1.John the Baptist’s messengers (Matt 11:2–6; Luke 7:18–23) Question: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” • Response: He points to the works (blind see, lame walk, lepers cleansed, deaf hear, dead raised, poor hear good news) and says the one who is not offended by him is blessed. No bare “yes.” 2.Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:25–26) She says she knows Messiah is coming and will explain everything. • Response: “I who speak to you am he.” 3.Crowd in the temple (John 10:24–30) Question: “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” • Response: “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me… I and the Father are one.” 4.Trial before the high priest / council (Mark 14:61–62; Matt 26:63–64; Luke 22:66–70) Question: “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed / Son of God?” (Mark under oath; Luke asks both Messiah and Son of God.) • Response: Mark: “I am,” plus the Son of Man seated at the right hand and coming with the clouds. Matthew: “You have said so,” then the same Son of Man saying. Luke: “If I tell you, you will not believe… But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God,” and when they ask “Are you the Son of God?” he answers “You say that I am.” 5.Before Pilate (Mark 15:2; Matt 27:11; Luke 23:3; John 18:33–37) Question: “Are you the King of the Jews?” • Response: Synoptics: “You have said so” / “You say so.” John: “My kingdom is not of this world… You say that I am a king. For this I was born… to testify to the truth.” 6.Man born blind (John 9:35–38) Jesus asks whether he believes in the Son of Man; the man asks who that is. • Response: “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” The man worships him. 7.Before Herod Antipas (Luke 23:8–9) Herod questions him at length (hoping for a sign; the context is the charge that he claims kingship). • Response: Jesus gives him no answer. ________________________ Closely related identity challenges that draw a reply 8.Nazareth synagogue (Luke 4:16–30; cf. Mark 6:1–6; Matt 13:54–58) After he reads Isaiah 61 and says the scripture is fulfilled in their hearing, they ask “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” and demand he do here what they heard he did in Capernaum. • Response: He cites the proverb about a prophet without honor and the examples of Elijah and Elisha, then they try to throw him off the cliff. 9.“By what authority?” (Matt 21:23–27; Mark 11:27–33; Luke 20:1–8) Chief priests, scribes, and elders ask by what authority he does these things and who gave it. • Response: Counter-question about John’s baptism; when they refuse to answer, he refuses to tell them. 10.Demand for a sign (Matt 12:38–42; Luke 11:29–32; Matt 16:1–4; Mark 8:11–12; cf. John 2:18–22; 6:30) Pharisees / scribes / crowd: “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you,” or “What sign do you show us?” • Response: No sign will be given except the sign of Jonah (death and resurrection / temple saying in John); this generation is evil and adulterous; the Queen of the South and Nineveh will condemn it. In Mark he sighs and says no sign will be given. 11.“If you are the Son of God…” — wilderness (Matt 4:3, 6; Luke 4:3, 9) The tempter challenges him to prove it by turning stones to bread or throwing himself down. • Response: Scripture quotations (Deut 8:3; 6:16; 6:13). He does not perform the demanded proofs. 12.Beelzebul charge and “by whom do your sons cast them out?” (Matt 12:22–32; Mark 3:22–30; Luke 11:14–23) After a healing, some say he casts out demons by Beelzebul (an attack on the source of his authority). • Response: A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand; he casts them out by the Spirit / finger of God, so the kingdom has come; blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 13.Disciples in the boat after the storm (Matt 8:23–27; Mark 4:35–41; Luke 8:22–25) They ask what sort of man this is, that even wind and sea obey him. • Response: He had already rebuked the wind and sea (“Quiet! Be still!”); the calming itself is the answer the narrative highlights. He also asks why they are afraid and have so little faith. 14.Peter’s confession, elicited by Jesus (Matt 16:13–20; Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–21) Not others interrogating him, but adjacent: he asks who people say he is, then “Who do you say I am?” • Peter: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus blesses him and, in the Synoptics, orders them not to tell anyone yet. 15.Mockery at the cross (Matt 27:39–43; Mark 15:29–32; Luke 23:35–39) Passers-by, chief priests, and one criminal: “If you are the Son of God / the Messiah / King of the Jews, come down from the cross.” • Response: No reply to the taunt (he speaks other words from the cross). The other criminal’s request draws a promise of paradise (Luke 23:42–43). 16.John the Baptist’s public witness and the delegation (John 1:19–28, then 1:29–34) Priests and Levites ask John, not Jesus, whether he is the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet. John points to the one coming after him. • Adjacent: when Jesus later appears, John identifies him as the Lamb of God and the one on whom the Spirit remained. Jesus himself is not the one questioned in this scene. 17.“Who is this Son of Man?” (John 12:34) The crowd, after he speaks of being lifted up, asks how the Messiah can be lifted up and who this Son of Man is. • Response: He answers with the light / walk while you have the light saying, then withdraws. Not a direct “I am,” but tied to the title he has been using.