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

Jesus is the Messiah

February 6, 2011

Background Scripture: Mark 8:27 – 9:1
Lesson Passage: Mark 8:27 – 9:1

“Messiah” is a word of Hebrew origin that is only used four times in the King James translation of the bible (twice in Daniel and twice in the Gospel of John). The word messiah means to rub with oil for consecration to a religious office such as priest, king, or saint. Put another way, the word messiah means “to anoint” or “to be anointed”. The idea of anointing is expressed many times in the bible in both the Old and the New Testament. It is most often rendered “anointed” in the Old Testament and “Christ” in the New Testament. The New Testament references tend not to use the word in a general sense (as did the Old Testament) but more to refer to the specific anointed person who God has chosen for end-time ministry and the worldwide proclamation of the gospel message. It is in this sense that the topic of our lesson today refers to the Messiah or Christ of God. Since the days of Moses, Israel had long anticipated the arrival of God’s anointed one whose coming was prophesied by Moses. Apparently many false messiahs had arisen but over the course of time they were proven to be counterfeits or fakes. The text of our lesson, along with the parallel accounts found in Matthew and Luke’s accounts of the gospel, gives us the setting where Peter would make perhaps his most popular declaration of all. While in the coast of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus questioned his disciples concerning the rumors of his identity. Peter declared that Jesus was the anointed one of Israel that had been long anticipated. This occurred after the disciples had given Jesus a list of names that others had used in referring to Jesus’ identity. But when Jesus made the question personal for his disciples and not just a conversation about the local rumors, Peter responded with a notion that apparently was not part of the local rumor mill. Jesus was not just another mighty prophet sent from God as the rumors described him. But Peter’s declaration was that Jesus is the one. Jesus was he who had been sought by Israel for centuries. Our lesson passage has been taught and expounded upon for years—especially as a theme for church anniversaries. We quickly rush pass the announcement about Jesus’ identity and get on to the part that talks about the establishment of the New Testament church. Today it is worth pausing to consider what it means that Jesus is the Messiah. At the beginning of his ministry, John the Baptist had pointed Jesus out to two of his disciples as being the Lamb of God. One of them, Andrew, left John the Baptist and followed Jesus. Andrew then recruited his brother Simon (Peter) by telling him that Jesus was the Christ of God. In our text today, Jesus was at a point in his ministry where his fame went throughout the land. This fame caused many to try to figure out exactly who is this Jesus. This pondering is apparently what started the rumor mill about Jesus’ identity. God’s revelation to Peter, however, dispelled those rumors. Jesus is the Messiah.


Robert C. Hudson
January 31, 2011