G. The Testimony of Others

The voice of God and that of the Angels of heaven declare Jesus to be God’s Son. His friends and disciples recognized His claim and believed and confessed it for themselves. His enemies recognized His claim but bitterly denied it and had Him murdered because of it. Lastly, the demons recognized Jesus as the Son of God and yielded to His power as they were cast from those whom they tormented.

THE VOICE OF GOD

We first read of God’s affirmation of Jesus as His Son when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.

And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, {17} and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)

On another occasion, Jesus brought three of His disciples to a mountaintop at which time Jesus was transfigured before them and the voice of God once again affirmed Jesus as His Son.

And Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” {5} While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” {6} And when the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were much afraid. {7} And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” (Matthew 17:4-7)

After Jesus had departed this world and the apostle Peter was shepherding the people of God, Peter wrote of the transfiguration, assuring his readers that that what had been taught to them about Jesus was not some “cleverly devised tale” but it was the truth based on what he, Peter, and others had personally witnessed and experienced.

“For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such a declaration as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory: “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased”— 18 and we ourselves heard this declaration made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.” (2 Peter 1:16-18)

THE VOICE OF THE ANGEL

When Jesus mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph her future husband, the angel Gabriel appeared to her and explained that she would conceive a son by the power of God’s Spirit. This Son, the angel revealed would be great, would sit on the throne of David and would be called the Son of God.

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. {31} “And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. {32} “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; {33} and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.” {34} And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” {35} And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:30-35)

THE TESTIMONY OF THE DISCIPLES

We have already read about God’s affirmation of Jesus at His baptism, but as one would expect, John who baptized Jesus also gave witness to Jesus as the Son of God.

And John bore witness saying, “I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. {33} “And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ {34} “And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:32-34)

Throughout Jesus ministry, much like today, people were coming to different conclusions about who Jesus was and how He should be received. Jesus recognized this and asked His close followers about that one day. It was at this time that Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, and Jesus agreed with His conclusion.

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He began asking His disciples, saying, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” {14} And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” {15} He said^ to them, “But who do you say that I am?” {16} And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” {17} And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 16:13-17)

THE TESTIMONY OF HIS FRIENDS

In the eleventh chapter of the Gospel of John we find the moving story of Lazarus who was raised from the dead. Jesus had a close relationship with Lazarus and his two sisters and came to be with them when Lazarus died. In her conversation with Jesus Martha confesses her belief in Jesus as the Son of God.

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him; but Mary still sat in the house…….. {21} Martha therefore said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. {22} “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” {23} Jesus said^ to her, “Your brother shall rise again.” {24} Martha said^ to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” {25} Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, {26} and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” {27} She said^ to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.” (John 11:5, 20-27)

In the remainder of the account of what occurs that day we learn that Lazarus is raised from the dead. This stirring account of the empathy and humanity of Jesus the Son of God would be well worth the time to read and consider.

THE TESTIMONY OF THE DEMONS

In the New Testament we learn about the unseen spiritual world of both good and evil. Jesus and the apostles affirm the existence of Satan and his demons on many occasions. (Ephesians 6:10-13) For the people of Jesus day these things were very real as they experienced satanic and demonic oppression which took on many forms. Often, when Jesus delivered someone from demonic oppression the demons would give recognition to Jesus as God’s Son.

And while the sun was setting, all who had any sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on every one of them, He was healing them. {41} And demons also were coming out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Son of God!” (Luke 4:40-41)

And whenever the unclean spirits beheld Him, they would fall down before Him and cry out, saying, “You are the Son of God!” (Mark 3:11)

THE TESTIMONY OF HIS ENEMIES

Because the Jews were not allowed to punish by death those under their religious authority, they brought Jesus to the Romans to have Him executed. In the following account, they made it very clear that they wanted Jesus executed because He claimed to be a king who was the Son of God.

Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him. {2} And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and arrayed Him in a purple robe; {3} and they began to come up to Him, and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him blows in the face. {4} And Pilate came out again, and said^ to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” {5} Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said^ to them, “Behold, the Man!” {6} When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said^ to them, “Take Him yourselves, and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.” {7} The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.” {8} When Pilate therefore heard this statement, he was the more afraid; (John 19:1-8)

The scene described at the crucifixion of Jesus was very dramatic. There was darkness because the sun had been obscured, and there was an earthquake and other events. Everyone knew Jesus was being crucified because of His claims but the events taking place were so overpowering that one of the guards proclaimed that Jesus was truly the Son of God.

Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54)