Apr. 6: Jesus the Son of God

There is much controversy, even today, around Jesus’ identity. A popular global news network is running a series every morning this week entitled “The Truth about Jesus”, as though we’ve not heard the truth up until now; as though the biblical accounts cannot be trusted.

There are those who say Jesus never existed, others acknowledge him as an historical figure, but say the claims of miracles and divinity were added to this itinerant preacher’s biography by followers decades after his death—those who created the myth of Jesus.

At one point in Jesus’ ministry He asked His disciples to identify Him and He congratulated Peter for correctly identifying Him as “the Son of the Living God.”
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. (Matthew 16:13-17)

During His trial, the religious leaders asked Jesus point blank if He were the Son of God and Jesus affirmed that He was.
At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. "If you are the Christ," they said, "tell us." Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied, "You are right in saying I am." (Luke 22:63-70)

There are those today who make a great distinction that Jesus referred to Himself as “the Son of Man”. It is true, He did. He also affirmed that He was “the Son of God.” Even on the cross, as He breathed His last and announced that His work was finished, there were those who agreed that He was “the Son of God.”
From noon until 3:00 darkness came over all the land. About 3:00 Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" (Matthew 27:45, 46, 50, 51, 54)

There are those skeptics who see “the son of God” or “the son of a god” as a common title of that day. They claim that Jesus wasn’t claiming for Himself the status of divinity. I believe the biblical accounts are historically accurate and reliable—Jesus claimed repeatedly to be of divine origin and substance.
So what? Jesus thought He was God. So did the Emperor of Rome and other civilizations.

The resurrection was God’s exclamation point on the claims Jesus made. He is God. He is our King. He is greater than any personality, government or power. He wasn’t just an historical figure—He redirected the whole course of human history. If He was the Son of the One True God then He deserves my undived attention...and much, much more. Who do you say this Jesus is?

~ Father, because Jesus was your unique, One and Only begotten Son He deserves my attention and my allegiance. As I look closely at the eyewitness accounts of the gospels I come to the same conclusion as Peter and the Centurion; Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Amen.