GOD THE SON PRESENTED

Four Gospel writers present four portraits of Jesus.

Mark declares Jesus is more than man—that He is the Son of God—and shows Jesus engaged in actions that only God could do.  “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”  (Mark‬ ‭1:1‬)

Matthew seeks to show to the Jews that Jesus is the promised Messiah.  “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, ‘God with us.’” (Matt.‭1:21-23‬). As such He appeals—as here—to the Old Testament.

Luke did meticulous research interviewing eyewitnesses in compiling his account. “Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.” (Luke‬ ‭1:1-4‬). What Jesus said and what He did are preserved for us with historical accuracy.  How can anyone read them and dispute that the early church believed in the Deity of Christ?

John wrote last and his Gospel was theological and evangelical.  “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John‬ ‭20:30-31).

He presents seven signs—specific miracles—as evidence that Jesus is the Son of God.  He records Jesus making seven “I AM” statements:

"I am the bread of life" (John 6:35,48,51).
"I am the light of the world" (John 8:12).
"I am the door of the sheep"(John 10:7,9).
"I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11,14).
"I am the resurrection, and the life" (John 11:25).
"I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).
"I am the true vine" (John 15:1,5).

We know that “I AM” is the name Yahweh—the Old Covenant name of God.  Jesus was claiming to be God. “‘Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.’ Then the Jews said to Him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’ Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” (John‬ ‭8:56-59‬).  His enemies understood more than many so-called modern scholars who deny Jesus claimed Deity. They didn’t believe Him and so were ready to kill Him for blasphemy, but they clearly understood His claim.

Consider the Old Testament promise and the New Testament fulfillment:

“Hear O Israel: Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one. (Deut. 6:4). ”For us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ , through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” (1 Cor. 8:6).

“And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh shall be saved.” (Joel 2:32). “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved … For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” (Rom. 10:9, 13).

“For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’” (Isa. 45:22–23). “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord , to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9–11). Many more might be offered, but just these few are remarkable.

The Book of Acts is Volume Two of Luke’s work. “The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:1-3).  Volume One was all that Jesus began to do while He was in His physical body on earth; Volume two is what Jesus continued to do through His spiritual body, the church.

There is a Savior and His name is Jesus!

GOD IS TRIUNE

Although the word, “Trinity,” is never found in Scripture, the concept of God as Triune is found throughout.  The first Hebrew word used for God in Gen.1:1 is Elohim and it is a plural word.  “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
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This doctrine of the Trinity is seen in the opening chapters of Genesis—with God speaking the world into existence and the Holy Spirit hovering over the face of the waters—as a mother hen would nest and hatch out her chicks.  “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (v.2).‬

The New Testament writers add that Christ was also part of that creative process—as much as the Father and the Spirit:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” (John‬ ‭1:1-3‬).

Thus, we have the one God speaking as three Persons who says, “Let US make man in OUR image” (Gen.1:26a, emphasis added).

Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6 are Old Testament messianic prophecies where Jesus is presented as God—just as much as God the Father.  “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”(7:14‬). The name, “Immanuel,” means, “God with us.”  Then in 9:6, we read, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Jesus is called, “Mighty God.”

Tomorrow, our intention is to examine some of the New Testament teaching concerning the Trinity.

THE SON OF GOD

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  (John 1:14)

Jesus is the Godman—not half God and half man, but fully God and fully man—just as much man as if He were not God and just as much God as if He were not man.  He is the Only Begotten Son, Jesus the One and Only.  Matthew begins with His genealogy and stresses His royalty as the Son of David; Mark begins with His ministry and underscores His activity as the Servant of Jehovah; Luke begins with His nativity and emphasizes His humanity as the Son of Man.  John takes us back into eternity and stresses His deity as the Son of God.  John has three expressions He uses repeatedly in His writings: life, light and love.  Each one of these are characteristic of the Son of God. 

So we see Christ’s DIVINE LIFE.  In John 1:14, the aged Apostle John declares, “We beheld His glory….”  Christ Himself said, “I am the resurrection and the life.”  (11:25a)  In chapters 1-12 of John’s Gospel, we find this emphasis.  When the beginning began, Christ already was the Eternal Son—without beginning or ending.  John calls Him, “The Word.”  Words are how we communicate.  When God was ready to speak fully and finally to the world, He communicated through the living Word, Jesus—the Word made flesh.  Jesus not only made the claim, He manifested the credentials.  Seven “signs,” are featured in this book.  John didn’t claim to record all His miracles, but seven were selected and are called signs that demonstrate His Deity.

In John’s Gospel we also witness Christ’s DIVINE LIGHT.  John told us that “we beheld His glory….” Glory is the radiance of God—His Divine light outshining.  He said, “I am the light of the world.”  (9:5)  There are many mysteries of the Kingdom of God—hidden truths that Jesus came to reveal as the light of His teaching shone upon the disciples and He does in chapters 13-17.  When Jesus wanted to teach His disciples the essence of service, He didn’t just say it, He showed it, as He took a towel, girded Himself, and washed the disciple’s feet.  When they left the upper room He taught them about abiding in His life and love as a branch abides in the vine and bears fruit.  There are lessons about the Holy Spirit and a holy life.  He teaches them about the importance of prayer and unity as God’s children. 

John’s Gospel culminates in chapters 18-21 with Christ’s DIVINE LOVE.  John said that His glory was “that of the only begotten of the Father….”  To see Him was to see the Father.  God is love and therefore Christ is love incarnate.  He stated, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”  (15:13)  It was love that brought Him from eternity to earth on a mission to save sinners.  We see Him nailed to a cross to pay the price for our sins.  But, Eternal Love cannot be sealed in a tomb!  Christ in His resurrection glory appears to Mary, to ten of His disciples, and then to Thomas who had his doubts.  Those doubts were overcome!  Later, Jesus eats with the eleven and restores Simon Peter who had denied Him.  As Jesus was sent to seek the lost lambs, so He sends His disciples today on a mission of love.