Choose The Son Series

A Jewish father sent his son to Israel for a year to experience his heritage. A year later the boy returns home and he told his father: "O Father, thank you for sending me to the land of our Fathers. It was wonderful, and I learned so much… but, I have to confess that while in Israel I converted to Christianity."

The Jewish father is heart-broken and cries out "What have I done?" And he goes to his best friend for advice. And his friend said: "You know, it is amazing that you should come to me. "I too sent my son to Israel and… he returned a Christian."

So they went to their Rabbi and their Rabbi replied: "It is amazing that you should come to me, for I too sent my son to Israel… and HE returned a Christian. What is happening to our sons? Brothers, we must take this to the Lord,"

And they fell to their knees in prayer and began to wail and pour out their hearts to God. And as they prayed, the heavens opened and a mighty voice thundered down, "You know, it’s amazing that you should come to Me. I, too, sent My Son to Israel..."

GOD HAD A SON! That’s what Psalm 2:7 tells us: "You are my Son; today I have begotten you.” God had a Son… and His name is Jesus. “For God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten … SON.” Psalm 2:7 is a prophecy about who Jesus was going to be and that phrase was repeated several times in the New Testament.

For example, in Acts 13:33 Paul preached at synagogue in Antioch in Pisidia. And, after having spoken of Jesus’ death/burial/resurrection) Paul said “We bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us - their children - by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm (Ps. 2:7) ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’”

And Hebrews 1:5 compares Jesus to the angels and says: “To which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you’”?

These are some of the Scriptures that point out that Jesus was Son of God. In Matthew 3:17 - when Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River “A voice from heaven and said, ‘This is MY BELOVED SON, with whom I am well pleased.’” In John 1:34: John the Baptist declared – “I have seen and have borne witness that this (Jesus) is the Son of God.” And later, when Jesus asked disciples who they believed He was, Peter replied: “You are the Christ, THE SON of the living God.” Matthew 16:16

Now how did Peter know that? Well, “Jesus answered him ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.’” In other words: Peter didn’t come up with that all on his own. It was the father who revealed to Peter that Jesus was the Son of God!

(PAUSE) Now, that’s interesting, but why should I care? What difference would it make to me that Jesus was the Son of God? Well, the Apostle John tells us it makes a great deal of difference.

1 John 2:23 says, “No one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also.” In other words – if you DENY that Jesus is the Son of God you’re gonna be on the outside looking in. If you deny the son you’re basically telling the Father to take a hike. You’re saying you’re not interested in what he has to offer (i.e. Jesus).

In 1 John 5:5 we’re told “Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” So, in other words - if you believe that Jesus is the Son of God you will have power from God INSIDE you, and you will be able to handle anything world throws at you - because Jesus IS the Son of God!

And then 1 John 5:12 says, “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

He who has the Son has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life.” Your very salvation (eternal life) hinges on believing that Jesus is the Son of God.

So, what is this all about? Why is so important that we believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Well, the term “SON OF GOD” was a code phrase for – Jesus being God in the flesh. You see, before Jesus was crucified, He was brought before the Jewish Sanhedrin. And the High Priest said to Jesus, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, THE SON OF GOD!” Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now YOU HAVE HEARD HIS BLASPHEMY! Matthew 26:63-65