The Son of God, Pt. 4 (Conclusion)

A Titular Study In Spiritual, Judaic And Hellenistic Context

Part Four

Conclusion

As demonstrated by this survey, there is no shortage of opinion as to what the title, “Son of God,” meant in various spiritual, Judaic and Hellenistic contexts. The only clear consensus is that the title, in and of itself, was not fully understood by anyone in conveying God’s true purpose in sending Jesus. The demons in the spiritual realm understood who he but did not understand what he was doing there. Judaism had a preconceived, nationalistic notion of who the Messiah would be and Jesus did not fit the bill. Greco-Romans on the other hand found deification in the display of earthly power and might both positionally and militarily. Is it therefore necessary to assert that the Christological significance attributed to the title was a later development of the New Testament church? Probably not. The demons call him Son of God and fear him because of who he is. The Jewish leadership ask if he is the Son of God and then hate him and have him killed for saying he is. And the Roman centurion professes him to be the Son of God and shifts his allegiance because of who Jesus demonstrates to be. The result of this survey demonstrates that the Christological significance of the title Son of God articulated by various biblical characters during Jesus’ earthly ministry and the New Testament Church after Jesus’ death and subsequent resurrection is in fact quite consistent with Jesus’ teachings about himself. The resulting actions of those who observed his behavior and heard his teachings are so extreme that they clearly betray a much deeper understanding of the significance of the Son of God title.

Application

             This series has been packed with considerable information. However, the purpose of this blog is not to simply be a resource to gather information. At its core, it is intended to be transformational. Therefore, what should we do with the information from this series. Nearly two thousand years have passed and people still respond to Jesus’ claims in the same way today as they did during his earthly ministry.

Fear

There are countless many who, after having heard the message of the Son of God, spend the rest of their lives running from him. They recognize who he is yet fear the commitment to “forsake all” to follow him. They fear the changes he may ask them to make in their lives. They fear the intrusion he may make into their lives. Ultimately their fear leads them away from God as they run their lives over the edge of the cliff to drown in their personal lake of sin. Tragically, their fear only serves to hurt themselves. God remains unchanged no matter how far we run. Fear, however, leaves us with a choice. It can either drive us away from God were we will continue to live in fear of him. Or, it can drive us toward him where we can live without fear of condemnation in the safety of his salvation. (Romans 8:1)

Hate

Hate, however, leaves us with no choice. In our pluralistic culture, with its emphasis on “tolerance,” it is amazing to watch the reaction of those same proponents of tolerance when they are offered the truth about the Son of God. Tolerance very quickly turns to anger and hate. Intolerance spews out objections against Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life. Any evangelist quickly sees the truth in Jesus’ words that “They will hate you because of me.” Yet these same people do not insist that there is no God. On the contrary, they insist specifically that there is a God. They simply refuse to recognize him as having been revealed in Jesus Christ. To them, as long as God remains a nebulous concept that any and all can shape into their own image, then they are accountable to no one but themselves. However, if God should ever “put on a face,” then the rules governing their lives would no longer be based on their own imaginings. Instead, they would have to face the scrutiny of truth—perhaps even admit that they were wrong. No! Better to put an end to such nonsensical ideas as Jesus as the Son of God. Through their hate and anger they unwittingly replay the events that centuries ago would find the Son of God nailed to a cross. However, not all who witnessed the actual events at the Cross, were filled with hate and anger. Some were simply doing what they were told—doing their jobs—doing what they thought was right—until, that is, they came face to face with the Son of God.

Surrender

            In stark contrast to those who fear Christ and those who hate and reject Christ, stand those who accept his claims to be the Son of God and surrender to him. Successful, important and powerful, the centurion is the least likely candidate to confess Christ as the true Son of God. Yet the centurion’s response is an object lesson that Christ’s work on the cross is for the benefit of everyone who accepts him. Not his position, his reputation, nor his power were as important as this lone man dying on a Roman cross as he confesses “Truly this was the Son of God.” We would be wise to learn the lesson that God’s revelation of himself through Jesus Christ is his effort to reach everyone. Often, the people who are in an obvious position to accept his claims do not and those in the least likely position to accept him do: Peter, a brash fisherman and liar; Matthew, a hated tax collector and cheat; Mary the Magdalene, a prostitute; Paul, a Pharisee, an accomplice to murder and a fervent persecutor of the Church—an unlikely group of followers to say the least. Yet all would leave their unique mark on God’s Kingdom. So too it is today for all who would surrender and confess that Jesus Christ truly is the Son of God.