THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT THAT NAME! (Part III)
JESUS CHRIST is the SON OF GOD, which means He is EMMANUEL, God
with us. (Galatians 2:20 – Matthew 1:23) However, we must never forget that Jesus
Christ is also the “SON OF MAN.” (Matthew 8:20) I am ecstatic about that
fact since, as MARY’S BABY, he personified and shared every physical limitation
that characterizes and constrains fallen humanity. Therefore, Jesus would
surely have experienced our sicknesses and our pains; Jesus would have
encountered our problems and our pressures. Such human experiences both authenticate
and position him as a compassionate high priest. “For we do not have a High
Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted
as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15, NKJV)
This important Bible truth highlights the primary difference
between Jesus and any other human being that was ever born into this world.
Jesus Christ “was IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED like as we are, YET WITHOUT SIN.”
I love the victorious testimony of Jesus: “I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.” (John
16:33) His capacity to overcome (while living on earth) clearly establishes and
enables our ability (as born again believers) to conquer the trials and
temptations that are imposed upon us by this world system. “YOU ARE OF
GOD, little children, and HAVE OVERCOME THEM: because GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN
YOU, than he that is in the world.” (I John 4:4) What a revelatory promise!
What a gracious privilege! What a
marvelous possession!
For today, we focus on the status of Jesus Christ as the SON OF
GOD. The expression, “Son of God,” means that Jesus is the
personification and incarnation of God, Himself. Prayerfully consider the
following passage of scripture:
John 14:6-11
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
7 “If you had known Me, you
would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen
Him.”
8 Philip said to Him, “Lord,
show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have
I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen
Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10 Do you not believe that I
am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not
speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me
does the works.
11 Believe Me that I am in
the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works
themselves.
Thus, the Word reveals that Jesus Christ is co-equal and co-eternal
with the Father. (Hebrews 1:1-3 – John 1:1-3) The concept of the Trinity
is a great mystery, but it is clearly made manifest at the baptism of Jesus.
(Matthew 3:13-17) The Trinity can be more readily understood if we
consider the nature of something totally familiar to all of us: WATER.
Water presents itself in three forms: LIQUID (drinking water), SOLID
(frozen water), and GAS (steam or vaporized water). All three forms of
water have precisely the same chemical composition: H2O. Two atoms of hydrogen
and one atom of oxygen are necessary to have water. This holds true, no
matter what FORM water takes. However, each of these three forms of water
(liquid, solid, gas) has a distinct function. We DRINK the liquid; we are
COOLED by the solid; and objects are PURIFIED by the gas or ‘steam’ form of
water, e.g. a hospital autoclave which is used to purify reusable medical
equipment.
Deuteronomy 6:4 records the foundational scripture of Judaism,
which is commonly called the SHEMA: “Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one
Lord.” The meaning is crystal clear. There is but ONE TRUE AND LIVING
GOD. There is but ONE ETERNAL SPIRIT who may be substantively identified
and worshiped as GOD. The New Testament extends this revelation of the
nature and character of God, informing us that the ONE GOD assumes THREE DISTINCT
PERSONALITIES to communicate and commune with humankind: God, the Father…God,
the Son…God, the Holy Spirit. THERE IS ONE
GOD…WITH THREE DISTINCT REVELATIONS AND MANIFESTATIONS of His infinite love and
grace toward us. Think about it. Liquid is water. Ice is
water. Steam is water. That is, they are one and the same substance
in three distinct forms. Likewise, the doctrine of the Trinity
reveals ONE AND THE SAME GOD,
manifested to mankind in THREE
DISTINCT FORMS OR PERSONALITIES.
Therefore, when we refer to Jesus Christ as the SON OF GOD, we are not implying that he
is inferior to (or less than) God, the Father. They are ONE IN SUBSTANCE;
they are ONE IN POWER; they are ONE IN AGREEMENT; and yes, they are ONE IN
BEING. Indeed, it is a mystery; nevertheless, it is divine truth.
Even as a twelve-year-old boy, Jesus fully understood that he was the Son of
God and must be about his Father’s Kingdom business. This truth was
reaffirmed at his baptism. (Matthew 3:13-17) In his subsequent 40-day fast
and temptation experience in the wilderness, it was obvious that Satan (a.k.a.
Lucifer, a former archangel of Heaven) recognized him immediately as the SON OF
GOD. The Word declares that “the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James
2:19) During His passion, Jesus was interrogated and implicitly identified by
the high priest: “I put you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are
Christ, the SON OF GOD!” (Matthew 26:63) Later, an unbelieving Roman centurion
standing at the foot of his cross felt compelled to proclaim, “Truly this was the
SON OF GOD.” (Matthew 27:54) JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD. As has
often been stated, ‘The Son of God became a man to enable men to become the
sons of God.’ (Philippians 2:5-8 – I John 3:2)
Stay tuned…more to come on Monday!
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