Jesus’ deity is constantly debated, and the singlemost distinction between Christians and all others. It is also critically important. Jesus Himself defined that importance (minus any words added by translators) this way:

Perhaps, considering this warning, the reason satan fights so ferociously against our proper understanding becomes apparent. That being said, what scriptural evidence do we have to confirm Jesus’ identity? We hope here to offer you a perspective you may not have seen elsewhere.

Within the first chapter of John’s gospel, he recounts a time when John the Baptist was confronted by priests and Levites sent to ask, “Who are you?” (John 1:19) This is the answer John the Baptist provided:

This fact, and John the Baptist’s prophetic identity, is confirmed by each and every gospel writer. (Matt. 3:3, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:4) Not only is the requirement of the Law (Deut. 17:6, 19:15, Matt. 18:16, 2 Cor. 13:1, 1 Tim. 5:19, Heb. 10:28) therefore already met, but Jesus Himself averred that truth with these words:

We well know who it is the Baptist was sent before, as expressed again within John’s gospel like this:

So then, none of this is new, of course. But what does it have to do with identifying Jesus as “YHVH” of the Old Testament? Let us look back there to see very specifically what the prophecy of Isaiah states, that prophecy so many witnesses, and the man himself, declare John the Baptist fulfilled.

Certainly the words do not escape our understanding. This “voice in the wilderness” was sent to announce the coming of YHVH, even God! John the Baptist was that voice, Jesus was the one he announced, and all of this was confirmed by sufficient witnesses. We are, as we read elsewhere (though admittedly within a different context), therefore “without excuse.”