John, the Gospel writer, said there was a very big difference between Jesus and John the Baptist.  Without doubt, the baptiser was a remarkable figure in history (Luke 7:28), but he was only a man.  His existence began at his conception; he had a human origin and had not come from Heaven.  

By contrast, Jesus came from Heaven.  He was eternally Divine (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-20).  His existence did not start at His conception because He always was with the Father and the Spirit in Heaven (John 3:13).  Therefore, He was able to speak about the things He had seen and heard in the company of Father God and the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle John was absolutely convinced that Jesus was authentically God.  This is the fundamental reason why Jesus Christ is so profoundly different from every man who has ever walked this earth.  It is also the reason why the words of Jesus, fully consistent with the Old Testament, are so important.  Literally, they are the words of life (John 6:68).  The fact that many who saw Jesus did not believe Him (indeed they shouted for Him to be crucified) does not deny the truth of His deity.

Many today take the wise sayings of Jesus as good moral instructions.  But Jesus cannot just be a good teacher; He makes far greater claims than that.  In saying that He is God the Son, He is either right or wrong.  If He is wrong, He is either deluded (mad) or wickedly manipulative (bad).  So, the issue is not whether we agree that Jesus was wise, but whether we agree that He had come from Heaven - and therefore was able to teach eternal truths only known by God.  The key to our eternal destiny is what we believe about Jesus.  As friends and colleagues start to wonder if He really is such a different kind of person, encourage them to read the Gospels (perhaps starting at Mark which is the shortest) and let them ask the question, “Is this man mad (deluded), bad (wicked) or God (which is consistent with what He said and did)?”  As they come to see who Jesus is, then His death on the cross is even more remarkable.  As they put their trust in Him, they are born again and given His eternal life.