Jesus the Son of God - 4

John the Baptist insisted that he was not "the prophet" Moses wrote about in Deuteronomy 18:18-19. Jews later speculated whether Jesus might be that prophet (John 7:40). Jesus was indeed the one Moses had prophesied about. About no other human being is it written in the Bible that God would punish those who refuse to obey him. The temple police, who were instructed to arrest him, did not do so because they had never heard anyone speak like him (John 7:46).

Jesus was like Moses in that he was "from their brothers". Like Moses, who was disrespected by his brother and sister (Numbers 12:1-2), Jesus was "not accepted by his own" (John 1:11). Moses was the humblest man on all the earth (Numbers 12:3). About 1500 years later Jesus claimed that designation for himself (Matthew 11:29). Jesus refused to do the signs the Pharisees demanded from him to prove that he was a prophet. But he did all the types of signs which authenticated prophets like Moses, Elijah and Elisha.

One of the most notable prophesies of Jesus, which was fulfilled in the lifetime of his hearers, was the destruction of the second temple (Matthew 24:2). The first temple, which was built by Solomon, was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar about 587 BC. The construction of the second temple started 515 BC. It was expanded by Herod. It had been worked on for about 46 years by the time Jesus first evicted the merchants (John 2:20). But it was not completed until 64 AD, six years before it was razed to the ground by the Romans. To this day the Jews annually observe Tisha B’Av, a day of mourning, to remember the day when the temple was destroyed.

John the Baptist was regarded by the Jews to be a prophet (Matthew 14:5) and Jesus said he was more than a prophet (Matthew 11:9). But John did not think himself worthy of untying Jesus' shoes, a task normally reserved for slaves (Luke 3:16). And Jesus referred to John's testimony as true (John 5:33-35). Jesus claimed that a prophet is not without honour, except in his home town (Mark 6:4). This has proven to be true about him over the last 2 millennia. Jesus is honoured by believers all over the world, but only a tiny minority of Jews believe in him.

Plenty of Jesus' prophesies are still to be fulfilled. Many Bible scholars take the parable of the fig tree to mean that Jews would return to the land of their ancestors (Matthew 24:32-35). But the most outrageous of his prophesies, the one for which he was condemned to death, is that he would come again in the clouds (Matthew 24:30).

Jesus the Son of God - 3

 From a young age Jesus claimed to have a familial relationship with the Almighty. At the age when Jewish boys have their Bar Mitzvah Jesus amazed Bible teachers in the temple with his knowledge. That was also the age when they started training for their life vocation. It was common practice for the eldest son to become involved in his father's business. But when Mary told him "your father and I have been looking for you" Jesus responded "I must be about my Father's business". They were thinking 'Joseph and son' and he was referring to 'JWHW and Son', but they did not understand (Luke 2:46-50).

The question arises as to whether Mary and Joseph ever spoke to their children about the events surrounding Jesus' birth? Years later, when Mary and his brothers wanted to "take charge" of Jesus, he contended that "Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother" (Mark 3:21; Matthew 12:46-50).

Early in his ministry Jesus asserted that no one knew God except his Son and those to whom the Son wished to reveal him (Matthew 11:27). He followed this up by inviting anyone who experienced hardship to come to him. On the night he was betrayed Jesus repeated to the eleven his claim of an exclusive relationship with God, maintaining that "no one comes to the Father except by me" (John 14:6).

I have heard a misquote by a podcaster who argued that Jesus denied being good, because he posed the question "Who is good but God?" (Luke 18:19). In fact, just the opposite is true. Jesus accepted the compliment and urged the young man to sell all and follow him. Instead of mentioning the Godward group of the ten commandments, Jesus only pointed him to those who regulated his relationship with humans. But if he wanted to be "perfect", he was give up his possessions for Jesus' sake. One would not be far wrong in imagining Jesus thinking "By all means call me good because I am the only human being who is divine". Besides, which mortal can promise anyone "a treasure in heaven"?

The Jews understood what Jesus meant by calling God his father and wanted to kill him for it (John 5:18). They came close to stoning him when he claimed to have existed before Abraham (John 8:58-59) and again when he declared to be one with the Father (John 10:30-33).

In the end Jesus' refusal to deny his divine nature cost him his life. The Jewish rulers needed to find him guilty according to their laws. The high priest managed this by asking Jesus under oath if he was the Messiah, the Son of God. His answer in the affirmative was all they needed (Matthew 26:63-65).

Jesus could still escape crucifixion if he did not make what Paul called the "good confession" before Pilate (1 Timothy 6:13). Pilate had wanted to set him free but felt pressurised by the crowd to execute him. Jesus gave him the pretext he could use under Roman law by declaring he was indeed a king (John 18:37).

Jesus the Son of God - 2

 The Jewish religious leaders were outraged at Jesus when he claimed to be God's Son. Jesus' response was that they should at least believe the works he did (John 10:37-38). He was referring to what the Jews called the signs of a prophet.

During the first Passover he attended after his baptism and anointing Jesus acted like he had authority over the activities to be allowed in the temple. Zeal for his Father's house had consumed him. He drove out the animals that were for sale in the temple, turned over the tables of the money changers and threw their coins onto the ground (John 2:13-17). At this feast many believed in him because of the signs he did (John 2:23).

Theologians who find it hard to believe in miracles have attempted to "demythologize" the Bible. It proved to be impossible to do so without completely changing the foundation on which Christianity was founded. The miracles form an integral part of the accounts of Jesus' life as recorded in the Gospels. People flocked to him to hear him teach and to have their ailments healed.

The various signs Jesus did proved that he had power over nature and insight into people's minds. He could produce food for thousands using one boy's meal. He spoke to the wind and it obeyed him. To believe that these miracles actually happened is not hard for millions of people. If he is the Son of God, then creating eyes for a man who was born blind should not be out of his league.

On more than one occasion the Jews asked Jesus for a sign to prove that he was their Messiah. Once he answered by saying "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days" (John 2:19). On another occasion he said that no sign would be given them except for the sign of Jonah (Matthew 12:38-39). In both cases he was alluding to his claim that he would rise from the dead.

The climax of Jesus' signs was coming back to life after having been brutally executed. Almost all the apostles' sermons, which are recorded in the book of Acts, has the resurrection as their central theme. There is more evidence for the resurrection of Jesus from the dead than for any comparable event in the first century.

A man who predicts that he would be put to death and rise after three days, is in the words of C.S. Lewis, "the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse". Although not all preachers and theologians believe it, the physical resurrection of Jesus sets Christianity apart from all other religions. If he did not rise from the dead, Christianity would be the biggest hoax that was ever pulled on all of mankind.