Zakir Naik: Did Jesus Claim To Be God?

Zakir Naik poses the question: Where in the Gospel did Jesus Christ claim to be God or assert His divinity? When I read the comments under my videos, about one in ten of our fellow Afghans asks the same question: Where did Jesus say He is God?

Dear friends, many of you ask this question influenced by Zakir Naik, who claims that if a Christian can show him a verse where Jesus Christ calls Himself God or claims divinity, he will convert to Christianity. He says, "If you show me a verse where Jesus says He is God, I will become a Christian!"

When I watched Zakir Naik's video, I thought how wonderful it would be if Zakir Naik truly believed in Jesus Christ. He claims to believe in Jesus Christ but it would be better if he found a deeper and true faith. Let's look at the verses that show this, but first, I will read a verse from the Torah.

When God wanted to send Moses to free the Israelites from bondage, Moses asked, "God, who are you?" The Lord answered in the Book of Exodus, chapter 3, verse 14: "I am who I am." And He instructed Moses to tell the Israelites "I am" has sent him.

Now let's go to the Gospel of John, chapters 8, verses 56 to 59, where Jesus Christ speaks to the Jews and says, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad." The Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."

Do you remember what the Lord said when He sent Moses to the Israelites? The Lord told Moses, "I am who I am. Tell the Israelites 'I am' has sent me." Exodus 3:14

God introduces Himself as "I am." And here Jesus Christ tells the Jews, "Your father Abraham was glad to see my day; he saw it and was glad." The Jews ask, "How can you have seen Abraham if you are not yet fifty?" Jesus responds, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."

Jesus Christ, by using the name of God for Himself, claims divinity, and the Jews understand that He is claiming to be divine. How do we know? Based on verse 59, after this claim, the Jews "took up stones to throw at Him, but He hid Himself and went out of the temple." Thus, this was Jesus Christ's claim to divinity, which is why the Jews intended to stone Him.

So, if you have Zakir Naik's number, please send it to me so I can read the prayer of repentance with Zakir Naik, if he sincerely speaks these words. If he is just trying to mislead people, that is a completely different matter. In any case, I hope you ask questions without imitating others and seek the truth for yourselves. Jesus Christ says, "The truth will set you free." May you remain in the grace and blessing of God.