Who Is Jesus?
Names and Descriptive Phrases of Jesus - Part 4
By Allan E. McNabb

In this series we’re talking about the names and descriptive phrases identifying Jesus.  Thus far we’ve talked about Jesus as God, our Creator, and the impact He has in our lives as the Word.

In this article, we talk about Jesus as the Son.

Only Begotten of God
The word “son” refers to one begotten of another.

For example, a father named John has a son named James.  So then, we could say that James is the son of John.

In this fashion, the phrase “Son of God” refers to Jesus as the One begotten of God.

  • “‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son . . .’” (Jn. 3:16).

This phrase doesn’t imply that Jesus is a created being by God, and not divine, as some in the world believe.

John makes it abundantly clear that Jesus is eternal, though He was begotten by God.

  • In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God” (Jn. 1:1-2).
  • “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14).
  • “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, has explained Him” (Jn. 1:18).

Jesus Was Begotten When He Became Flesh
Jesus is God (Jn. 1:1).  He is eternal, as a member of the Godhead (Col. 2:9).

He was begotten by God at the moment He became flesh (Jn. 1:14).  But prior to this, He existed for eternity as God.

John further teaches that Jesus, as eternal deity, was begotten when taking on flesh by using the phrase, “the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father” (Jn. 1:18).

Jesus, as the only begotten God, existed as God prior to Mary’s conception.

Therefore, Jesus became the “Son” at His birth upon earth, though He had lived for eternity as God.

So then the name Emanuel, meaning God with us, is appropriately used of Jesus (Mt. 1:23).  He is eternal as God, and yet born of flesh upon earth.

Jesus Emptied Himself Before Birth On Earth
Besides John, Paul also makes it clear that Jesus was divine prior to His birth, having lived for eternity.

  • “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped” (Phil. 2:5-6).

Before His birth upon earth, Jesus emptied Himself, so that He could become flesh.

  • “. . . did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:6-7).

This information reinforces the fact that Jesus is eternal, and was begotten at His birth upon earth.

Jesus, The Son
As we’ve studied thus far, Jesus did not become a Son until His birth upon earth.

After His birth, three common phrases are used to refer to Jesus, relating to God begetting Him through Mary.

  • The Son (Jn. 5;19).
  • Son of God (Jn. 1:34).
  • Son of Man (Jn. 1:51).

Jesus, Son of God
The phrase “Son of God” refers to the fact that God begat Jesus, recognizing His divine nature while in the flesh, as asserted in John 1:18.

Two notable occasions when God referred to Jesus as His Son are His baptism, and the transfiguration.

  • His Baptism: “and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased’” (Matt. 3:17).
  • The Transfiguration: “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him’” (Matt. 17:5).

One of the blessings we derive from Jesus as the Son of God, is that we’re beloved children of God, as members of His church (Eph. 5:1, 23-24).

Jesus, Son of Man
The phrase “Son of Man” refers to the fact that Jesus was born of Mary, recognizing His human nature while in the flesh, as asserted in John 1:1-2, 14.

It was necessary for Jesus to come in the flesh to render the devil powerless, free us from sin, and save us from eternal damnation (Heb. 2:14-18; Lk. 19:10).

To be continued.