, Jesus says: “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” What blasphemy if He weren’t divine! The proof is overwhelming if you examine God’s Word.

Another point: no good man but Jesus allowed worship. He never rebuked worshipers. In John 9:38, the blind man found by Christ said, “Lord, I believe,” and worshiped Him. Jesus didn’t rebuke him.

In Revelation 22:6-9: “And he said to me, ‘These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place. And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.’ I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.’”

Even an angel refused John’s worship. If Gabriel came from God’s presence, worshiping him, or any seraph, cherub, Michael, or archangel, would be sin. “Worship God!” If Jesus weren’t God manifest in the flesh, worshiping Him would be idolatry. In Matthew 14:33: “And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” He didn’t rebuke them.

In Matthew 8:2: “And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.’”

In Matthew 15:25: “But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’”

Many other passages exist, but these suffice to prove beyond doubt the divinity of our Lord.

In Acts 14, the heathen of Lystra brought garlands to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas for healing a crippled man. The evangelists tore their clothes, insisting they were only men, not to be worshiped, as if it were a great sin. If Jesus were merely human, worshiping Him would be a grave sin.

But since He is, as we believe, the only begotten and beloved Son of God, let us yield to His claims, rest on His atoning work, and serve Him all our days.

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About the Author

Born in Northfield, Massachusetts, Dwight L. Moody overcame a poor upbringing and limited education to become a leading 19th-century evangelist. Converted in 1855, he left a successful Chicago business career for ministry, founding the Moody Church and leading the Chicago YMCA. His powerful revivals with singer Ira D. Sankey drew millions in America and Britain. Moody’s simple, heartfelt preaching on salvation transformed lives. He established the Moody Bible Institute and Northfield Schools, leaving a lasting legacy in modern evangelism.