Jesus, The Son of God (Part One)

Jesus - The Son of God (Part One)

Most of us have been taught that the phrase, Son of God, is mainly used in describing the second person of the trinity.

However, in the New Testament writings, this phrase has two meanings, which will eventually come together. The two meanings of this phrase, Son of God, first of all, points to His divinity, and secondly, it points to His being the Eternal Davidic King of Israel. We will look at each of these meanings in turn, and will see in the final analysis, they come together quite beautifully.

When we take an honest look at the usage of this title in the Scriptures, we will see it has very specific Hebraic applications. So, let's dig in and see what we may glean from the Scriptures.

In the first section of this study, we will concentrate upon those passages which undoubtedly point to Jesus’ divinity.

Matt. 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

The circumstance for this statement, is that the disciples were attempting to cross the Sea of Galilee. While crossing the sea, a storm rose, endangering the lives of the disciples in the boat. While the wind was contrary, they saw what they thought was a phantom walking towards them on the water. They began crying out, but then Jesus answered them, saying, “Be of good cheer, don’t be alarmed. I AM.” Jesus identified Himself to them as the I AM, YHVH.

Peter responded, saying, “Lord, if it is really you, bid me to come to you on the water.” Jesus responded, “Come.” So Peter climbed out of the boat, and began walking on the water towards Jesus. However, before long, the waves and wind diverted his attention from Jesus to the storm around him. He became afraid, and began to sink. He cried out, “O Lord, I know that you are plenteous in mercy and kindness. I know that you saved our fathers when they cried out to you, and you were gracious to them. As you see the distress I am presently in, I pray, O mighty Lord, that you would find it in you heart to snatch me from my present distress.” Well, actually no, he didn’t say that, but he did in spirit. Peter simply cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Jesus reached out His hand, caught him and they walked back to the boat together. When they climbed into the boat, the storm ceased. This obviously made quite an impression upon the disciples. They all gathered around Jesus, asking for His autograph, or to sign their tunics. No, not really. Their response was quite different from that of a fan club. They came and prostrated themselves before him, worshipping Him, and confessing, “Truly you are the Son of God.” If Jesus was a mere man, anointed by the Spirit of God, would it be proper for him to received worship? That would be a violation of the First Commandment, “I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” The disciples, being Israelites, would know that you only bow before YHVH, the covenant God of Israel. When Jesus came to them, saying, “I AM,” He was claiming exactly that, that He is the God of Israel. He demonstrated to them that He was also the God of creation. They recognized Jesus as this God of Israel, and worshipped Him.

Lk. 8:28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

This incident with the demon possessed man of the Gadarenes, comes immediately after a similar circumstance from our previous passage. The disciples and Jesus got into a boat, to go to the other side of the sea of Galilee. However, in the midst of going to the other side, a storm came up. In the midst of this storm, Jesus was sleeping in the boat, while the disciples were freaking out.

They roused Jesus from His sleep, saying, “Lord, we are perishing!” Jesus calmly awoke, rebuked them for their unbelief, then He rebuked the wind, and it ceased. Their response was, “What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.” Their inquiry indicates they knew this was no ordinary man. This appears to be before the previous incident.

So when Jesus came walking on the water, they got their answer as to what manner of man He was. He was the divine Messiah, the Son of God. In our present passage, Jesus and the disciples land safely on the shores of Galilee, in the Gadarenes, which is located on the East/Southeastern side of the sea. Upon landing on the shores, a man possessed of demons, came out of the tombs from a graveyard, and met them. He came and fell before Jesus and cried out, “What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.” It would be ludicrous to think that this demoniac is addressing Jesus as the Son of God most high, in His role as the Davidic King of Israel. The only application of this phrase, “Son of God most high,” that is appropriate, is for the demoniac to be confessing that Jesus, as the Son of God most high, is God in flesh.

Lk. 22:70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.

Jesus is being interrogated before the Sanhedrin. They plainly ask Him, “Are you the Christ?” His answer is to admit to being the Son of man, who sits on the right hand of the power of God. They then equate what He says, as confessing to be the Son of God.

These three appellations, Christ, Son of man, and Son of God are treated as being equal in the minds of both the Sanhedrin and Jesus. When Jesus confessed to being the Son of man, who sits at the right hand of the power of God, He is admitting His deity. For this Son of man, taken from Daniel 7, is seen in both Christian and Jewish commentaries, as being the pre-incarnate Messiah.

Heb. 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

Hebrews speaks of Melchizedek, the King of Salem, describing him as one who is “without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.” The writer likens this priest unto the Son of God. The Son of God is not made after the similitude of Melchizedek, but Melchizedek is made after the similitude of the Son of God. Hence the Son of God has neither beginning of days, nor end of life. Hence, the Son of God is God.

1 Jn. 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

John states that, “We know that the Son of God is come.” John begins his letter stating,

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

John witnesses that which was always being from beginning, is something which they have heard with their own ears, they have seen with their own eyes, they have gazed upon, and their hands have handled the Word of Life. John says all this to prove that this Word of Life, was eternal and existed from beginning. This eternal Word of Life was manifested so that they could see it with their eyes, hear it with their ears, ponder it with their minds, and handled this Word of Life with their hands.

This Life was manifested, and they have seen it, and bear witness of it. They witness that this Life was “with the Father, and was manifested unto us.” John uses the same grammatical construct here as he does in John 1:1, when he says that the Word was with God. Here he states that, the Life was “with the Father,” or pros ton patera. Here we have the same truth, that the Life (Word of Life, Jn. 1:4) is face to face, eye to eye, or equal with God.

This is what John means when he says, “the Son of God is come.” It is for all of this, that John can say that His Son Jesus Christ, is the true God, and eternal life.

1 Jn. 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (ESV)

It should be evident that when the phrase, Son of God is used of Jesus, it denotes His deity. This is true as to many of the passages which we have noted above. There are others, that may take on a different flavor of meaning. The Son of God can also refer to Jesus as the eternal Davidic King of Israel, as we’ll see in the next section.