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The Ultimate Sonship of Jesus

Jesus is the ultimate Son, perfect and multi-faceted in sonship.

Isaiah wrote, “To us a Son is given” (Isaiah 9:6).

Understanding the sonship of Jesus is key to understanding who he is, what he has accomplished, and what place he has in the Kingdom of God throughout eternity.

He is the Son in at least seven momentous ways, and each is important to the Christmas event.

1. The Son of Joseph

Luke 3:23 says, “Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph.” (ESV used for each Bible quotation)

Although Jesus was not the physical descendant of Joseph, Joseph was his father in a more significant way. That Luke records the genealogy of Jesus tracing back from Joseph shows that God regarded Joseph as the father of Jesus in a real way, a way that connected Jesus to the line of promise through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and David.

Because Jesus is the Son of Joseph, he fulfills promises and covenants God had made to other important figures.

2. The Son of Mary

Luke 2:7 says Mary “gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

Jesus was a real human born after developing in the womb of his real mother for nine months. He had real blood flowing in his veins, and his DNA and genes were inherited from Mary. I assume his face resembled Mary’s. He definitely did not look like Joseph, because Joseph and Mary did not come together until after Jesus was born. Mary was a virgin, and the child Jesus was conceived in her womb by a miracle of God. Jesus was 100 percent human. That is why he was able to die for our sins.

3. The Son of Abraham

Luke’s genealogy also names Jesus as “the son of Abraham” (Luke 3:34).

Being the son of Abraham was important in the life of Jesus because two thousand years before Jesus was born God said to Abraham, “‘Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” (See Genesis 15:1–6)

God fulfilled that promise and covenant through Abraham’s descendant Jesus. Every Christian is one of the “stars in the sky.”

Abraham was the man of faith who was credited with righteousness through his faith in God and his promise. And this is the same way we are now saved in the new covenant—through faith in Jesus Christ. Through our faith in Jesus God credits righteousness to us, just as he did for Abraham.

4. The Son of David

In Luke’s genealogy of Jesus, he includes that Jesus was “the son of David” (Luke 3:31).

The Gospel of Matthew uses the title “Son of David” for Jesus ten times, so the idea is familiar to Bible readers. Its chief significance lies in the promise that God made to David after he had established him on the throne of Israel.

God said, “I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (2 Samuel 7:11–13)

Jesus fulfilled this promise. Jesus will reign as a king over God’s people throughout all eternity.

5. The Son of Man

This correlates with Jesus’s being the son of Mary, but it takes the humanity of Jesus to a whole new level. Jesus uses this identity and title to speak of himself 25 times in the Gospel of Luke. (See Luke 5:24, for example.)

The title son of man was used in the Bible to speak of people other than Jesus, and in those cases it is simply a poetic way of saying a human, an offspring of the human race.

With Jesus, however, the title Son of Man was used both to emphasize his humanity and his divinity. It fulfills one of the extremely important prophecies given about the Messiah through the prophet Daniel.

Daniel 7:13–14 says, “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

Jesus fulfills this prophecy!

6. The Son of Adam

Luke concludes his genealogy of Jesus by naming him as the “son of Adam” (Luke 3:38).

We need to first define what this does not mean. The idiom “son of__” is used often in the Bible to mean one is under the influence and imprint of someone or something. But that is decidedly not what being the son of Adam means with Jesus. Through Adam’s disobedience, he failed the human race as our representative head, bringing condemnation, death, and original sin to all humanity. Jesus did not do that; in fact, he overturned all that for those who believe in him.

Jesus is the Son of Adam in this regard:

First, he is the physical descendant of Adam just as all human beings are descendants of Adam. To save Adam’s fallen race Jesus had to be a member of Adam’s fallen race.

Second, Jesus is the antitype for the type of Adam. Adam is a type of Christ in that he was the representative head of humanity. Christ is the second Adam who is the new and superior representative head whose obedience earns salvation for all who believe in him.

Romans 5:14–17 says, “Death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.”

7. The Son of God

At Jesus’ baptism, God the Father spoke from heaven declaring, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17).

This of course is the ultimate Sonship. Jesus Is the eternally begotten son of God the Father.

Jesus is fully divine, having the identical nature and character qualities of his Father. He is equal with the Father in glory and equally worthy of worship.

Hebrews 1:2–3 says, “In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

Colossians 2:9 says, “In him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.”

And so it is with good reason that Isaiah gave his astonishing prophecy: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God…. (Isaiah 9:6)

Christmas brings into sharp focus the glorious fact that Jesus is the ultimate son: Son of Joseph, Son of Mary, Son of Abraham, Son of David, Son of Man, Son of Adam, Son of God.

This great person wants to have a relationship with you. Most likely the great people of the earth are not seeking you out, but this great person is. He loves you and is seeking a daily relationship with you. He cares about you and wants your highest good. Better yet, he can bring the highest good into your life as you follow him as a true disciple. Make that decision right now, that you will follow Jesus from this moment on as a completely surrendered and committed disciple, and tell him so in prayer.

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How Jesus Fulfilled Prophecy

By Craig Brian Larson

Based on Luke 18:31–34, ESV – “{31} And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. {32} For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. {33} And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” {34} But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.”

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How Powerful Is Faith?

Luke 17:5–6 (ESV) – “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ And the Lord said, ‘If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’”

In this Scripture, we will explore three truths about the power of faith:

1. Faith can produce even miracles.

2. Faith can make even human commands authoritative over the natural realm.

3. Faith is effective even in tiny amounts.

1. Faith can produce even miracles

Uprooting a mulberry tree is difficult. AI says: “Mulberry tree roots are known for being extensive and robust, potentially impacting nearby structures. They are characterized by a deep taproot system and wide-spreading lateral roots. While not always deeply rooted, they can extend 2-3 times the width of the canopy, and even further in some cases. This extensive reach allows them to access water and nutrients but can also lead to issues with foundations, sidewalks, and other structures if not carefully managed.”

Is it reasonable to believe that the being who created all things from nothing—that is, God—can do miracles, or what we regard as a miracle?

Of course God can do miracles. Everything that exists is the miracle that God has already done. Was it a miracle to create earth out of nothing? Of course it took supernatural power. Was it a miracle to create the universe from nothing, literally nothing? Of course it was a miracle only God could do.

And God has the same power now to create from what does not exist now, or to change anything from its current state of existence. So for example, God can change a human body that is sick to instantly become a human body that is not sick. God can create from nothing; he can change something from what it is now; he can cause things to live or to die or to move in any way he desires.

So, for example Jesus can walk on water. Jesus can cause withered, emaciated limbs to grow out and become normal. Jesus can command leprosy to leave a human body, and it will instantly disappear. Jesus can command blind eyes to see, and they will open and see. It’s a small thing for God. It is only difficult for our human minds to conceive of.

Your reaction to this article will largely be determined by how much your belief system and worldview are controlled by naturalism, which is the dominant worldview of many people in the West. It is not the worldview of the Bible, and it often takes time for true believers to leave it behind and truly live with a worldview that is biblical and supernatural.

I believe the Bible is God’s Word. It is without error, that is, inerrant. It is not the reflection of superstitious, ignorant, uneducated people. It is rather the inspired Word of God telling us about reality as God has made it to be.

Luke 17:5–6 is a teaching that those who follow the worldview of naturalism would regard as utter superstition. Even some who do believe in God and the possibility of miracles might regard those who believe this verse as unhinged or extreme.

I believe this because Jesus taught it.

Naturalism defined

I asked Google for an AI definition of naturalism in philosophy and received this answer:

“In philosophy, naturalism is the viewpoint that everything in existence is part of the natural world and can be explained by natural causes and laws, rejecting supernatural or transcendental explanations. It emphasizes the methods and findings of science as the primary way to understand reality and human experience.

“Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

“Core Principles:

  • “Rejection of the Supernatural: Naturalism denies the existence or influence of supernatural beings, forces, or realms.
  • “Emphasis on Natural Laws: It posits that the universe operates according to natural laws discoverable through scientific inquiry.
  • “Scientific Method as Primary Tool: Naturalism prioritizes the scientific method – observation, experimentation, and testing – as the best approach to understanding the world.
  • “Materialism (in some forms): Some forms of naturalism, particularly metaphysical naturalism, assert that everything is ultimately material or physical in nature.
  • “Continuity with Science: Naturalism seeks to integrate philosophy with the findings and methods of science, rather than treating them as separate domains.”

<< End of AI-generated definition of naturalism. >>

Naturalism believes that the only thing that exists is matter. Nothing supernatural exists. So, that would exclude believing in God, angels, demons, heaven, hell, and miracles that can occur outside of the natural laws, so to speak, of physics. Obviously that worldview does not agree with the Bible.

When you have been raised all your life with a worldview of naturalism, even if you do believe in God and in the Bible, you may have a hybrid worldview, in which you believe in a spiritual reality but also expect the created world to work as naturalism expects. In this view, God created everything as well as the laws of physics, and he has withdrawn himself from the world and does not intervene in it. That is deism.

However, biblical belief says all matter is created and upheld by God continuously. And that what we call the laws of science or the laws of physics are simply God’s normal way of running the universe.

But these laws can be controverted at any time God wants. For example, when Joshua commanded the sun to stand still. Or when Elisha the prophet made an axe head float. Or when the pagan general Naaman dipped himself seven times in the Jordan river and was healed. Or when Jesus did miracles such as walking on water, raising the dead, feeding 5,000 with a few loaves of bread, and opening blind eyes.

2. Faith can make even human commands authoritative over the natural realm

Luke 17:6 – “The Lord said, ‘If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’”

Certainly naturalism regards this teaching as superstition, but these words of Jesus strain the worldview of even the majority of Christians in America.

Webster’s dictionary defines superstition as “a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation.”

What naturalism would see as ignorance about the laws of physics, or practicing magic, or having a false conception of causation, Jesus teaches as spiritual, super-natural reality.

If we believe God can do miracles, then it is not a long leap to realize that God can choose to answer any prayer we pray or any command we give to nature. God can choose to back up our words anytime he wants and by his mighty power perform the miracles we have asked or the commands we have spoken to the natural world.

Suppose we go into the parking lot and stand beside my car. I get in the car and put the keys in the ignition and hold on to the keys. But suppose I have chosen not to turn those keys until you give a command for the car to start. You stand outside and speak this command: “I command the engine in Brian Larson’s car to start.” I then turn the keys in the ignition and the car starts. That’s a picture of what happens when we give a command to the natural world, which is fulfilled. We give the command, and God makes it happen. You and I partnered to start the car, and likewise you and God partner to act on the natural world if you give a command that is in agreement with his will.

So it is biblical to command healing specifically (for biblical examples, see Acts 3:1–10 and Acts 9:39-41). If someone has a tumor, it is perfectly biblical for me to speak to that tumor and command it to be gone. “Tumor, dry up and disintegrate.” If someone has the flu, we can say, “Flu, be gone. Be healed.”

3. Faith is effective even in tiny amounts

Luke 17:5–6 (ESV) “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ And the Lord said, ‘If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’”

Jesus seems to be saying, use the faith that you have. Most people do not have even mustard-seed-size faith, but that is not true of most Christians. Most Christians have faith as big as a mustard seed.

So, refuse to doubt. Keep praying and asking God to do what you desire. Persevere in faith. Keep meditating on and quoting God’s promises. Declare God’s promises aloud. Never give up. Command in the name of Jesus the natural world to align itself with what you desire. Pray more. Command more. Keep believing as best you can. Believe that God has already decreed it, that it is already God’s will and already been decreed for you by God, and now it is just a matter of time for it to manifest.

Even a tiny amount of faith can do wonders! We do not need great faith to see amazing things happen. Faith that can move mulberry trees is within reach of everyone. We need to use the faith we have, reject doubt, and persevere.