The Son of God

(By Jay Yeager)

Friends, no subject from the dawn of time to the shores of eternity is more vital to mankind than the one under consideration in this lesson. Here is why, the God of heaven and earth planned for his Son to be the Saviour of the world (John 4:14). Not just “A WAY” to heaven, but the “ONLY WAY” to heaven (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; I John 5:11-12).

Further, knowing that for a variety of reasons and motives this subject would be scrutinized from every conceivable angle, he left no room for any genuine doubt that Jesus Christ is his only begotten Son (I John 4:9).

“God with us” is accurately attached to his miraculous entrance into the world. A birth unlike any other (Isaiah 7:14; 8:8; 10; Matthew 1:23), as Deity would take a human form (Philippians 2:5-9). The angel Gabriel announced that his birth was eminent (Luke 1:26-33) and directly following his birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Luke 2:1-7), an angelic chorus joined in the proclamation that the Saviour had come, “…which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:8-14).

His life holy and distinctive (Hebrews 4:15), his teaching profound (Matthew 7:29; John 7:46), the miracles and signs an affirmation of heavens will (Acts 2:22). Collectively, John recorded them to produce faith. “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:30-31). Folks, that is who were are talking about; Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

Three times God verbally acknowledges Jesus from heaven

  1. At his baptism; “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lightening upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17).
  2. The mount of transfiguration. After Peter states his desire to build three tabernacles, there is this; “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, this is my beloved Son, in which I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matthew 17:5).
  3. Then as Calvary loomed ever nearer this exchange occurs between the Father and the Son; “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again” (John 12:27-28).

A forth time, not in words, but in action

  1. Darkness that covered the earth; “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour” (Matthew 27:45).

Beloved, do you know that was the fulfillment of a prophecy given some seven hundred years earlier? Listen to the words of Amos 8:9, “And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day”.

Further, “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks were rent. And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the city, and appeared unto many” (Matthew 27:51-53).

The centurion and those with him received the message loud and clear, “Now when the centurion and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54).

From Moses to Malachi

(Luke 24:27)

The story of Jesus is told as only God can. From a hint of what was to come (Genesis 3:15), a promise that would benefit the whole world (Genesis 12:3; 22:18; Galatians 3:8; 14), a forerunner preparing the way (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1) for among other things a sacrifice that only Jesus could accomplish (Exodus 12:3-13; John 1:29; 36; I Peter 1:18-19).

The path that would lead to Calvary would not be an easy journey:

  1. Betrayal by a friend (Psalms 41:9) for an insulting sum of money (Matthew 26:14-15; Exodus 21:32), a decision Judas would find to be unbearable (Matthew 27:3-5).
  2. Forced to endure a mock trial where the scales of justice were cast aside, Jesus was an innocent man, and all those connected to the trial knew it (Matthew 26:59-66; Luke 22:67-69; Luke 23:15; 22), and as foretold Jesus refused to dignify it with a defense (Isaiah 53:7-8; Acts 8:32-35).
  1. Hands and feet pierced as Jesus was nailed to the cross (Psalms 22:16; Matthew 27:35). Five times in the New Testament it is spoken of as Jesus on a tree (Acts 5:30; 10:39; 13:29; Galatians 3:13; I Peter 2:24). The last, so revealing “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (I Peter 2:24).
  2. Jesus voluntarily died on Calvary (John10:18). According to the scriptures, not a bone broken (Psalms 34:20; John 19:36), his side pierced (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34), his burial detailed (Psalms 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60), the enemies of Jesus making every effort to secure the tomb (Matthew 27:62-66), but death could not hold the Son of God (Matthew 28:1-7).

The resurrection of Christ

The resurrection from the dead is certainly taught in the Old Testament (Job 19:25-27; Daniel 12:2), believed in the New Testament (John 11:23-27), confirmed in Christ (Luke 24:1-8) and verified through eyewitnesses:

  1. Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9; John 20:11-18).
  2. The other women after they left the sepulcher (Matthew 28:9).
  3. Peter (Luke 24:34).
  4. The two men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-31).
  5. The disciples (without Thomas) who were assembled behind closed doors (John 20:19-23).
  6. The disciples (eight days later) with Thomas (John 20:24-29).
  7. Above 500 brethren at one time (I Corinthians 15:6).
  8. Seven disciples at the Sea of Galilee (John 21:2-22).
  9. James, the Lord’s half brother (Matthew 13:55; John 7:5; Acts 1:14; I Corinthians 15:7).
  10. The apostles on the Mount of Olives (Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 1:4-11).
  11. The apostle Paul (I Corinthians 15:8).

Four things that the world has assurance of because of the resurrection of Christ

  1. His Deity. “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4).
  2. The judgment. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commendeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given all men in that he raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).
  3. A living hope. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (I Peter 1:3).
  4. He is reigning at the right hand of God. “And again, Esaias saith, there shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust” (Romans 15:12).

Beloved, read thoughtfully these inspired words. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (I John 5:11-12).