Where does Jesus claim to be God?

The most common question, usually originating from apologists Ahmed Deedat and Zakir Naik, is 'Where did Jesus say I am God, Worship Me?', but this is clearly an exponent of the exact word criterion. To get past this, you can respond by asking where Jesus says he is a 'plain warner', like Muhammad in Surah 6:37, 7:184, 10:20, 11:12, 13:7, 13:27, 15:89, 17:59, 20:133, 21:5, 22:49, 26:115, 27:92, 29:50, 34:46, 35:23, 38:65, 38:70, 46:9, 51:50, 79:435 and 88:21, or where he says 'I am only a prophet, don't worship me'.

It is clear that between the Qur'an, Old Testament and New Testament Jesus claims to be God, in a Trinity with the Father and the Holy Spirit, although explaining the Trinity and Tawhid from an Islamic perspective can wait for another post. Interestingly, scholars such as Nadir Ahmad claim Muhammad worked miracles, contradicting the perfect word of Allah, but that can also wait for another post.

Surah 57:3 refers to Allah as the 'first and last', also two of Allah's ninety-nine names and God also does in the Old Testament in Isaiah 44:6. In Revelation 1:17-18, Jesus proclaims; 'I am the First and the Last'; this is clearly a title only God can claim. In both Surah 3:135 and Psalm 51:4, only Allah and God can offer true forgiveness. In Mark 2:5-12, Jesus offers true forgiveness.

In Surah 22:56-57, Allah is the final judge. This is also a title in both Joel 3:12 and Psalm 9:7-8. Jesus, the Son of Man, is the final judge in Matthew 25:31-32. Another name of Allah and God, 'the Truth', is prescribed to Jesus. Surah 22:6 and Psalm 31:5 proclaim God as 'the Truth', while Jesus also assumes that title in John 14:6; 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'

It is established in both Surah 22:7 and 1 Samuel 2:6 that only God can raise the dead. Jesus claims this in John 5:25-29, where he says; 'Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.'

In Surah 57:1, Isaiah 42:8 and John 17:5, shared glory is expressed as impossible yet Jesus shares his glory. He sees Abraham (John 8:39-58), proves he is Lord of the prophet David (Matthew 22:41-45), has a unique relationship with the Father (Matthew 11:27), can answer prayers (Matthew 14:13-14), is present wherever his followers are (Matthew 18:20), is all authority in Heaven and Earth (Matthew 28:18), all God's things are his (John 16:15), you must honour the Son as the Father (John 5:21-23) and Jesus was worshiped in Matthew 2:11, Matthew 14:33, John 9:38, Matthew 28:17 and Luke 24:52.

Jesus is clearly claiming to be God, not just a prophet.