There are accounts of Jesus using indirect references to Himself as being the Messiah, a.k.a. the Anointed one a.k.a. the Christ, but isn’t is interesting to note that there is no direct record of Jesus saying ‘I am Christ’. In fact, when the disciples recognize Him to be the Christ (Mark 8:28-31), he cautions them they are not to tell that to anyone and when He uses the phrase ‘I AM Christ’, He is warning those who are listening that this claim will be made by many who are indeed not the Christ.
History records of cult (Heaven’s Gate, the Jonestown People’s Temple, Branch Davidians) leaders who have made this claim, only to deceive their followers, in the end. Even today this happens but in more subtle forms. Claims such as ‘I am a little messiah walking on the earth’ and ‘be gone critics, I am a little god’ by famous televangelists are prevalent even today. I say this with no bias toward televangelists, but only wish to say that we must check the validity of statements and claims without blindly accepting them. We must be like the Bereans (Acts 17:3, 10-11) who searched the scriptures daily to see if what Paul and Silas were saying was true or not.
Point(s) to ponder:
Jesus, the only person who has the right to claim that He is the Christ, did not do so, but warned us, so that we wont be deceived by those who claim to be. When Jesus returns, every knee will bow and every tongue confess what He never directly claimed Himself – ‘I AM Christ’. You can accept him as the Christ and Savior of your soul now or you wait for his return, but be aware and beware, because by then it will be too late as He will return as a Judge and we will all be judged. Jesus indeed is THE only CHRIST (Acts 17:3). Pay no attention whatsoever to anyone else who claims to be. There is no other!
Additional reading – In the wake of Waco
Matthew 24:4-5, 23-24 (KJV)
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mano Paul
Isn’t that awesome? This was truly a hidden treasure that I cherished finding, and the credit goes to the Holy Spirit of God whom I believe was the revealer of this truth. What a wonderful God, we are servants of!
Suresh Chandra Bose
This really helped me to dig further from the bible if Jesus really said “I am the Christ”.
I noticed after scanning the new Testament(have a bible pdf) that Jesus only accepted the statement when others (High Priest who questioned & tore his garments later, Pilate, Jews from the temple area, Martha, Peter and other disciples) said so or questioned.
I am surprised to find that Jesus himself never said so….This shows how humble HE is.