Behold Your God — The Eternal Son
The study of the Son of God expands beyond the realm and knowledge of man and time. The almighty, infinite, and eternal God pre-exists creation and known history of man. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was, is and eternally will be in the fullness of His being. Our knowledge of the existence, being, person and work of God before the creation is slim at best. We are going to take a telescopic and microscopic view of Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God along with a glimpse of God the Father and Holy Spirit. Take a quick look at the beginning as revealed in the Word of God.
John 1:1-3 NKJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
John 1:4-5 NKJV In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Genesis 1:1-2 NKJV In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Before the beginning of creation, we find the pre-existent God revealed in the three persons of the Divine Trinity.
It is difficult to comprehend the incomprehensible and infinite being of God. Before anything else, Jesus the eternal Son of God was with the Father and the Holy Spirit throughout eternity. God has self-revealed Himself throughout time and eternity in the Bible.
At some point in eternity, God in His infinite perfections made the place of His abode. Jesus said, John 14:2 NKJV In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. This eternal abode is described as the Father’s house. The splendor and beauty of that glorious place is beyond compare. In eternity, the divine trinity dwelled in perfect harmony, holiness, and splendor. At some time in eternity, God created the heavens and the earth.
We have been given a glimpse of God’s almightiness in the revelation of His creation. By the word of His power, God created everything that is. That includes the spirit and physical world and all that encompasses. All of the angels, principalities and powers were created by God. Every star, constellation, cell and membrane of the universe and being was created by God.
God has revealed Himself throughout time in ways that we may know Him.
As we open the Word of God, we are given special and specific glimpses of the eternal and almighty God. The trinity was at work initially creating everything that is. Looking back, the telescopic view focuses in on the creation and on man. Adam and Eve enjoyed a period of time living and knowing the presence and provision of God’s goodness. It is difficult to understand the depth of their exposure to the presence and being of God. We are simply told that God would “come down” in the cool of the day and would walk and talk with them. We do not know how much exposure they had to the fullness of the divine trinity. Sufficient information is given to let us know that they knew God in a very deep and special way until sin entered.
Scanning across the eons of time, God has revealed Himself in many ways.
We have seen the manifestations of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as they have taken action in this world. Initially, we see God in action creating all things and then we catch glimpses of His interaction with individuals and at specific points of time. Most of our knowledge of God’s actions and revelations have been around individuals who had special manifestations of God.
- Enoch walked with God.
- Noah was warned by God of impending judgment.
- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob heard and saw God.
- Moses met Him at the burning bush.
This kind of thing continues throughout the Bible. With the judges, prophets, kings and the congregation of God’s people, God revealed Himself in various ways. Much of these revelations refer to God’s eternal plan to provide a Savior, Jesus Christ His Son, and bring creation back into harmony with Him after sin and the fall.
Our specific study at this time centers around the Lord Jesus Christ and His appearances.
Old Testament appearances of the pre-incarnate Christ are found throughout the Old Testament. Many prophets foresaw the Son of God coming as the Redeemer from sin. When we look into the New Testament, the revelation of Jesus Christ is seen more clearly. All of the prophecies from of old begin to be unfolded before those who “beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father,” (John 1:14). Jesus Christ the Savior arrived on the scene as the incarnate Son of God born in the manger in Bethlehem. His early life and time up to His baptism by John is mostly hidden. Once He was baptized, Jesus the Christ entered into His public ministry that the prophets of old foresaw. He preached good news to the poor, healed the brokenhearted, proclaimed liberty to captives, recovered sight to the blind, set at liberty the oppressed, and proclaimed the year of the Lord’s favor, (Luke 4:18-19, Isaiah 61:1-2). Christ’s 3 ½ year ministry exposed thousands of people to the glory of God and revealed the Father most clearly. The Lord Jesus even said, “whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9; 12:45; 1:18; Col 1:15)
After His death and resurrection, the Son of God appeared before His disciples for 40 days.
During those short forty days (Acts 1:3) He showed Himself alive with many infallible proofs. Then He ascended back to the Father in heaven and is seated in a place of honor as our Intercessor and High Priest. In the end, Christ the glorious King will return to receive His waiting bride to Himself and then He will bring judgment on a wicked world and Satan. His ultimate glory shall be revealed throughout eternity as He rules and reigns in righteousness. As John said, 1 John 1:4, “our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”
Colossians 1:15-16 NIV He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him.
Colossians 1:17-19 NIV He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him.
The depth of information to be gleaned about Jesus Christ the Son of God is so vast that it cannot be adequately studied within the confines of our pursuit. Thus far in our studies on God, we have learned of His Anthropomorphic revelations when God presented Himself in ways that may be knowable to us, (eyes, hands, feet, soul, lips, mouth, etc). God has revealed Himself through visible manifestations (theophanies) that demonstrated His power, presence and glory. The pre-incarnate Son of God has also appeared to select individuals and groups in what is known as Christophanies. These were manifestations of the second person of the Trinity in bodily form. Some of these manifestations are difficult to determine if they were a revelation of the Father or the Son of God. Suffice us to say that God the Son revealed Himself sufficiently so that we may know that He is and that He is indeed Almighty God.
- Genesis 3:8 — God came down to the garden and spoke to Adam and Eve, and they hid themselves from God’s presence
- Genesis 12:1-4; 17:1 — Almighty God appeared or spoke to Abram multiple times.
- Genesis 18:1 — On His way to destroy Sodom, the Lord and two angels appeared to Abraham by the terebinth trees of Mamre.
- Exodus 6:4 — the Lord appeared to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses.
- Exodus 13:1-2; 6:2-29; 3:4— Several times in Exodus, God came close and spoke to Moses
- 1 Kings 8:10-11 — The glory of the Lord came into the holy place and a cloud filled the house and the priest could not continue ministering in God’s presence.
- 2 Chronicles 5:11-14 — When the Levites, singers, and musicians were praising the Lord, the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud and the glory of the Lord.
- Hosea 1:1-7 — The Lord Jehovah came to Hosea and spoke to him.
The Son of God is revealed as the Angel of the Lord in the Old testament.
- Genesis 16:7-14 — The Angel of the Lord found Hagar by a spring in the wilderness and promised to bless her son Ishmael.
- Genesis 18:13,14,17,33 — The Angel of the Lord announced His future and covenant to Abraham.
- Genesis 22:11-18 — The Angel of the Lord called to Abraham when he was about to slay Isaac on the altar.
- Genesis 32:24-30 — Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the Lord. He said, “I have seen God face to face”….
- Genesis 37:11-13 — The Angel of the Lord spoke to Jacob in a dream
- Exodus 1:1-6 — The Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a fiery bush.
- Exodus 14:19 — The Angel of the Lord revealed as a pillar of cloud and fire.
- Exodus 23:20 — God sent an Angel before Israel and said, “My name is in Him.”
- Exodus 32:34 — Although Aaron had led the people into sin by making the god of gold, God promised Moses that He would send His Angel before Israel to the Promised Land.
- 1 Corinthians 10:4 — refers to the ‘Spiritual Rock’ out of which Israel drank in the wilderness, and that Rock was Christ.
- Numbers 22:22-35 — when Baalam went against God’s will to prophesy for Balak, God’s anger was aroused, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as his adversary.
- Judges 6:11-23 — The Angel of the Lord appeared and spoke to Gideon as he threshed wheat in the winepress
- Judges 13:2-25 — The Angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and told her she would give birth to Samson.
- 1 Kings 19:5-18 — When Elijah was running from Jezebel, the Angel of the Lord came and awoke him from sleep and gave his food that was prepared on coals of fire and gave him water in a jar to drink.
- 2 Kings 19:35 — the Angel of the Lord smote 105,000 Assyrians.
- Isaiah 6:1 NIV In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.
- Zechariah 1:1-17 — the Angel of the Lord spoke to Zechariah, and then pleaded for Jerusalem and Judah to the Lord of Hosts.
- Zechariah 3:1-8 — Joshua and the High Priest were standing before the Angel of the Lord and Satan was standing at His right hand. And the Angel of the Lord said, “Thus says the Lord of Hosts… I will give you places to walk among these.”
- Daniel 3:25 — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego saw the form of the Son of God in the fiery furnace.
There are many other references that reveal Old Testament appearances of the Son of God.
God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, was co-eternal with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.
John 1:1-2 NIV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
John 1:14 NKJV And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
In eternity past, the omniscient (all knowing) God, knew that we would need a spotless and sinless Savior. So God the Father gave His Son as “the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8) to redeem us from our sins. God the Son knew the terrible consequences of man’s sin and He willingly came to earth in the form of humanity to pay that price.
Philippians 2:6-8 NIV Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
The prophets saw the One who was to come.
As the time approached, the vision became so clear that His appearance and life could be easily recognized. Jesus said of the Old Testament: “They testified of Me.” The witness of the prophets revealed that the Christ would be of the “offspring of the woman,” indicating the virgin birth, (Genesis 3:15).
He would be of the godly line of Noah through his son Shem, (Genesis 6:8-10; 11:10-26). Christ’s genealogy can be traced from Adam, to Noah and his son Shem, to Abraham, to David, to Mary and Joseph, (Luke 3:23-28; Matthew 1:1-17). He came into the world exactly as the Scriptures indicated and did exactly what was prophesied. He lived, died, came out of the grave, and ascended back to the Father in glory just as the Scriptures declared.
His names indicate His eternal being.
“Jesus” is the personal name of our Lord given before He was born.
Jesus is the name given by the Angel Gabriel to Joseph (Matthew 1:21) and Mary (Luke 1:31). “Jesus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew name “Joshua.” Both mean “Jehovah Our Savior.” The name “Jesus” is more prominent in the Gospels before His death, burial and resurrection. It is His earthly name, the name of humiliation and suffering. The name “Jesus” was used mainly before salvation was completed.
“Christ”—the Title of the Son of God
Christos, “Christ,” is Greek for “Messiah” or “the Anointed One.” “Christos” means the same as the Hebrew word ‘’Messiah.”
John 1:41 NIV The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).
The title Christ is more prominent after Calvary. The Epistles spell out the doctrine of salvation by faith in the sacrifice on the cross. Jesus was “made both Lord and Christ.”
Peter said, Acts 2:36 NIV “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
“Lord” is the Title of Deity and Authority.
The word “Lord” in the New Testament comes from the Greek word “KURIOS” translated in our Bible as “Lord, God, Master.” In the Old Testament all three names of God are compounded into the one name “Lord”.
Romans 10:9 NIV That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
“I AM” is the name which includes all His names, Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58).
Twenty times in the Gospel of John, Jesus declared the same words:
- “I am the bread of life.”
- ”I am the light of the world.”
- “I am the good Shepherd.”
- “I am the resurrection and the life,” etc .
John 14:6 NIV Jesus answered, “I AM the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
The Son of God—His Title of Glory and Deity
Jesus the eternal Son of God has been throughout all eternity with the Father.
Luke 1:35 NIV The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.
Isaiah 7:14 NIV Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Matthew 1:23 NIV “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”
The Son of Man — refers to His humanity and His relationship with the Father.
John 1:14 NIV The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
He became the God-man. The title Son of Man occurs more than 80 times in the Gospels and is mostly used by Jesus in reference to His obedience to the Father and mission to fulfill the Father’s purpose. The word “incarnation” is a theological term for the coming of the Son of God into the world as a human being to become the Son of Man. The incarnation is the act of God’s grace whereby Christ took our human nature into union with His Divine Person and became a man. The incarnation covers every phase of Christ’s earthly life from the virgin birth, His two natures, works, death, resurrection, and ascension. The incarnation is not the same as Christ’s appearances in the Old Testament. When we speak of the incarnation of the Son of God, we mean God in the flesh—God manifest in the flesh. In the fullness of time, Christ came and dwelt among us. These are foundational truths which fulfill the prophecies of the Old Testament. Jesus participated fully in all that it means to live a human life. Yet, He was not merely a man that was approved of God. God the Son Himself began to live a fully human life. The word “manifest” means to “make evident, visible.” Jesus was made flesh to reveal the invisible God.
1 Timothy 3:16 NIV Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
Jesus Christ had a divine nature and took upon Himself a human nature—both natures were complete in every way. His divine nature was complete and intact. He had all the character and ability within that He had in eternity, and yet His human nature was complete in every way. He was Emmanuel: “God With Us.” Jesus is “God with us” and fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy. Jesus had a childhood and He grew and became strong in spirit, wisdom, and stature, (Luke 2:40; Luke 2:52).
Jesus had human needs just like anyone else.
He became hungry (Matthew 4:2), thirsty (John 19:28), weary (John 4:6), and sleepy (Matthew 8:24). He experienced sorrow ( Matthew 26:38) and His flesh became weak. He needed clothes to wear and shoes for His feet (Luke 9:29; John 1:16). Christ came in the “likeness” of sinful flesh (John 1:14; Romans 8:3; Hebrews 4:15) to redeem those who are in sinful flesh. That is, Christ became a flesh and blood person but did not surrender to the desires of the flesh. Instead, being perfect in life and death, He died to provide salvation for all other persons.
He is The Word—The Living Word
Jesus the Word was in the beginning with God the Father.
John 1:1-2 NIV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
John 1:14 NIV The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
He is Savior — He was born to save men from their sin.
Matthew 1:21 NIV She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
Luke 2:11 NIV Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.
The “Lord Jesus Christ” is His full title.
Ephesians 1:3 NIV Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
- There are 272 names of our Lord in the Scriptures.
- 145 are prophetic
- 132 describe different aspects of His life.
- There are 333 prophecies in the Old Testament concerning Christ.
The next major appearance of Christ was after His resurrection.
Proof of His resurrection can be found in the seventeen appearances of Christ in His resurrected body. During this short period of time, Jesus was recognized and spoke with people, (Mark 16:12-14; Luke 24:34; John 20:11-17).
The Apostle Paul spoke of Christ’s resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:5-8 NKJV He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
Biblically what can we say about the resurrection body of Christ?
- Recognizable, could see Him, Matthew 28:9-10, etc.
- Bore the imprint of the wounds in His hands, feet, and side, John 20:27-29
- He could eat and drink with them, Luke 24:40-43
- He could be touched, Matthew 28:9-10; Luke 24:39; John 20:27
- Walked and talked with them, Luke 24:29-33, Mark 16:12-14
- Knew them, John 20:11-17
- Could appear and disappear in a locked room with them, John 20:19-23
- He gave instruction to them, Matthew 28:16-20
- He had a body, Luke 24:36-39
The Ascension of Christ
Forty days after the resurrection of Christ, His earthly ministry ceased with His ascension into heaven.
Mark 16:19 NIV After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.
Luke 24:50-51 NIV When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.
Jesus, in His glorified living body, ascended back into glory, signifying that the work of our redemption was finished. They could no longer expect the physical presence of Jesus Christ to guide, teach, and help them. Now the Lord Jesus Christ has ascended back to heaven and is at the right hand of the Father. In this position in heaven, He is ministering as our divine Advocate and Great High Priest with the Father, (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 4:14; 5:4-10; 6:20; 7:25, 1 John 2:1). In His current position, Jesus has an unchangeable priesthood and the glory that He possessed with the Father before the world was.
John 17:5 NIV And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
John 17:1 NIV After Jesus said this, He looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.”
His being at the right hand of the Father indicates His full authority and power.
The final revelation of Jesus Christ refers to His Kingship.
As the Eternal Word, He authenticated the Old Testament Scriptures, revealed the Father to men and foretold what was to come. As a priest, He offered Himself without blemish to God and entered into the Holiest to appear in the presence of God on behalf of all believers. Just as He filled the offices of prophet and priest, it is required that He fill the office of the king. The Father will establish Him as King.
1 Timothy 6:15 NIV Which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
Old Testament and New Testament prophets foretell of the time when He will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Matthew 24:30 NKJV Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
When John saw the resurrected and glorified Christ, He was manifest in all of His glory and power.
Revelation 1:13-14 NKJV In the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
Revelation 1:15-16 NKJV His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
Revelation 1:17-18 NKJV And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
