Jesus the Son of God (Heb 4.14)

Following on from Hebrews 3.1, we re-emphasise the importance of the deity and humanity of Christ relative to His Great High Priesthood. By virtue of His earthly experience He is able to sympathise. By virtue of His heavenly position He is able to succour.

Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew, Jehoshua, Jehovah the Saviour. The Jehovah of the Old Testament and the Jesus of the New Testament are one and the same. The name "Jesus" occurs 619 times in the New Testament of which 550 are in the Gospel records with John using it most often – 250 times. In the 69 times "Jesus" arises in the remainder of the New Testament it is found chiefly in the Acts and to a lesser extent in Hebrews and Revelation.

Jesus

It speaks of the Lord’s humanity. "A man that is called Jesus" (Jn 9.11). It was pre-determined but given to Christ at His birth. The name was shared by others in His times and is still given to children in some cultures today, though Jews and Christians rarely, if ever, do this.

It is suggestive of our Lord’s ministry. "Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Mt 1.21). He was to save "his people", the Israelites, from their sins. He came to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Even the gospel preaching was "to the Jew first" (Rom 1.16). But thank God that His saving work was not limited to the Jewish nation but embraced a world of sinners lost and ruined by the Fall. John twice tells us that He was potentially "the Saviour of the world" (Jn 4.42; 1 Jn 4.14).

It was the name that stirred up enmity. As a mark of respect the disciples did not address the Lord as "Jesus". Christian parents do not give their children this name due to a reverence for His person. Jewish parents, however, ceased to call their children "Jesus" after the first century because it stood for a person and persuasion which they hated. Many would even spit at the mention of the name, such was their loathing. "Jesus of Nazareth" was a part of the title placed on the cross by Pilate. "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" (Jn 1.46).

It was the name that symbolized authority, particularly after the resurrection.

It is first used in Matthew: "Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ" (1.16), at the conclusion of the genealogy. The final use is in Revelation: "I Jesus…I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star" (22.16), reminding us of the rapture, the conclusion of the church’s testimony on earth.

The Son of God

The Lord laid claim to this title in John 10.36: "I said, I am the Son of God". Mark commences his gospel, "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God". John concludes his gospel, "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God" (20.31). The Jews condemned Christ to be crucified because of His claim to be the Son of God (Jn 19.7; Mt 26.63-65).

The title occurs 49 times in the New Testament concerning Jesus Christ. Thirty times the title is to be found in the Gospels, twice in the Acts and 17 times in the rest of the books. John is the most prolific user of the title - some 20 times. In each of the epistles it occurs once or not at all, apart from Hebrews (4 times) and 1 John (8 times).

Paul is convinced that the greatest declaration of Christ as the Son of God took place at the resurrection (Rom 1.4). There are eight declarations about the Son of God in the Gospel narratives.

What an affirmation of His unique relationship with God, and of His unqualified deity!

The first mention of Son of God occurs in Matthew 4.3 on the lips of Satan during the temptation in the wilderness. At the final occurrence in Rev 2.18-19 John writes by divine command to the church in Thyatira, "These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass…I know thy works".

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12.2)

The previous chapter has displayed a gallery of those from the Old Testament who exhibited both faith and fidelity during their earthly testimony. This chapter begins with an exhortation to us on the strength of the "cloud of witnesses", i.e. the Old Testament saints of ch.11. Our eyes are then taken from men to the Man, Christ Jesus; from those who exercised faith to the great exemplar of faith. We are to look away from all else that might fill our gaze to that which fills the heart; such is the definition of "consider" (v.3).

"Author" (archegos) – the word is variously translated as prince, author, captain, file-leader, chief leader. J B Phillips suggests that the most accurate English equivalent is pioneer, and this certainly fits. It was used in early literature of the princeliness of the natural born leader; of those that were the origin of great things that outlasted their originator; of the founders of cities, families or philosophies; of the initiator of that which others could follow. The dictionary definition of pioneer represents him as an initiator, an explorer, or leader who goes before others to conduct them.

Our word is used in four New Testament passages. Peter speaks of Christ as "exalted…a Prince and a Saviour" (Acts 5.31). Earlier, he accuses the nation of Israel of having "killed the Prince of life" (Acts 3.15). The remaining references are in Hebrews: "To make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (2.10); then, "the author and finisher of our faith" (12.2). Our Lord is the One who has pioneered life, salvation and faith. Praise His Name!

He is the pioneer of faith. He has blazed the trail so that others might follow. However, arche also has the thought of first in rank or priority, even pre-eminence. Hence, our Lord not only blazed the trail for us to follow but He lifted the concepts of faith and fidelity to a new level, surpassing all the examples of old, however praiseworthy. His faith, trust and hope as the dependent man were centred in the Lord from the womb, from His mother’s belly. It was witnessed throughout His earthly life - even His tormentors were forced to declare, "He trusted in God" (Mt 27.43; Ps 22.8-10).

That trust was at its finest at Calvary, having been tested to its greatest degree, and the Lord has been rewarded accordingly for He sits at the right hand of the throne of God awaiting His bride and the marriage reception which will last 1,000 years.

"Finisher" (teleiotes) – this word speaks of one who has completed what he is doing to an excellent standard. The verb form occurs three times in Hebrews: "to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (2.10); "though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation" (5.8-9); "the word of the oath…maketh the Son, who is consecrated (perfected) for evermore" (7.28).

Our Lord is the completer, the perfecter, the finisher of faith. Teleiotes occurs only here in the New Testament, as a title of Christ, but it is akin to Tetelestai, the word of our Lord from the Cross - "Finished!" He is the consummator of faith. He alone brought faith to perfection. He is the supreme example of faith. It is "the faith" not "our faith", that is, the faith common to saints of all ages. Not only is He the greatest example of faith but He is the greatest encouragement to faith: "Consider him…lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds".

To be continued.