Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship - "thou art the Son of God"

 Matthew 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, of a truth thou art the Son of God. 

One of the thoughts that comes to mind as I read this is the idea that Matt chapter 14 seems kind of late in the story for His chosen disciples to be coming to this realization. A follow-on thought though is that maybe this was an extension of the belief and understanding that was growing in them. Meaning that they already knew that He was the Son of God based on some of the miracles, but maybe they hadn't seen Him command the elements the way He did here and that was a new realization that Jesus was also granted power over the elements as His Father has.

Matthew 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they 

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship - Day 5

 Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

It occurs to me a little more directly today that the references under the topic of Divine Sonship seem to be organized a little differently from other sections of scripture I have referenced. I think it is simply that there are more references for similar or same moments in time. The section we are reviewing here was referenced by more than just Matthew, but by other gospel writers as well. I hope it reminds me of the value of these moments and allows me to be more grateful for His divinity. 

Matthew 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge  concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

So was that really written somewhere? Would we really find that in scripture? What prophet wrote that? or was there even a prophecy about that? I think Satan made up that lie. If he didn't I think he twisted a truth.

Matthew 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. 

Not sure why this passage is included with the others. I thought these would all be related through idea of Jesus being tempted to command the stones to be bread. Maybe it is more like, teasing Jesus about the idea of being the Son of God, even though He really is. 

Matthew 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

All the ways that Jesus can be tempted, but He never gave into those temptations. Yet He truly knew that He was the Son of God. He understood His divine sonship. Is it because He understood so well His unique relationship to Father that He could withstand such tauntings, teasings, and temptations?

Luke 4:3, 9 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 9. And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, Cast thyself down from hence:

What can we learn from the different renditions of these moments of temptation? Did Jesus recite these moments to His disciples? If so, how did that benefit them? How can it benefit me?

Luke 22:70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.

I've always been curious about Jesus saying: Ye say that I am. What does it mean? What if they never did say that He was, what if they only asked? Is He speaking with sarcasm, I don't believe that. More importantly what does He mean by it. I feel like it is hard to understand out of context.

Helaman 16:18 That it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall come; if so, and he be the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, as it has been spoken, why will he not show himself unto us as well as unto them who shall be at Jerusalem. 

Satan loves to convince us to doubt in the reality and power of Jesus Christ. We do not diminish His power to save by doubting, only our ability and opportunity to be saved ourselves.  

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship - Day 4

 Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

We here this phrase many times throughout the various dispensations of time. I look forward to remembering the various times Father has introduced our Savior!

Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

I like the idea of listing here different times when the Lord has said "this is my beloved son". There are quite a few verses that touch on this.

Mark 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

This quote comes from when Jesus to Peter, James and John to the mount of transfiguration. What would it be like to here that introduction, that witness? Did Peter act differently after this? Did he not already know Jesus was the Son of God? And yet, I still feel like he would perceive Jesus differently going forward. Maybe as a follower of Jesus, the relationship became very familiar, and less formal, and Peter took for granted that this was still God's Beloved Son. A reminder of the witnesses he had received of Jesus' divine sonship.

Luke 9:35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved Son: hear him.

So this is the same mount of transfiguration moment, just from Luke. I still can't help but wonder how many times in the Earth's existence has Father come down and said those words to introduce His Son.

2 Peter 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

This passage refers to what Peter experienced and reassuring the people that he was a witness of Jesus Christ. 

2 Nephi 31:11 And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son.

Each of these situations where we can clearly see the Son's divine sonship is also a moment where we realize Father wants us to understand by what authority Jesus does what He does.

3 Nephi 11:7 Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name--hear ye him. 

So this is when Jesus visits the Americas, and by the language we can see that it is after He has been crucified and resurrected as that is how He glorified God!

Joseph Smith--History 1:17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other--This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

This feels like my favorite. Because I know it so well? Because it happened most recently? Because I have testified of it to others? I don't know all of the reasons, and they are many, but I praise God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ for their visit to the young Joseph Smith and what that moment has brought about for the rest of humanity.

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship - Day 3

 Isaiah 9:6 (2 Ne. 19:6) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful ,Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

This verse reminds me of Christmas carols we have enjoyed singing. I do love hearing the names of the Savior. 

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship - Day 2

 Isaiah 7:14; 2 Nephi 17:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

His birth was remarkable and was a sign of His divinity.

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship - Day 1

 Psalm 2:7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

This is prophecy, but I do wonder if Jesus ever spoke the words directly that Father called Him His Son...?

Acts 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

The apostles would reference scriptures such as this because they knew them to be true.

Hebrews 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

Hebrews 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

Jesus Christ --> Death - Day 39

 Jonah 1:17 Now the Lod had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

It doesn't matter whether this really happened or not, it's what it represents. The fish represents the death of Jesus Christ and the resurrection is represented when Jonah is spit back out. 

Colossians 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Jesus died to save us and allow us to be presented back to the Father.