Jesus Christ: Declared God by His Disciples, Affirmed by Himself

 Jesus Christ: Declared God by His Disciples, Affirmed by Himself

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba | Shimba Theological Institute

One of the most powerful and undeniable affirmations of the divinity of Jesus Christ in Scripture is found in John 20:28, where the apostle Thomas, upon encountering the risen Christ, exclaims:

“My Lord and my God!”

Notice carefully — Jesus did not rebuke Thomas for this declaration. In Jewish custom and theology, attributing divinity to anyone other than the one true God would have been considered blasphemy, a sin punishable by death (Leviticus 24:16). If Jesus were merely a prophet or a good moral teacher, as Islamic theology suggests, this would have been the moment for Him to correct Thomas. But instead, Jesus accepted this worship.

The acceptance of worship and divine titles is consistent throughout the New Testament narrative. In multiple instances:

• Matthew 14:33 — After calming the storm, the disciples worshiped Him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

• Hebrews 1:8 — The Father Himself declares of the Son, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.”

• Revelation 5:13-14 — All creation offers worship to “Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.”

In contrast, faithful servants of God like angels and apostles consistently refused worship (Revelation 19:10, Acts 14:14-15). This highlights a crucial theological distinction: Jesus accepted what only God is due — worship and divine titles.

Islamic theology, as presented in the Quran, denies the divinity of Jesus (Surah 5:72), reducing Him to a prophet. Yet the New Testament, authenticated by apostolic witness and consistent prophetic revelation, firmly proclaims the deity of Christ. John 1:1 boldly declares, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

The testimony of Thomas represents the climax of Johannine Christology — acknowledging Jesus as both sovereign Lord and eternal God, a truth Jesus affirmed through His actions, teachings, and acceptance of divine worship.

Conclusion:
The biblical witness is unmistakable. Jesus is not a mere prophet; He is God incarnate. His resurrection, acceptance of worship, and divine authority confirm His eternal nature as both Lord and God. Any theology denying this truth stands in opposition to apostolic Christianity and the unbroken testimony of Scripture.