Who Is Jesus? He Is the Son of God!

This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. . . . One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized Him in the Jordan River. As Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are My dearly loved Son, and You bring Me great joy.” Mark 1:1, 9-11 (NLT)

The Gospel of Mark opens with a clear announcement:  “The beginning of the Gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1, NIV). Near the end of the Gospel, Mark gives another clear announcement: “When the army officer who was standing in front of the Cross saw what happened when Jesus died, he said, ‘This Man really was the Son of God!’” (Mark 15:39, NCV). “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 27:54, NIV).

The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book (Gospel of John). But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in Him you will have life by the power of His Name. John 20:30-31 (NLT)

The Son of God expresses the holy being of Jesus as the one, unique Son of the true and living God (John 3:16; John 10:36). Other references Scriptures in the Old Testament and the New Testament refer to Israel, angels, and humans as “sons of God” (e.g., see Genesis 6:1-4; Psalm 29:1; Psalm 89:6; Psalm 82:6; Hosea 1:10). In fact, Israel is referred to as God’s firstborn son or simply as God’s son (see Exodus 4:22-23; Jeremiah 31:11; Hosea 11:1). Also, all faithful believers of Jesus are sons and daughters of God (Matthew 5:9, 45; Mark 3:34-35; John 1:12-13; Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 4:4-7). However, only Jesus lives in a unique relationship with God (John 1:18; John 3:16, 18; 1 John 4:9). God was in Jesus (John 10:30, 38) to summons the world to repentance, to belief in the Good News and to reconcile humans with God (Mark 1:14-15). Frequently, Jesus referred to God as “My Father” (e.g., see Matthew 7:21; Mark 8:38; Luke 2:49; Luke 10:21-22; John 5:17; John 10:18; John 15:15). At Jesus’ baptism and transfiguration, God the Father identified Jesus as His beloved Son (see Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 17:5; Mark 1:11; Mark 9:7; Luke 3:21-22; Luke 9:34-36; John 1:31-34). God the Father’s announcement from heaven reminds us of Psalm 2:7 and Isaiah 42:1. Also, demons and other evil spirits recognized Jesus as God’s unique and Holy Son (e.g., see Matthew 4:3, 6; Matthew 8:29; Mark 3:11-12; Mark 5:7; Luke 8:28). When the high priest asked Jesus, “Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One” Jesus answered, “I AM” (Mark 14:61-62, NLT). Even as a Boy at the age of twelve, Jesus recognized God as His Father (Luke 2:29). Prior to Jesus’ birth, the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that her Son would be “great and will be called the Son of the Most High. . . . the Baby to be born will be holy, and He will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:32, 35, NLT). After seeing Jesus, John the Baptist – the prophet God sent to prepare the way for His Son – testified to his disciples “this is the Son of God” (John 1:34, NIV). Jesus’ disciples and faithful followers that witnessed the historical Jesus declared: “Truly, You are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:33; see also Matthew 16:16; John 1:14, 18, 34, 49; John 11:27). Even after Jesus’ death and ascension, the faithful followers of Jesus continued to proclaim to the early church that Jesus is the one true and unique “Son of God” (e.g., see Acts 9:20-22; Romans 1:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15:28; Colossians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Hebrews 1:1-4; Hebrews 5:5).

This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach His Good News. God promised this Good News long ago through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures. The Good News is about His Son, Jesus. In His earthly life He was born into King David’s family line, and He was shown to be the Son of God when He was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 1:1-4 (NLT)

The “Gospel of Jesus Christ” is the Good News that God's very holy and unique Son has come from heaven to live as a human, to die for the sins of the world and to gain our victory over sin, death, and hell (1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 51-52; Galatians 1:1-9). “God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. . . . He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (1 John 4:9-10, NLT). We can be forgiven our sins, receive God’s grace and be united into God’s family through our faith in God’s one and only begotten Son, Jesus (see John 1:12-13; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 3:23-25; Galatians 4:4-7). Mark and the other Gospel writers did not write their books about just any Jewish servant but declare Jesus as the unique Son of God (Mark 1:1, 11; Mark 3:11; Mark 5:7; Mark 9:7; Mark 12:1-11; Mark 13:32; Mark 14:61-62; and Mark 15:39). Jesus’ announcement as God's divine Son is the foundation for all we read about Jesus in the New Testament.

Long ago God spoke in many different ways to our fathers through the prophets [in visions, dreams, and even face to face], telling them little by little about His plans. But now in these days He has spoken to us through His Son (Jesus) to whom He has given everything and through whom He made the world and everything there is. God’s Son shines out with God’s glory, and all that God’s Son is and does marks Him as God. He regulates the universe by the mighty power of His command. He is the One who died to cleanse us and clear our record of all sin, and then sat down in highest honor beside the great God of heaven. Thus He became far greater than the angels, as proved by the fact that His Name “Son of God,” which was passed on to Him from His Father, is far greater than the names and titles of the angels. Hebrews 1:1-4 (TLB)

References

Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Butler, Trent. Holman Bible Dictionary (Broadman & Holman Pub., 1991).

Elwell, Walter A. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Second Edition (Grand Rapids, MI:  Baker Book House Company, 2001).

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary (Victor Books, 1989).