Whose Son Is He?
By Elmer G. Klassen
Feeding the poor and healing the sick seems to be the primary concern of Christians, yet this was not the Great Commission the Lord left His followers when He ascended into Heaven, nor was it the greatest concern of the Apostles as recorded in the Book of Acts. More important to our Lord than His feeding the poor and healing the sick was teaching His disciples. This is what we read about the most in the Gospels and what He has also commanded us to do.
Our Lord introduced Himself as the one who would preach good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for the prisoners, recover the sight of the blind and release the oppressed. When His neighbors heard this they all spoke well of Him until they asked, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” When Jesus began to reveal Himself to them they became so furious that they drove Him out of town in order to throw Him over the cliff (Luke 4:14-30).
It was the teachings of Jesus that got the most attention in the Gospels but also caused the most trouble. Trouble did not come while preaching “Look at the birds of the air . . . See how the lilies of the field grow” but telling the people that He was the Light of the world and explaining, “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” For this He was challenged with: “Where is your father . . ., who are you?” This led to a long discussion which ended in Jesus telling them, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire . . . I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone Him because they could not accept His confession and teaching. The question that caused the uproar was: Who was the father of Jesus? (John 8:12-59).
Once when His enemies were making definite plans to trap Him they sent some men to Him with the question: “Is it right to pay taxes?” Jesus answered them: “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?” Then He continued to answer them wisely, sounding nothing like our modern day psychologists.
Then others came with a question about the resurrection. Jesus silenced these professors of religion with: “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” Then He explained the change of the family life after the resurrection.
Having silenced His critics a number of times Jesus was then approached by well prepared lawyers with the question: “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
After giving them a satisfactory answer Jesus came with His question. The question Jesus then asked is the cardinal question which demands an answer from everyone. It is this question which has been the cause of fighting and wars. More important than feeding the poor and healing the sick is to be able to answer the question that Jesus is asking. There can never be peace and plenty until we will confess the truth about Jesus. On the answer to this important question hangs all doctrine, all wisdom and life itself. The question is: Whose son is Christ? (Mat thew 22:4142).
It was after His asking the question of sonship that “no one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask Him any more questions.” The question of who the father of Jesus is and who our father is challenges every critic today. We all resemble our father. Have you answered this question for yourself and gone public with your answer? A definite and honest answer to Christ’s and our sonship does not come easy. This question is loaded. Sometimes we have witnessed lives changed as the result of waiting for an answer to this question.
The acceptance of Jesus Christ is good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind and release for the oppressed. Of this there are many witnesses!
No one can avoid the question of sonship as the Scriptures teach. This question will divide the false christs from the only one true Christ. It divides Christians from all other religions and even divides Christians. When people know this question and will answer honestly their destiny is determined. The answer to this question and the confession is binding.
What does it mean when I confess that Jesus had no earthly father and is the one and only Son of God? For one thing, it means that there is no man like Him, no Confucius, no Mohammed, no Caesar, no Shakespeare, no Goethe, no Karl Marx, no Clinton or no Hussein who can be compared with Him. He stands tall above them all. There may be many counterfeit christs, but only one who is the very Son of God. The real question everyone must answer is: Who was the Father of Jesus of Nazareth?
No one can answer our Lord’s question by confessing that Jesus is the Son of God without thereby confessing that the Scriptures are reliable and true. The only proof we have of Jesus the Christ is by the Scriptures. If we confess that Jesus is the Son of God we are confessing that He is Truth and the Scriptures are true. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself confessed this. As a Son of God He cannot lie.
It means that He is worthy of worship and the absence of worshiping Jesus Christ is a rejection of God. Confessing that Jesus is the Son of God obligates you to worship Him. You will want to pray to Him often if you believe that He is the Son of God.
Confessing that Jesus is the Son of God binds you to His Lordship. “We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands” (1 John 2:3).
It also acknowledges that Jesus was in the beginning when the foundations of the earth and heaven were laid with His hands and that He is sovereign and in control of creation and everything in it.
The confession that Jesus is the Son of God binds to the truth of an eternal destiny for all in either heaven or hell as He has taught in the Gospels. If you believe that Jesus Christ is God you will want to read about Him, you will prefer reading His words to reading the writings of other authors. A confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God when one witnesses no desire to read in His Word regularly demonstrates unbelief and is a farce.
Do you really believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God or are you a hypocrite? Jesus’ most terrible words were “to the Jews who had believed Him” (John 8:31-47). Whom do you resemble?
The confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and appropriating this fact in our own life causes us to abide in Him. Our abiding in Him will make us like Him. Abiding in Him causes us to walk as He walked. “He who claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6). When Jesus redeemed us with His blood, and presented us to the Father in His righteousness, He did not leave us in our old nature to serve God as best we could. In Him dwells the eternal life—the holy, divine life of heaven—and everyone who is in Him receives that same eternal life in its holy, heavenly power. Nothing can be more natural than the claim that he who lives in Him, continually receives life from Him, must also walk as Jesus did.
We have written much about our precious Lord Jesus this month. We want every Herald reader to confess and “pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will . . .” (Hebrews 2).
In this issue of Herald of His Coming our editor is presenting us with material which glorifies our Lord Jesus Christ who is the answer to life’s problems and who is worthy of our love. Confession of Him as the Son of God causes us to worship Him. It is natural for a person who is forgiven of and saved from sin to want to worship God.
Singing and praising God is a natural reaction of a sinner made saint. The redeemed need not wait for the angels in heaven to take their harp to sing the new song as we read in Revelation 5; they will worship Him even now.
We want people to know and love the Lord Jesus Christ as we are sure you also do. Therefore we are offering you extra copies of this paper for distribution. When you order tell us the exact number you wish.
We appreciate all support that comes. Those who can help financially will receive a list of free literature we have on hand.
Be the first to react on this!
