(Summary of the final sermon in the "Six Things Jesus Is" series)

Of all the things we are taught to believe, this is most mysterious. What did Jesus’ genes look like? What does it even mean to be the “Son” the Father who is spirit and spoke the universe into being?

The idea that Jesus is the “Son of God” is asserted by Jesus, supported by external evidence, a foundational teaching of Christianity (mysterious, though it is), and a teaching of great comfort.

Many testified that Jesus is “Son of God.”

Jesus claimed for Himself that He is the Son of God. He saw himself as God’s Son. Mark 14:36 (ESV) And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Further, He claimed it uniquely. Mark 14:61–62 (ESV) But he remained silent and made no answer. Again, the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

Supernatural beings identified Jesus as the Son of God.

  • Angels - Luke 1:31–35 (ESV) And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
  • Demons - Mark 3:11 (ESV) And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”
  • God the Father - Mark 9:7 (ESV) And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

Jesus’ disciples believed him to be the Son of God. Matthew 16:13–16 (ESV) Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Many things happen that attest to Jesus being the Son of God. 

  • He was born of a virgin. 
    • (There are many historical claims of virgin birth, so this alone would not be a strong case)
  • He pre-existed. 
    • John 8:58 (ESV) Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
    • John 17:5 (ESV) And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. 
  • Jesus showed power over sickness, demons, death, and the weather. 
  • He even showed power over his own death by rising from death on Easter morning.

Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle’s great detective, said that, “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.” That Jesus is somehow both fully human and the fully divine Son of God is an improbable claim, indeed! But the only other options are that everyone is wrapped up in a big lie or Jesus was a raving lunatic. People die for wrongheaded ideas all the time. But scores of people do not face torture and death for something they know to be a lie. And Jesus was not a raving lunatic because raving lunatic can’t demonstrate actual power over sickness, death, demons, even the weather. So, when we eliminate all else, we are left with the idea that Jesus is the unique Son of God, as He claimed to be, even though how this could be is mysterious in the extreme.

WHY IS THE IDEA THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD SO IMPORTANT?

Jesus reveals to us God’s nature. Everyone who even suspects there is a God has at least one vital question: What is God like? Nature testifies to a creative and powerful God. But nature does not speak to us of a merciful and loving God. If you want to know what God is really like, look at Jesus. He is the image of the invisible God. As God’s Son, Jesus is a chip off the old block. Like Father, like Son. If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus.

More importantly, if you want to know how God thinks about you, look at Jesus. Look at people who are lost, lonely, scared, or confused. How did Jesus treat them? With love and compassion. Our natural inclination is to think that a God so large and powerful either would care or would look down on weakness. But look at Jesus and you see that God cares about your lostness, loneliness, fear and confusion.

Jesus forgives sins. Normal human beings rightly forgive wrongs done to them. But I don’t get to forgive a person for a wrong they did to you! Some friends brought a paralyzed man to see Jesus. The first thing Jesus told the man was, “Take heart, your sins are forgiven.” The religious leaders were appalled. They called it blasphemy. Who is this who claims to forgive another man’s sins? Then Jesus said, “So that you know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins…” then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Take up your mat and walk.” And the paralyzed man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out of the room.

Jesus says to you, “Your sins are forgiven.” It’s all forgiven. God is not keeping score on your life. God simply wants you to learn and grow. A woman was caught in adultery and thrown at Jesus’ feet. Jesus told her that he didn’t condemn her, but she should move on from her life of sin.

Jesus bears the sins of the world. Jesus has the right and power to forgive sin not just because he is the Son of God, but because He paid the penalty for our sin on the cross. Because he is the one through whom the world was made, he can rightly bear the consequences of the sin of the world. And He did. 

Let’s say I went to your bank and paid off your mortgage and two weeks later the bank called you asking for your next mortgage payment. What would you do? You would tell them to check their records. The mortgage is paid for. Likewise, when Satan, the accuser, calls to your mind your past sins, you don’t have to pretend they didn’t happen. You don’t have to justify them. You can simply tell the accusing voice that your sin is all paid for on the cross. The accusations are empty.

Jesus promises to be with us forever. This world can be a lonely, confusing place. Sometimes you will make big decisions that you don’t feel you are up to. Sometimes you will feel up to your eyeballs in trouble of some kind. But you are never alone. Never. Jesus said, “I am with you always, even to the very end of the age.” That’s a promise that only Jesus can fulfill because He is the Son of God.

The mechanics of how Jesus can be the Son of God are mysterious. The benefits you and I reap from Jesus being the Son of God are amazing and wonderful. 

Grace and peace to you!