Did Jesus Know Who He Was?

An article about Jesus knowing that he was the Son of God.

Imagine a story about a child whose parents are royalty.  Enemies come and murder Mom and Dad, but through the efforts of a servant, the child escapes.  For years the servant brings up this child, telling him nothing of his background for fear that should the truth come out, the child himself might be murdered.  Later, as the politics change and people long for a leader, rumors circulate that an heir to the throne exists.  The servant reveals to this child, now a man, that he is the son of a king.

Might something similar have happened to Jesus?  For much of his life—maybe for all of it—did he really have no idea who he was?  Did he spend his days on earth blind to his true purpose?  Did he discover it only in the end?

Did Jesus know who he was?

When Jesus was twelve years old, he went to Jerusalem and spent time discussing religion with teachers in the temple.  His parents left the city thinking he was with family friends in their traveling party. A day later they discovered that he was nowhere to be found.  They returned to Jerusalem.  They found him talking about religious truth in the temple.  His mother said, “Son, why have you treated us like this?  Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”  The twelve-year-old boy replies, “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:41-52)

His step-father lived in Nazareth.  The house Jesus spoke of was the temple, the house of his true Father.  Jesus was reminding his earthly parents that he knew that he was the Son of God.

Did Jesus know who he was?  From early on, he knew who he was!  He knew that he was human.  He knew that he was God.  He knew that he was God’s rescue plan for humans, the one who came to suffer eternal punishment for the sins of every single person in the world. 

Yes, Jesus was well aware that he was your Savior.