When Jesus is referred to as “The Son” the meaning is twofold. Just as we can be referred to as the child of our mother or the child of our father, so Jesus can be called the Son of Mary or the Son of God. In the first case, He is the son of man through David and Mary. In the second case, He is The Son of God by the Spirit and His own power.
Paul describes Him in Romans 1:3-4. …concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
David asks “What is man that You are mindful (or take knowledge) of him, And the son of man that You visit (or are mindful) of him?” (Psalms 8:4 and 144:3) The writer of Hebrews (2:6-18) applies this to Jesus and points out the unique position He holds as both God and man. The Son of God who also became the son of man that He might know what it was like to be human and suffer death for humans.
Jesus demonstrates the abilities of God while in a human body in (Matthew 9:6), “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
David also prophesied in (Psalms 16:10) “For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” This referred to the sacrifice of God’s own son, that after death on the cross there would not be enough time for the body to decay before he rose again. Paul describes the fulfillment in (Acts 13:33-35) “…this God has fulfilled to us their children, raising up Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm (2:7), “You are My Son, this day I have begotten You.” 34 And that He raised Him up from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He spoke in this way: “I will give you the holy promises of David.” 35 Therefore he also says in another psalm (16:10), “You shall not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.”
Jesus says the fulfillment of these prophesies will be a sign that He is both the son of man, to die, and the Son of God, rising up from the grave. (Matthew 12:40) “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
The confession that all are expected to utter is recorded in Matthew 16:13-16. That Jesus, the Son of Man is The Christ, The Son of God.
The testimony from heaven occurred twice by voice. At the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:17), and the transfiguration (Matthew 17:5). Peter testifies of this as he writes in 2 Peter 1:16-18 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
Satan and the demons all acknowledged the man Jesus as the Son of God. As He was being tempted in the wilderness, (Matthew 4:3) …The tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are Son of God of God, command that these stones become bread.” The “if” in this case is a statement of fact, a “because you are” confession.
The demons in (Matthew 8:29) were emphatic in their confession of Jesus as the Son of God. “And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” They knew Him as the mighty judge who would confine them in torment or eternity.
Stephen, as He was being stoned, was comforted by a vision of the risen Christ, Jesus standing by the heavenly throne, recorded in (Acts 7:56). The picture of the Son of Man returned to His former glory and the protector of His brethren, part of His body, the church.
John states the purpose of his writings in (John 20:30-31) “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
Do you believe that Jesus, born of woman, is also the Son of God? Many today deny that He was anything except a good man who taught moral lessons. If they are right, there is no hope for a glorious home after death and the promise in (John 14:2-3) have no value. But if the testimonies of many witnesses are true, then (Acts 4:12) applies.
“There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
