Abraham was the first, from whose family it was predicted that Messiah should come,
Genesis 22:18, “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed…,” David being the last. To the Jews, the two men were the great starting-points of the Messiah’s lineage, as the seed, and as King, God fulfills both promises. Jesus the seed,
Genesis 3:15, “her = (Eve’s) seed; it shall bruise thy head = (Satan’s.) Jesus was also the last King of the Jews coming from the line of David, and in whose throne He shall rule, forever.
David was the most renowned of sovereigns, being both king and prophet. Abraham was both priest and prophet. These three offices of king, priest, and prophet, had never been united under one man, until and except in the person of Christ. As the Messiah, Jesus possessed and then executed the function of these three offices in such a perfect way, that no other person ever could.
Jesus is called both the Son of God, and Son of man. The word “son” is a noun. It implies a male child, or male descendant. The title, Son of man, is in reference to Jesus being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit to a virgin called Mary. It speaks of the tabernacle (His fleshly body) which was prepared, and termed “the Holy One”.
Jesus is called the Son of God, in consequence to the relationship He has with the Father, this speaking of His divine nature.
The title, Son of God:
In this divine nature, as the Son of God, it is said, in
Colossians 2:9, “For in Him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” There are 4 reasons why Jesus has a right to the title, Son of God.
1. By natural descent, or from generation to generation:
Jesus was begotten =(coming from) the Father. Luke 1:35, the angel Gabriel speaks to Mary, the mother of Jesus, “that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” The divine nature of Jesus could not be born of, Mary. Jesus divine nature had no beginning; for He was, “God manifest in the flesh.”
Isaiah 9:6, Jesus is called both, the “mighty God” (Jehovah) and the “everlasting Father”.
2. By the seal of authority, or commission:
Commissioned by the Father. John 10:30-34-36, in these verses, the Jews were taking up stones to kill Jesus; because, they said he had committed blasphemy, by implication He had made Himself equal to the Father.
Verse 30, Jesus said, “I and my Father are one.”
Verses 34-36, “Is it not written in your law, quoted from Psalms 82:6:
“I said, Ye are gods = (magistrates?)” If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came =(the prophets), and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God.”
Here, Jesus is comparing Himself with mere men. The idea of God communicating with men was not alien to the revelations given in the Old Testament. The Lord is contrasting Himself with human representatives of God. He is the only one sanctified by the Father, and sent into the world. His words here, are designed to prevent Him from being lumped with those of mere men.
Yes, the prophets were officials of God, but from Jesus everything originated. It is never written of Christ, that the word of the God came to Him, as it is expressed in Luke 3:2, concerning John the Baptist, and any other prophet.
In this passage, Jesus is making the contrast between those to whom the word of God came, that is, men of the earth, and Himself. These men were privileged to get Divine messages, having been given offices of ministers concerning the Word. But Jesus who was not of this earth, and whom the Father had set apart (sanctified) and sent into this world.
3. By His resurrection, as the first-born from the dead.
Acts 13:32-33, “And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.”
God fulfilled His promise, in that He would raise His Son, from the bonds of death.
Yes, the promise made in the Old Testament, that “in whom all the families of the earth should be blessed, this to both Jew and Gentile.
Romans 1:4, Jesus was, “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”
The disciple regards the resurrection of Christ merely as the manifestation of a prior Sonship, which Paul afterwards represents as essential;
Romans 8:32, “He (the Father) that spared not His own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
4. As the heir of all things:
Hebrews 1:2 and 5. It is said that the Father, “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he make the worlds; For unto which of the angels said he at any time, thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?
And again, I will be to him a Father, and He shall be to me a Son?” The Father has many sons and daughters, for He is the Father of all flesh. The Father has many heirs,
Romans 8:17, “for if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ…” The Father has no other Son who is heir of all things. No other by whom He made the worlds, none in whom He speaks, and by whom He delivered a full revelation to mankind; only by His Only Begotten Son, Jesus the Christ.
As the Son of God, we read of the wonderful miracles done by Him. His healing powers, the authority to forgive sin, to foresee the future, to rebuke demons and Satan, the resurrection, and all the many wonderful works finished by our Lord, therefore showing man that glorious light that dwells in Him.
Both of these natures can be summed up in the reading of the K.J.V.
1 Timothy 3:16, “God (Jesus) was manifest =(came) in the flesh (as a man.)” He is the Son of man, and the Son of God.
Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.”
Hebrews 1:3, “Who being the brightness of his = (the Fathers) glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power.”
Jesus as the Son of Man:
This office, concerns His fleshly nature. As the Son of man, it is written in
Hebrews 2:7, “Thou madest him, a little lower than the angels…” Concerning this human nature, His fleshly parts came from his mother Mary, and His Godly nature, coming from the Father. As a child is born into this world, He felt love, joy, sadness, pain, and had many earthly friendships. Jesus came to fulfill his Father’s will, and as the Son of man. He fulfilled the office, which was,
1. Matthew 18:11, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
A. The Greek word for seek is, zeteo. It means to look for, to strive to find.
B. The Greek word for save is, sozo. It means to deliver, to preserve safe from danger, loss, and destruction. Specifically, it speaks of salvation from eternal death, from the punishment and misery consequent upon sin, to save, and by implication, to give eternal life, so especially of Christ, as the Savior.
This is that golden thread. This wonderful verse is worthy of repeating,
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Revelation 9:11, Satan is called, “Abadon”, or “Apollyon”, which means the destroyer, or, he who lay’s waste. The idea of a destroyer bears a close resemblance to the condition in which the Lord Jesus finds mankind, a condition of the sinful, lost, desolate, and ruined.
This failed condition of man is the reason, for the Lord coming seek and save a lost world. Christians must be careful in word and truth, securing to the last dot, and crossing the last T. The saving truth of Jesus Christ is extremely important to the young, and to those who are new in the faith.
Matthew 18:14, is for the young children, “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”
Mark 10:45, Jesus said, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Luke 19:10, Jesus is speaking to Zacchaeus, who being a tax collector had been stealing money from his own people. Zacchaeus was a new convert to Christianity, and the Lord Jesus said to him, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
The Greek word for minister is, diakoneo. It means, to serve, attend upon, as a master, or guest.
The Greek word for ransom is, lutron. It means, loosing-money, a fine paid for letting loose, setting free. Christ was the ransom paid for the deliverance of many from the consequences of sin and guilt.
Here Jesus is responding to what James and John had just requested.
Verse 35, they asked, “Master, (speaking to Jesus) we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.” Jesus response could read like this:
In my kingdom that is about to be established, your request shall have no place. Jesus said, all my servants, (ministers) shall be equal, and the only greatness known to them, shall be the greatness of humility, and devotedness to the service of others.
Those who descend to the deepest level in these services of self-denying humility, shall rise to the highest level, and hold the highest place in the kingdom of God. So even as the Son of man, whose abasement and self-sacrifice for others, transcending all, this giving Him by right, a place and position above all.
Before the creation, Jesus was with His Father, who ministered to Him.
Proverbs 8:22, the Father possessed = (took care of) Him.
Proverbs 8:23, Jesus was set up, ore anointed.
Proverbs 8:24, Jesus was brought forth = (shown). The risen Redeemer is still in man’s physical nature. He is ministered to =(served).
1 Peter 3:22, “Angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.”
But He did not come for this. The Server of all, (Jesus) came to be the Servant of all. His last act was the greatest and grandest Service ever beheld by the creation of God. “He gave His life a Ransom for many!” The idea of many is not to be taken, in contrast with a few, or, with all. The many being in opposition to one, that one, is the Son of man (Jesus).
Cults teach that Jesus as the Son of man is inferior, or subordinate to His Father, in both knowledge and power. Let’s examine this statement, and see if it lines up with Scriptures, and if Scripture proves their case.
Mark 13:32, Jesus in speaking to His disciples concerning the exact day and hour of His return from heaven. He said, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”
For us who believe that Jesus is God, this is a most remarkable statement. The Lord was speaking to His disciples, they knew of the Jewish custom to which Jesus was making reference. Jesus words were in regards to the Jewish custom of engagement and marriage. The father, being the head of a family, had the last word, as to when his son could go, and then receive the bride.
A son would live with his father, having to complete an addition to the father’s house. This addition was to be started and finished to the satisfaction of his father. This addition was to be the newlyweds’ place of residence.
Compare this to what Christ said to the disciples.
John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: (dwellings) if it were not so, I would have told you. I go and prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” This statement was to His disciples, and to all future Christians.
The Father’s will, concerning this matter, was not revealed to His Son. Why? Jesus had came to do His Father’s will, that being to seek and to save the lost. The work consisted of revealing the salvation message, and to complete the work of the cross.
Therefore, this salvation message, given in this period of Grace, in this time of the Gentiles, extends to this day, and will end when the Father reveals to His Son, the appointed time of His return. This will conclude the time of the Gentiles, or period of grace.
It’s the Father prerogative, not to reveal this information to His Son, until the fullness of the time of the Gentiles is completed. Therefore, no man, angel, or even the Son knows the time of His return. Not because the Son of man was inferior, but because of His obedience to the task set before Him.
John 5:19, Jesus is speaking to the Jews who were seeking to kill him. He said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.”
This verse reveals that the Son will have no separate interest or action apart from His Father’s, for whatever the Father’s work, this also is the work of the Son. This is the Oneness of the Godhead, perfect in unity and harmony. The verse does not speak of inferiority, but equality. What could exceed this? The answer is, nothing. For not only does Jesus do the same work as the Father, but He does it just as the Father does.
John 14:28, Jesus is speaking to one of his disciples, and said, “I go unto the Father, for my Father is greater than I.”
The Greek word for “greater” is, meizon. It gives the idea of power, dignity, and authority.
This verse is used by many cults to degrade the Lord Jesus, striping him of both power and glory. They teach, that as the Son of man, He is inferior, as in, “He is a good man, equal to the Old Testament prophets, etc. Or, He is an angel, a god, as some men, demons, and/or Satan are sometimes referred to. None of the above statements are correct, and the following will explain.
The following information in written for us in the Scriptures, John calls Jesus God, in John 1:1. Thomas calls Jesus, “My Lord and my God.”
John 20:28. “God was manifest in the flesh.”
1 Timothy 3:16. Hebrews 1:8, the Father calls His Son, God, “Thy throne, O God.”
These titles, Lord, and God, are in upper case, capitalized, meaning the one and only Jehovah. In,
Philippians 2:10, it reads, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.”
Considering we are to worship God only, this is proof positive, that Jesus is God.
From the above, we see that Jesus is both our Lord, and God. Why then would He say, “The Father is greater than I,” and what does it really mean?
A. In John 14:24, Jesus tells his disciples, the Father has sent him. As the Son of man, His work was to instruct and to save.
John 13:16, Jesus said, “The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” So in this sense, the sent, Jesus, is not greater than the Father who sent Him. And in this sense only, should the passage be understood.
B. Proverbs 8:23, The Father having sealed His Son, anointing Him from eternity. He is called the Wisdom of God,
1 Corinthians 1:24, and the Word of God, John 1:1, making Him heir of all things, Heb.1:2. He is both Lord and God, to rule and reign forever. Hebrews 1:8. With these offices and titles in hand, is there any doubt as to the Son’s authority?
The Father has appointed His Son to execute the plan of creation, salvation, and judgments. As Lord, Jesus is sovereign over the Gospel dispensation, head over the Church, and the master Teacher. Scripture teaches that Jesus is, God, Creator, Divine, Supreme, Everlasting Father, our protector, benefactor, the one to be worshipped, author, giver and source of all things.
Jesus said, I go unto the Father, “for the Father is greater than I”. Jesus ascends to the Father’s Throne, where the Father rules. At the throne in heaven, the Father is greater then His Son. This does not concern the material, literal creation. This idea of authority comes from the love, and respect, the Son has for His Father.
This can be better understood by reading, 1 Corinthians 15:24-25-28. These verses speak of the end of all things as we know them. “Then cometh the end, when He = (Jesus) shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He (Jesus) shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He (Jesus) must reign, till He hath put all enemies under his feet. Verse 28, And when all things shall be subdued unto Him = (Jesus), then shall the Son also himself be subject unto Him = (the Father) that put all things under Him, that God = (the Father) may be all in all.”
Although the Son gives all things back to the Father, then subjects Himself to the Father; Rev.22:23, reveals that both the Father and Son will be the temple, (one temple) and the light (one light) of the new city Jerusalem. Rev.22:3, “the throne (one throne) of God (the Father) and of the Lamb (Jesus) shall be in it = (the new city).” Yes, both Father and Son will rule eternity together, as one Lord and one God. The love that the Father has for His Son and vise versa is eternal, and all that the Father has, so also does the Son.
Matthew 9:6, Jesus is speaking, “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” The power to forgive sins, dwells in the person of Jesus, and was exercised by Him while on earth. This power is ongoing to this day.
Matthew 12:8, Jesus is speaking, “For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.”
The Greek word for Sabbath is “sabbaton.” It is the seventh day of the week, kept originally by the Jews, and there was to be total cessation from all labor, this even to the gathering of wood, making of a fire, cooking, or any work.
The Sabbath was without public rites or ceremonies, except, for an addition to the daily sacrifice in the temple, and the changing of the shew-bread. Included was the reading of Scriptures in all public assemblies, and synagogues.
The change of the Jewish into the Christian Sabbath is seen in,
Revelation 1:10. John said, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,” the Lord’s Day is the Sabbath. Jesus is not only the Lord, but also the truth, and the completion of the Sabbath, this completion by special providence having been made and now acknowledged, all over the Christian world.
So in what sense, is the Son of man, Lord of the Sabbath? He did not come to abolish it. But He came to own it, to interpret it, to preside over it, and to exalt and raise it, by merging it in the Lord’s Day, this giving it an air of liberty and love, not known before, and therefore making it the closest resemblance to the eternal rest.
These are but two of the offices of the Son of man. Without the manifestation of God, coming in the flesh, the human race was destined to destruction. The Son of man has now ascended to the Father’s throne, standing at His right hand, the hand of power. He is man’s mediator,
1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
Yes, Jesus is truly both the Son of man, and the Son of God.
Phillip Laspino www.seekfirstwisdom.com