Jesus the Son of God

       
       Yesterday, our ladies' Sunday school class discussed the divinity of Jesus.  The discussion actually centered around the sad fact that so many of the Jewish leaders did not believe -- refused to see that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God.  They could not understand that the man who had fulfilled all the Old Testament prophecies, healed all kinds of sicknesses and deformities, cast out demons and even controlled nature was exactly who He claimed to be.  As Jesus said, "seeing you see not and hearing, you hear not."
Those who did not believe were jealous and afraid of His power.
      In John Chapter 5 Jesus gives us an excellent defense of His own divinity.  Consider verses 17 -19 - "But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.  Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making himself equal with God.  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."    Then in verse 30 Jesus says, "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."
      Jesus goes on to tell the Jews that He is not "bearing witness" of Himself.  He said that John the Baptist bear witness unto the truth (v. 33) and that the Father himself has borne witness of Him. (v. 37) Finally, verse 39 says - "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
      We can see then, that in John chapter 5, our Lord offers 4 separate proofs of His divinity.  This is a logical, credible and provable defense.  First, He mentions His own works.  He tells them there is no way He could perform the miracles He has performed unless He was God's Son; for no man could do these things unless the power of God was in Him.  The miraculous works of our Lord should have been proofs in themselves of who Jesus was. 
     Secondly,  Jesus says that He is not the only one who is claiming who He is.  Christ says that John was his witness.  Truly, John the Baptist did proclaim Jesus as the "Lamb of God."  He gives John credibility as a witness by reminding them that "he was a burning and shining light and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light." (John 5:35)
       Next Christ tells the Jews that the Heavenly Father bears witness of His Son.  Here Christ is referring to to His own baptism by John when a voice from heaven proclaimed "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17) It seems that at least some of the ones he addresses  here were present at His baptism.  If not, then most certainly, a "great voice from heaven"  would have been a well known event.  To me this is a powerful point.  To think that people could actually have heard this voice and then later questioned God Himself by refusing to believe in His Son is sad to me.  But then again, remember Moses at the burning bush?  How many times did Moses argue before he finally took God at His word, obeyed Him and went back to Egypt?  
       Finally, Jesus tells them to search the Scriptures. The prophecies in the scriptures - they testify of Christ. His life fulfilled every one of them.  Jesus promised in Matthew 5:17-18 - "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."  In going back to John 5 - we see that by this time, Jesus is frustrated.  He tells them that "you think you have eternal life."  But then He tells them -"And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." (verse 40) 
      Do you think maybe Christ was just a little frustrated here?  He knew the hearts of these people.  He knew that no matter how credible His statements are - no matter that He is making perfect sense these people have hardened their hearts and He will not be able to convince them that He is the Christ.  They are literally looking at the Messiah in the face.  I can't even begin to imagine how our Lord and Savior felt having to defend his actions and His very identity at every turn.  Nor can I imagine how it might feel knowing that there were people who constantly sought for an opportunity to kill Him.  Our Lord came to wash our sins away because of the great love and compassion He had for us.  Yet, we should have compassion for what He went through. I am not only referring to His death the cross - but also what He went through during His ministry. 
    Jesus was the Son of God.  We believe that.  We live our lives based on this fundamental belief.  The gospels are wonderful accounts of our wonderful Savior.  I can't say it any better than the inspired words of John. 
       "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name."  John 20:30-31
        
Christ above all things,
Robin