Who is This Son of God?

“The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abides forever: and how can you say, The Son of man must be crucified? Who is this Son of man?” John 12:34.

The prevailing opinion concerning the promised Messiah, the Anointed of God, was that he would be eternal, live forever.  Any concept that did not fit their paradigm was automatically ruled out.

Jesus began in verse 23 by talking about “the Son of man”, that he would be glorified, fall into the ground and die; he mentions losing one’s life and that he would be “lifted up...signifying what death he should die..”  This just did not compute in their minds, prejudiced as they were with their own definitions of what the Messiah should be: eternal into the future. The Messiah could not die; his kingdom would have no end. 

Today, the difficulty comes with preconceived definitions of what ‘the Son of God’ must be: eternal into eternity past; 'God the Son' can have no beginning.

”We have heard that God the Son abides forever: how can you say that he is really the Son of God?  Brought forth, proceeded forth, begotten, firstborn? Who is this Son of God?”

The Son of God answers. "I am the first and the last: I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore." Revelation 1:17,18. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end" 21:6; 22:13.

John 12:42:  “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him: but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

There are more who believe than we may know. Let us pray that God will encourage them to love His praise.