Jesus is God’s Son

February 13, 2011

Background Scripture: Mark 9:2 – 13
Lesson Passage: Mark 9:2 – 13

If there is any statement that appears to go counter to the doctrine of Judaism as expressed by the Pharisees, the scribes and the Sadducees it is the notion or idea of God having a human son. In the first place it is unimaginable that the limitations that appear to be imposed by humanity could allow for the existence of the entire essence of God within the human framework. Secondly, the idea that a holy God would allow Himself to exist on the level of humanity seems to elevate humanity to a level that was familiar to idol worshipers of Greece and Rome. Furthermore, the idea that God would present Himself as three distinct persons was also farfetched. It was within this cloud of unbelief—or disbelief—and confusion that Jesus would appear as a light of understanding and working miracles in such a way that it was declared “It was never so seen in Israel”. Jewish doctrine as espoused by the Pharisees, scribes, and Sadducees was in error in that they presupposed that the human mind is capable of understanding the nature and person of God without God’s guidance. I refer to the manner in which the doctrine was interpreted as the culprit in that nothing in the writings of the Old Testament from whence Jewish doctrine is drawn is in opposition to the teachings or declarations of Jesus. However, Jesus’ declarations and teachings were in opposition to the Jewish interpretations of the Old Testament writings. On one occasion it is recorded in the gospel that Jesus invited some of them to search the Old Testament scriptures for they testified of him. Our lesson text today should settle the matter for all professing Christians. The text presents the only unimpeachable source in existence declaring that Jesus is the Son of God. That source is God Himself. He did not use the instrument of human vocal cords to declare this but He spoke with His own voice out of the cloud that appeared over that mountain. The text presents what we have come to know as the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain top. Jesus took three disciples with him that would later give witness to the event, Peter, James, and John. What a scene these three did witness. They saw Jesus standing there in the brightness of his glory talking to Moses and Elijah. Moses and Elijah are arguably the greatest of the Jewish heroes. Moses was the deliver who was used mightily by God to bring the nation of Israel out of Egyptian bondage and he wrote and gave that nation the law of God to govern them. Elijah was the greatest of the miracle working prophets who had withstood a sinful Jewish king and brought the wrath of God upon him and his ungodly wife, Jezebel. Jesus would now be seen in a very different light by those three witnesses and they would go on to testify about it. When Peter suggested that all three men be honored by having shrines built for them on that mountain, his rebuke did not come from either of the three but from God. God overshadowed them with a cloud and removed Moses and Elijah. Then He declared that Jesus is His beloved Son and they should listen to Jesus.


Robert C. Hudson
February 5, 2011