After his baptism Jesus enters the period of his public ministry. This is recorded by Luke in chapters 3 and 4. When he has the encounter with the devil, one challenge thrown at him was ‘If you are the Son of God…’. In chapter 3 there is a genealogy of Jesus tracking back to Adam. It states that Adam was the ‘son of God’. In chapter 4 there are references to Israel, that was also referred to as a ‘son of God’ in the Old Testament.

God was looking for a son who could establish humanity as he intended.

Son of God 1      Adam    Sabbath    Marriage

The creation song at the beginning of the book of Genesis gives us insight into Gods’ purpose for humanity.

God’s rest, equated to the 7th day called ‘sabbath’, followed their creation of humanity (son of God) in their own image. The plurality is found in Genesis “Let us make man in our image …”. Presumably this means the Father, Son and Spirit. The Spirit was active in creation and John chapter 1 mirroring Genesis chapter 1 makes it clear that Jesus was also involved.

Sabbath points to the ‘rest’, the fulfilment in life, that God wants humanity to enjoy with Him.   

Plurality is central to the creation song. It reflects the trinity of God, the Father, Son and Spirit, jointly bringing about the creation. This needed to be reflected in humanity which was not complete until it had its own plurality. This is established by the creation of Eve to compliment Adam and the concept of marriage.

God’s creation in His own image is handed responsibility to rule over what had been created, to subdue and to cultivate it. This humanity is to live in relationship with one another, founded on helping and complimenting one another. This was most fully expressed in marriage, where two people somehow become one, again imaging the creator. 

Marriage illustrates the relationship that Jesus will enjoy with people. On a number of occasions Jesus uses marriage in his illustrations, he refers to himself as a bridegroom. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians and John in the book of Revelation develop this picture.

Son of God 2      Israel       Jubilee       Nation

Israel as the ‘son of God’ became an expression of people gathered together as a ‘nation’.     

As with Sabbath, Gods’ purpose for national rest and fulfilment is expressed in ‘Jubilee’.

Israel should have been an example to other nations.

The quote that Jesus reads from Luke chapter 4 verses 18,19 is mainly from Isaiah chapter 61 and is about Jubilee. Jesus speaks to the nation of Israel and reminds them what they should have been modelling.

The New Testament picture of kingdom is that of only one nation. Everyone expresses their own individuality in a world of cultural diversity with no artificial borders, barriers, immigration or armies. All are equal.

Jubilee provides a framework for diversity and enterprise, balanced with equality and security, resulting in fulfilment.   

For more on Jubilee see ‘Favourable Year’

Son of God 3      Jesus   Life   Family

Jesus as new humanity fulfils all that Adam failed to achieve in caring for and befriending His creation. He also establishes a new foundation for expressing life as a nation, replacing Israel.

He lives in, and demonstrates, God’s rest as signposted in Sabbath and Jubilee, even when surrounded by chaos.

Jesus brings a new expression of ‘family’. As well as being a son of God, another expression of humanity, he is also the Son of God, part of God’s family. His mission is to draw us into this family. He expresses how family can be enjoyed through his relationship with the Father and invites us to become family members in Him.

When Jesus is tempted, he quotes three passages in Deuteronomy.  Each is about reliance and independence. In each reply, Jesus decides to rely on his Father instead of taking his own independent action. He decides to trust in his Fathers’ advice, counsel and judgment. He will only do things that his Father wills, a family expression of unity.