A week ago Wednesday, President Obama hosted an Easter Prayer Breakfast at the White House for a group of Christian Clergy. The President spoke about Easter, and said,"It’s an opportunity for us to reflect on the triumph of the resurrection, and to give thanks for the all-important gift of grace. And for me, and I’m sure for some of you, it’s also a chance to remember the tremendous sacrifice that led up to that day, and all that Christ endured--not just as a Son of God, but as a human being.” (My highlight)
I realize that all Presidents make mistakes. It would be wrong to criticize Mr. Obama for just one misstep. But for someone who claims to be a Christian, it's kind of important to get this right.
Jesus did not go to the cross because He was a son of God. He went to the cross, condemned for blasphemy, because He claimed to be the Son of God. Remember the exchange Christ had with the High Priest?
But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest
said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the
Christ, the Son of God."Jesus said to him, "You
have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at
the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then
the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. What
further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your
judgment?" They answered, "He deserves death." Matthew 26:63-66
The Bible's idea of "sonship" is not the same as our Western society's. In Jewish culture, a male child was considered only a boy, not a son. He didn’t become a son until adulthood, and then sonship technically meant equality with the father.
Sonship also shows a person’s nature. For example in Scripture Barnabas is called “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36) because he had an encouraging nature. Or the volatile brothers James and John were described as “sons of thunder” (John 17:12) and unbelievers are called “sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). We Christians are called “sons of resurrection” (Luke 20:36). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has the very nature of Almighty God!
In other words, when Jesus is called the Son of God, it means He is equal with the Father and shares the divine nature.
Let’s help everyone, including our President, know that Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God. In that very basic truth is our eternal hope.
