The Greatest Son Series

It is a story often told, with a variety of versions, but they all illustrate a great truth. A

confederate soldier sat outside of the White House at the end of the Civil War. He was

depressed because he needed to see the President and tell him of how his farm in the

South was unjustly taken from him. He knew Lincoln was a just man, and that he would

help him with his problem. He could not get past the Federal soldiers who marched in

front of the gate and turned him away. All that changed, however, when a young boy saw

him and asked why he was so sad. When he explained his situation the boy took him by

the hand and led him through the gate as the soldiers stood aside, and then to the White

House library where the President was resting. He introduced the soldier to his father.

The boy was Tad Lincoln, the son of the President. The son could do for the man what no

one else could do. That is the case with all men and God. “No man comes to the Father

but by me,” said the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Son can take us where no man can go without the Son. This is often true on the

human level, and if you know the son of a famous or influential person you have the key

to their presence. God’s presence is the highest in the universe, and it is gained by means

of knowing the Son, and so this makes Jesus the greatest Son in the universe. He is the

Way, the Truth, and the Life. Knowing Him is the highest knowledge. Loving Him is the

highest love. Serving Him is the highest service. Heb. 1:5 has God saying to Jesus, “You

are my Son.” God said it again at the baptism of Jesus. God's voice from heaven

proclaimed: “This is my Son, whom I love." (Matthew 3:17). Again at the

Transfiguration: God's voice proclaimed: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to Him."

(Mark 9:7.).

Ray Stedman tells of his experience of knowing a son: “I once visited a ranch as the guest

of the hired man on that ranch. When we came onto the property we had to drive around the

big house and go to the bunkhouse in the rear. I stayed with him there in the bunkhouse and

never once got into the big house with him. There were some beautiful sorrel horses in the

pasture and I suggested we take a ride. He said, "Oh, no, I'm not permitted to ride those

horses." So we had to ride some mangy fleabags out to the pasture.

A few weeks later I became acquainted with the son of the household, and he invited me out

to the ranch. When I went out with him, it was entirely different. We went right into the big

house and he took over as all teenagers do. After a sumptuous meal we went out and rode the

sorrel horses all over the range. What a wonderful time we had.

That is the difference between a son and a servant, and that is the difference between

Christ and any angel. He is greater because of his relationship, the fact that he is a Son.

Blood is always thicker than water.”

Jesus was special to God, for He was the only person in history to have God speak

from heaven and acknowledge that He was His Son. This had to mean the world to Jesus,

for in His flesh He had to live a truly human life with so many limitations. He was still the

second person of the Godhead, but, as Paul tells us in Phil. 2, he gave up the equality He

had with the other two persons of the Godhead. He emptied himself and became fully

human and humbled himself even to suffer death on the cross. History has been filled

with many famous sons and daughters who did great things, but never has there been a

son or daughter who did for God and man what Jesus did. He made it possible for all

mankind to get a second chance to avoid judgment and achieve heaven. He made it

possible for God to forgive the sins of men and welcome them to come home as forgiven

prodigals. That is why Paul goes on in Phil. 2 to say that God exalted Him and gave Him

a name above all names. Someone wrote this song of praise to His precious name.

There have been names that I have loved to hear,

But never has there been a name so dear

To this heart of mine, as the Name divine,

The precious, precious Name of Jesus.