Thursday, July 24, 2025

Why Did Jesus Not Openly Reveal His Full Identity?

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba | Shimba Theological Institute

Abstract

A central question in Christological debate is why Jesus of Nazareth, believed by Christians to be God incarnate, did not explicitly and publicly proclaim His divine identity. This article investigates this theological issue through a biblical-theological lens, analyzing key New Testament passages and examining the Christological self-disclosure of Jesus. It argues that Jesus’ indirect revelation of His identity aligns with the redemptive-historical purpose of His first advent and the spiritual discernment required to perceive divine truth.

I. Introduction

Critics and skeptics often challenge the Christian doctrine of Jesus’ divinity by questioning why Jesus never openly declared, “I am God.” Others assert that the elevation of Jesus to divine status was the result of later Christian exaggeration. However, a careful reading of Scripture reveals that Jesus deliberately avoided open declarations of His divine nature, employing veiled language, symbolic terminology, and parables to communicate His identity.

This article aims to explore the biblical reasons for Jesus’ reserved self-revelation and how this approach was necessary for the fulfillment of His mission and for spiritual discernment.

II. Jesus’ Reserved Revelation of His Identity

A. Indirect Claims to Deity

Jesus did not frequently declare “I am God” in explicit terms, but He made profound indirect claims:

Preexistence and Divine Title:
- “Before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58)
  — “I AM” references God's self-revelation to Moses (Exodus 3:14).
Descent from Heaven:
- “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” (John 6:41–42)
Divine Glory:
- “Glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” (John 17:5)
Use of "Son of God":
- “Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?” (John 10:36)
Acceptance of Worship:
- Jesus never rebuked those who worshiped Him (e.g., Matthew 14:33).

B. Jesus’ Identity as the Messiah and Son of Man

Private Confessions:
- To the Samaritan woman: “I who speak to you am he [the Messiah].” (John 4:26)
- Before the High Priest: “Yes, it is as you say.” (Matthew 26:64)
The Son of Man Title:
- Jesus referred to Himself as the “Son of Man” over 50 times (e.g., Matthew 20:28), a term that combines humility and the divine-human figure in Daniel 7:13–14.

C. Jesus Forbade Public Proclamations of His Identity

To His Disciples:
- “Then He warned His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.” (Matthew 16:20)
To Demons:
- “He gave them strict orders not to tell who He was.” (Mark 3:12)
To the Healed:
- “See that you don't tell anyone.” (Matthew 8:4; Mark 5:43)

D. Refusal to Prove Identity Under Challenge

Jesus rejected demands to perform miracles as proof of His identity:

“If you are the Son of God…” (Matthew 4:3,6 – Satan’s temptations)
“Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 27:40)

E. Use of Parables to Conceal and Reveal

Jesus often spoke in parables to selectively reveal spiritual truths:

“Though seeing, they do not see… This is why I speak to them in parables…” (Matthew 13:10–15)

III. Theological Reasons for Jesus’ Reserved Self-Revelation

A. Divine Identity Requires Spiritual Revelation

Revelation by the Father:
- “Blessed are you… for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17)
The Cross is Spiritually Discerned:
- “The message of the cross is foolishness… because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 1:18; 2:14)
Love as the Key to Revelation:
- “He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will… manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21–23)
Role of the Holy Spirit:
- “God has revealed it to us by His Spirit… the Spirit who is from God.” (1 Corinthians 2:7–13)

B. Jesus’ Purpose Was Redemption, Not Public Fame

Mission as a Servant:
- “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” (Matthew 20:28)
- “He humbled Himself… even to death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6–8)
Christ's First Advent as Savior, Not Judge:
- “The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

C. Hardness of Human Hearts and the Work of Satan

Spiritual Blindness:
- “The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers…” (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Isaiah’s Prophecy:
- “Though hearing, they do not understand… For this people’s heart has become calloused.” (Matthew 13:13–15)
Unbelief of His Own People:
- “He came to His own, but His own did not receive Him.” (John 1:11)

IV. The Hidden Wisdom of God in Christ

Scripture affirms that God's redemptive plan in Christ was veiled from the world and revealed only to the faithful:

“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter.” (Proverbs 25:2)
“Truly, you are a God who hides Himself.” (Isaiah 45:15)
“He reveals deep and hidden things…” (Daniel 2:22)

Apostolic witness testifies to the hidden wisdom of Christ:

“We speak of God's secret wisdom… if the rulers had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:7–8)
“The mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom…” (Colossians 2:2–3)

Conclusion

Jesus did not openly declare His divinity in simplistic terms because His identity is not a matter of intellectual assent but spiritual revelation. His mission as Redeemer necessitated humility, obscurity, and rejection. The veiled nature of His identity ensured that only those with hearts open to the Father’s calling and the Spirit’s illumination could truly recognize Him as God incarnate. In doing so, Jesus fulfilled prophetic Scripture, protected the integrity of His redemptive mission, and ensured that genuine faith would be the response to His true identity.

Bibliography

Bruce, F.F. The Hard Sayings of Jesus. IVP Academic, 1983.
Carson, D.A. The Gospel According to John. Eerdmans, 1991.
Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Zondervan, 1994.
Hurtado, Larry. Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity. Eerdmans, 2003.
Wright, N.T. Jesus and the Victory of God. Fortress Press, 1996.
Shimba, Maxwell. The Divinity of Christ in the Gospel of John. Shimba Theological Institute, 2023.
Shimba, Maxwell. Christology and Hidden Wisdom in Pauline Theology. Shimba Theological Journal, 2022.