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Perhaps no other title of Jesus is as familiar to us as the Son of God. And yet this title is probably one of the least clearly defined in our own minds.
Jesus being the Son of God is not only central to our faith, it is a basic requirement of anyone who would even profess to be a Christian. In fact, the scriptures are filled with the claims of first century Christians affirming their belief in Jesus as being the Son of God.
And it was for this claim that Jesus ultimately died. When Jesus spoke of "My Father," John tells us that, "This made the Jews still more determined to kill him, because he was not only breaking the Sabbath, but by calling God his own Father, he claimed equality with God," (John 5:17-18). When Jesus was finally arrested and brought before the Council, the High Priest asked, "Are you the Christ (the Messiah), the Son of God?" (Matthew 26:63-64, Mark 14:61-62, Luke 22:69-70).
When reading the New Testament, it becomes clear that Jesus being the Son of God was a theme which ran constant through each of the epistles. Jesus is declared to be the Son of God by power (Romans 1:4). It is the Son of God, Jesus Christ, that Paul, Silvanus and Timothy preached to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 1:19). It is by faith in the Son of God that Paul lives (Galatians 2:20). The essence of a mature Christian is one that has come to a knowledge of the Son of God (Ephesians 4:13). Apostasy is a form of re-crucifixion of the Son of God (Hebrews 6:6). The one who rejects the Son of God will not escape the consequences of his actions (Hebrews 10:29). The Son of God appeared to undo the work of Satan (1 John 3:8).
The term son of God or sons of God was commonly used throughout the Old Testament in various ways.
For example, Genesis tells us that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair (Genesis 6:2). In the book of Job we read where the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan was among them (Job 1:6). The nation of Israel is referred to by God as his son, his first born son (Exodus 4:22-23; Hosea 11:1).
The New Testament also uses this title in various ways.
Luke traces the lineage of Jesus back to Adam, who Luke calls the son of God (Luke 3:38). Jesus calls the peace-makers the children (sons) of God (Matthew 5:9).
The New Testament is filled with the picture of Jesus as the Son of God. But when we come to the fourth Gospel, we find a completely unique way of referring to Jesus as the Son of God. It is in the Gospel of John that Jesus is portrayed as the Son of God par excellence. Everywhere in John's Gospel the Father and the Son are spoken of in terms of equality. Very closely connected with this fact is that in the Gospel of John, Jesus continuously speaks of God as "My Father" (John 2:16; 5:43; 10:37; 14:2; 14:23; 15:15; 20:17).
But what did Jesus mean when he used the title "Son of God?"
First, it can be noted that the term can simply mean to be "God-like." It was common in the Hebrew language to use the phrase "son of" in describing the qualities that person possessed. Therefore, someone might be called a "son of peace" (Luke 10:6) in describing a peaceful man. Barnabas was called a "son of consolation" (Acts 4:36) because he was known for consoling and comforting others. James and John were called the "sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17) perhaps because of their thunderous, explosive nature. Therefore, to call Jesus the Son of God in this sense would mean that he possessed the qualities and characteristics of God. But this claim of Jesus would certainly not have caused the Jewish leaders to want him crucified – not for claiming to have the qualities and characteristics of God. That is something they would have even claimed for themselves.
It is suggested that the title was understood to be a Messianic title, and would identify Jesus as being the Messiah. There is certainly no question about this usage of the phrase Son of God either. For example, Peter confessed Jesus to be "the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). But Luke simply records Peter as acknowledging Jesus to be "the Christ of God" (Luke 9:20).
However, when Jesus stood before the High Priest he made a claim that was far more serious than simply claiming to be a messianic pretender. He claimed to be deity, and it was this fact that enraged the Jewish leaders to demand his immediate death for blasphemy.
What was it that made Jesus' claim son distinctly different?
Jesus repeatedly stressed the uniqueness of his sonship. He referred to himself as God's only begotten Son (John 3:16).
Furthermore, this uniqueness is seen in the unique connection between the Son and the Father. He and the Father are one (John 10:30). He is in the Father and the Father is in him (John 10:38). To see the Son is to see the Father (John 14:23). To dishonor the Son is to dishonor the Father; to hate the Son is to hate the Father; and to love and honor the Son is to love and honor the Father (John 5:23; 8:49, 54; 15:23-24).
This unique connection means that the Son has a unique authority. The Father has entrusted the Son with all authority (John 3:35). This authority includes judgment (John 5:22).
This unique connection also means that the Son has a unique knowledge of the Father, and therefore the Son is the only one who can reveal God to men and bring men to God (John 10:15; 14:6).
Therefore, it is only through Jesus as the Son of God that men can gain eternal life (John 6:40).
When men saw Jesus, they saw one who was closer to God than any man they had ever seen before. The wisdom of God was on his lips, and the power of God was in his hands. In his claim to be the Son of God, they knew God was standing in their very midst. |
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