Jesus as God’s Son
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Key Verse: “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Selected Scripture: |
IT IS OF IMPORTANCE TO note that the book of Hebrews was written to the footstep followers of our Lord Jesus. It further serves as an assurance to the faithful called ones of this present Gospel Age, that the Heavenly Father was well pleased by the sacrifice of his Son as a ransom for all. He showed this when he raised him up to the highest plane of existence, ‘on the right hand of the Majesty on high.’
The Lord had proven that he was worthy to receive such an honor by leading a life that was approved of the Father. We see this in the words spoken by the voice from heaven when Jesus had come to be baptized, “Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22) Jesus had made the covenant to lay down his humanity, and the witness of his relationship to his Father came at once. From the time of his birth, he had led a life pleasing to God. “The child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” (Luke 2:40-49) This was indeed an evidence of the fact that he had great zeal, showing to us that the mind of Christ should instill in us a heartfelt desire to do the Father’s will. “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”—vs. 52
We know also that the words, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God” (John 1:1), refer to the Lord Jesus in his prehuman existence. This verse is properly translated to mean that in the beginning of God’s Creation, Jesus was there in heaven with him, before anything was created. “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. … Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.” (Prov. 8:22,23,30) At this time, the ‘Logos’ [the Word] existed with God—he was the first created and the first, or highest, in rank. The Greek word Logos would be properly translated by the words intention, plan, purpose, or expression. It also signifies mouthpiece or special messenger. His entire three-and-one-half years of ministry following his baptism exemplified the laying down of his life as a willing sacrifice. As his earthly life was about to end, he said, “Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: … I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”—John 17:1-5
What a blessed assurance these scriptures give to his faithful footstep followers. They trust that he ‘purged our sins’ by humbling himself to become a man and die on the cross. Only those who, after believing in him, follow on to consecration are given the great privilege of sonship, and of joint-heirship. They have taken up their crosses, being begotten of the Holy Spirit, and, if faithful sons in all things, will be there in heaven with him—seeing “him as he is”—as heirs of God attaining the Divine nature.—I John 3:2