Whom Do Men Say That ‘I’ the Son of Man ‘Am?’

Whom Do Men Say That “I” the Son of Man “Am?”

Part i

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that “I” the Son of man “Am?” (Matthew 16:13)

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. (John 8:56) Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. (John 8:58)

This question — Whom Do Men Say That ‘I’ the Son of Man ‘Am?’ is timeless, for ALL men have been given a witness within them, and around them.

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:9)

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. (Romans 1:19)

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20)

  It is not flesh and blood that reveal the Son of God, but it is our Father (who is in heaven) who is the Revealer. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 16:17) In the revelation of God to mankind concerning His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, it is God Himself who must do the work within. For even those who walked with the Savior, and saw His miracles, and were in His presence daily, living in the actual day of Christ, there was only one way that they could eternally know the Son of God; God the Father had to reveal His Son to them. Flesh and blood could not reveal His Sonship.

Let us look at the magnitude of this question, Whom do men say that “I” the Son of man “Am?” Let us ask God the Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to reveal and show us the glories of His beloved Son. Let us ever so humbly and humbled seek to know the majesty and the glory of our Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Let us begin with a messenger, a messenger angel named Gabriel who stands before the throne of God. He is sent from heaven above to give us the first rays of heavenly thought of the Son of God. The declaration that Gabriel put forth is from the highest Himself.

The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. (Psalm 18:13)

And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. (Psalm 87:5)

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. (Isaiah 9:6)

Gabriel’s Proclamation

that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. (Luke 1:31)

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)

 This announcement from Gabriel not only gives us revelation concerning Jesus Christ, but the very message from heaven begins the fulfillment of an endless stream of prophecy concerning and revealing the Son of God. Christ is that holy thing that will be the Savior of man, and the holiness of God shall come forth as the Son of God. This witness in the gospel of Luke reveals to the heart of every Christian that Jesus is the Son of the highest, and that He is the Son of God, but Whom do men say that “I” the Son of man “Am?”

 The contrast or difference between the gospel of Matthew (which is the gospel of the kingdom) and the gospel of Mark (the gospel of the servant) is quite evident. The gospel of Mark begins by the Holy Spirit in a completely different manner than Matthew. The Holy Spirit leaves out the genealogy in Mark for the genealogy of the servant is not important to the Jews or to the Romans. A servant was looked upon as the beast of burden pulling the plow. He had no rights of genealogy. He existed to be the servant of man. The Holy Spirit also leaves out the birth of the Lord Jesus in the gospel of Mark. Although His temptation is mentioned by the adversary (which is the devil) His ministry as the servant of Jehovah is because He is the Son of the Father.

God the Father’s Proclamation

Thou art my beloved Son

   We see the beginning of His public ministry or public showing at the baptism by John the Baptist. And it is heaven once again that reveals the Son to man. It is heaven, and God the Father who declares His title as ‘Son.’ And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Mark 1:11) The voice of the highest was accompanied by the visible descending of the Spirit of God (as a dove) to declare the beginning of the public ministry of the Son of God.

The Unclean Spirits Declaration and Witness

the Holy One of God

 The first miracle that the Holy Spirit records in the gospel according to Mark is far different from the other accounts of His public ministry. His miracles begin with the attack on the world of darkness. The unclean spirits in the kingdom of Satan become His first casualties. The man possessed cried out with a man’s voice to be left alone. Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. (Mark 1:24) However, the Lord rebuked the unclean spirits, and commanded them to come out of the man. It is here from the world of darkness that these unclean spirits call the Lord Jesus Christ, the holy one of God. (Mark 1:24)

 The title of the Holy One of God is reserved and applied to only God Himself. We find this in Isaiah 6:3, And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. God in His Being is a thrice Holy God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Within the Lord Jesus Christ we have the fullness of the Godhead bodily. It is IN Christ that the Father is revealed. It is IN Christ that the Holy Spirit of God is revealed, and it is within Christ (the manifested God on earth) that the fullness of the Godhead bodily is revealed. It is Christ who is seen in the Old Testament as the Holy One of Israel. And in the gospels of the New Testament He is seen as the Holy One of God. For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. (Isaiah 54:5) 　

 In the Lord’s dealing with the evil spirits we learn a lot about their opposition to Him, and their knowledge of Him. In Matthew 8:29 the evil spirits called Him the Son of God. And this connects the Holy One of God to His Sonship as God the Son. We should understand that the demons recognized this holy one when His disciples were still marveling about His humanity, and not about His Sonship.

The Statement by the Voice of Legion

Jesus, thou Son of God

 Let us turn to the gospel of Matthew, Chapter 8, verse 29. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? Here we have the multivoice witness from the darkest forest, the evil realm of Satan himself. This is an army or legion of demons, and yet, the power of the most High dismisses them from the possession of the two men.

 In the gospel of Mark Chapter 5, on another occasion, the Lord Jesus asked the demons what they are called. And he asked him, What [is] thy name? And he answered, saying, My name [is] Legion: for we are many. (Mark 5:9)

And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. (Mark 5:15)

 The answer was, My name is Legion: for we are many. In the gospel of Matthew, they are called devils, this gives us the same plural value as Legion.

Just a side note: The Great Power – In Matthew Chapter 8, verses 23 through 27, the Lord Jesus and His disciples were under attack. The storm that came up because the Son of God was in the boat. He was in the hinder part of the boat, He was in the position of helmsman to steer the boat, and have dominion over the boat, and He was sleeping. He is God, and He knows all things, and He knows His surroundings at all times, and although the flesh was asleep, the Son of God knew the things that would beset Him. The devil (in his twisted thoughts) imagined that God sleeps. The devil called up a great wind, and great waves so that fear rose up in the heart of the Lord’s disciples. The devil knew who was in the boat, and this was an attack against the kingdom of God. Fearing that they would drown, they went to the hinder part of the boat, and cried out, Lord, save us: we perish. His reply shows His Being was over all situations. His power was about to be unleashed against the kingdom of Satan. He replied to His disciples, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then Christ silenced Satan’s mighty roar, He rebuked the wind and the sea. Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. Now how do we know that this storm was of Satan? The word ‘rebuked’ by the Spirit of God is used to show the wind and the waves were not in their natural order. When the Lord returned calm it was a great calm. The water was as still and smooth as glass. The wind could not even whisper. These two extremes were in total opposition to each other. God had spoken. And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39)

His disciples were brought to the end of their understanding. Man could only say of their Creator and the supernatural Being before them. What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! The Lord Jesus had brought about supernatural calm. It was His voice that silenced the wind and the crushing waves. For He upholds all things by the word of His power. (Hebrews 1:3) However, His disciples saw only a man. Yet, as the Son of man, He had all His supernatural powers.

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. (Matthew 22:29) The faith of the disciples was tried, and they were found wanting, O ye of little faith.

The Many Witnesses of The Sonship, Power and Glory

of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Scriptures

 Now we (who believe) have many witnesses to the Sonship and the power and the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have the word of God that is breathed by our Savior, and within its pages is the kingdom and realm of faith. God calls us in the darkest storm to recognize His power and His grace in our lives. Do we have that faith within us to believe the mighty works of God from Genesis to Revelation by the Son of the highest? We allow men of fame, and powerful occupations, ( the deceivers of the world) to slander our Savior, and use their deceptive treachery to twist the word of God. These slanderers speak with many voices like the demons called Legion. Each and every child of God who is called of God, and who is born again, is called to know the word of God; thus, we can overcome deception.

  Men profess Christ, yet know nothing of Him, and refuse to learn of Him. The number one point of disobedience in the church today is refusing to embrace the word of God in heart, soul, and spirit in ignoring the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ in the writing of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms. This disobedience also extends into the neglect of the writings in the New Testament as well.

 To those who have little faith, and who refuse to learn the word of God — if we refuse the mighty works of God from Genesis to Revelation by the Son of God, will the Lord Jesus look at us with those flaming eyes of fire in Revelation 1, and say to us, O ye of little faith. Now back to the testimony of the devils . . . .

The Dark Side Witnesses of Christ as The Messiah (Christ), Son of the Highest, Son of God

 In the gospel of Matthew Chapter 8, we see more of the power of the Son of God, the Son of man, after He calmed the raging waves on the lake of Gennesaret. And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. (Matthew 8:28) Christ was about to retaliate against the attack of Satan in the attempt to destroy Christ and His disciples while in the stormy waters.

 There are only two men, yet they are possessed by many devils. In the gospel of Luke, we see them as Legion. And I will remind you that in the boat, in the storm, the kingdom of God was under attack, and now concerning these devils: the Son of God was attacking the kingdom of Satan. This was in the power of the Almighty God. These two witnesses spoke with the voice of man, however, in the voice were many voices contained. We hear many voices today, and they still fill the whole herd of swine.

And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. (Matthew 8:30)

So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. (Matthew 8:31)

And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. (Matthew 8:32)

 Since the Lord Jesus had dominion over all circumstances, the herd of swine ran headlong into the same waters that Satan attempted to use to drown the Son of God, and His small band of disciples. The devils, Legion, had no intention of running head long into the waters, their request was for a new home where they could torment the swine. However, after the attempt on His life and on His disciples (which He proved unsuccessful) Christ showed His power over His own creation.

 Now to just add to the Lord’s power over darkness, the Son of man is called, the Son of God, many times by the dark side, and the evil demons. And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ. (Luke 4:41) Then He was called the Son of the most high God in Mark 5:7, And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

 The Lord’s disciples had been in His presence for quite awhile, yet, they only saw Him as a man. The devils recognized the Son of God immediately. Their eyes were not blinded to who He was, and is. They knew that He was the Son of God. They also revealed their knowledge of the Scriptures for they knew of their own judgment and torment yet to come, and the future judgment of Satan and his hosts. They spoke out concerning their judgment in verse 29 in Matthew Chapter 8, And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? It is evident by the words before the time, that the demons had a knowledge of their end, and they had a knowledge of the word of God and they believed it. The devil also believes the word of God. For he used it in his twisted temptation of the Lord Jesus in Matthew Chapter 4, and Luke Chapter 4. The devil has a better knowledge of the word of God then the Christians that I meet every day. Yes, the devil and his hosts are very cognizant of their approaching end.

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. (Revelation 20:1)

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (Revelation 20:2)

And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (Revelation 20:3)

And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, (Revelation 20:7)

 Through these verses we see that the devil will be loosed when the millennial is complete. He comes to deceive the nations once more, and accomplishes his deception by instigating a world war against Jerusalem, and against the Sovereign of Jerusalem, the Lord of lords, and the King of kings. The Lord destroys the nations that have rebelled against Him, and then Satan is taken again for his final judgment. Man will have failed in all his efforts to overthrow God. Satan will have failed in all his efforts to overthrow God, and will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. This is the final torment for the devil, the evil spirits, the fallen angels, and the damned of mankind. Read the rest of Revelation Chapter 20. The end of all evil ends with verse 14 when death and hell are cast into the lake of fire and the Spirit of God ends this verse with this solemn statement, And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. This is the second death from which there is no return. In verse 15 of Chapter 20 of the book of the Revelation (speaking of the judgment of man) they are judged for their names were not found in the Lamb’s book of life. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. You would do yourself a favor to study all the references to the book of life. It was written before the foundation of the world, and you should understand what the book of life is, and whose names are written therein. These are the verses that you need to consider: Revelation 17:8, Revelation 13:8, Revelation 3:5, Deuteronomy 32:32; Psalm 69:28; Philippians 4:3; Daniel 12:1,2; Revelation 20:15. Now you have a study within a study: the book of life. But we must return to Whom do men say that “I” the Son of man “Am?”

Whom do men say that “I” the Son of man “Am?”

“I” the Son of man “Am”

 Within this question is also a statement by the Spirit of God (we would probably not ask this question with these exact words) however, the Spirit of God uses this phrase “I” the Son of man “Am” and takes us back to the burning bush when the Lord Jesus revealed Himself and His glory to Moses as the great I AM as documented in the book of Exodus, Chapter 3, verse 14,

 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. With all the words of men throughout history, and the continuance of humanity throughout the future, man will never be able to fully express the greatness of this one title, and yet, God gives us the simplicity I AM that I AM. There is no border, there is no circumference, there is no point of measurement, there is no beginning nor end, there is neither height nor depth, neither left nor right, it is an all-encompassing title of the fullness of the glory of God. Just as the name of the Lord Jesus is the name that is above every name, so we see that it is impossible for man to encompass in words the glory of the Son of man, the Son of God. The phrase begins with the identity of “I” and then ends with “Am.” These two words magnify what is in between them — the Son of man. He is surrounded by the fulness of His own godliness.

 I find this phrase (Whom do men say that “I” the Son of man “Am”) given to His disciples most interesting. We can enter far deeper into the proclamation of the Son of God, and the Spirit of God; however, you must be drawn of the Spirit before you can begin to see each petal of the flower. I will let you find your own way through it. However, this is what I see in my soul, spirit, and heart: the great I AM being manifested as the Son of man in the flesh, the deity of the Son of God in complete unity with God in the flesh. He is the Son of man with no sin in Him.

 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (1 John 3:5) A man without sin in him has to be a supernatural Man from heaven. He was, and is, manifested and not created to take-away sin, but a body hast thou prepared me. (Hebrews 10:5)

From a Beast to The Beast

 There are two parts of sin (in this world). It is the tangible sin that has fallen on every being, and on the tangible creation. This was the sin that Adam brought into the world. This caused a convulsion upon the entire creation as well as on man. The tangible sin became an object of death and destruction. It brought death to Adam, and destruction to his being. The image of God  became the image of a beast which will be fully realized in the kingdom of the beast.

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. (Revelation 13:1)

And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. (Revelation 13:2)

 Does this description come even close to the image of God? No. Read the complete 13^th Chapter 13 of Revelation. Then consider the fall at the tree of knowledge of good and evil. See the beast in Adam after the fall. It was not the image of God. Man wants to imagine that there is just a little bit of good left in Adam — not so! For the Lord Himself declared that there is none good but God. And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God. (Matthew 10:18) If the demons (as His disciples) saw the Lord Jesus as a mere man they would have continued to torment their victims.

 Satan himself comes in many forms, however, the two most profound images are as an angel of light (which he uses to deceive the whole world). And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:15)

 The other image is the depraved image. This is the image of Satan, the old serpent, the devil and with this image he debases man and put him into bondage, and uses his power of destruction to tempt and overpower mankind. The demons have made their victims grotesque, vile, and unrecognizable to others in their torment. The men who were possessed of these demons in this degenerate state were truly the walking dead. And only through Christ were their chains snapped, and they were set free from the bondage of death and sin to live a life given by Christ. These men were tormented day and night. They bore the image and acted as the beasts of the fields. They were under the complete power of these demons.

 As we see in Revelation Chapter 13 the pinnacle of the beast of man will be exalted above all man, but as these men in the gospels, this beast will be under the complete power of Satan himself for Satan gives the beast his power and the dragon gave him his power. As God exalted His Son to His own right hand, Satan will exalt his son (the beast) to his right hand with all signs and lying wonders. The beast will deceive the whole world in his lying miracles (as Jannes and Jambres in the days of Moses in Egypt). The beast will rule all men. The world will declare a beast (who is a murderer and an enslaver) as their god. They would rather have Barabbas then the Son of God. This goes back (once again) to the first lie recorded in Scripture when the serpent (the devil) told Adam and Eve that they would be as gods. How ridiculous this was when Adam up to this point bore the image of God in Jesus Christ. However, man accepted THE lie, and all was turned upside down. The first bite of sin removed the image of God, and changed Adam outwardly and inwardly to the beast of Revelation Chapter 13. And throughout history, Satan and fallen man have been preparing the world to accept their deception and wickedness to the fulfillment of Revelation Chapter 13 which is closing in on Adam at a rapid pace.

 The two men who were possessed did not witness of the Sonship of Christ, it was the demons (the Legion within them) who declared the Lord Jesus as the Son of God. The eyes of the demons were not dimmed (as man) they saw the image of God in Jesus Christ. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6) What the demons saw was not the same image that man saw. They recognized the Son of God instantly where man (the disciples of Christ) could only see Him as a marvelous man. The demons saw Christ as both the Son of God AND the Creator. For they not only knew history, but also what lays ahead in the future, and that Christ (in the end) would have full power over them. They had a knowledge of their end. Yet, mankind will not face the reality of his end. Man has been blinded by the fall, by the lie, where he is incapable of seeing, hearing, and knowing that which is spiritual unless he receives light and life from above through Jesus Christ the Son of God. The demons have a knowledge of the end as recorded in Revelation 20:10. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. If their leader (Satan) will be tormented forever in the lake of fire, they know that they will join him there. This is all part of the wonder that will be fulfilled when Christ is the fullness of all in all. For all that is under the curse will be vanquished by Him in the creation of the new heaven and the new earth which will be full of His righteousness and glory as He tabernacles with His redeemed from Abel to the last soul brought into the veil of His blood. This is known as the eternal state. We are just beginning this wonderful trip in revealing the Son of God. Once again, we return to the original question. Whom do men say that “I” the Son of man “Am?”

The Witness of Prophecy, from Prophecy 

by the Last Prophet about the Son of God

   We also have a more sure word of prophecy, and God provided this with a man of prophecy to declare that Jesus Christ was / and is the Son of God. In many ways John the Baptist was a supernatural man for he was sent BY God to declare the Sonship of Jesus Christ; even his conception and birth were miracles, and was also proclaimed by an angel. He was a man of prophecy fulfilling prophecy, and as the Lord Jesus stated in the gospel of Mark in Chapter 11, verse 11, Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. John the Baptist was an object of God’s prophecy. He had the testimony of the Lord Jesus, and he had the testimony of prophecy. We also see the testimony in the gospel of John in Chapter 1, verses 6 and 7. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. (John 1:6)

The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. (John 1:7)

  The Holy Spirit of God was given to us to lead us into all truth. Here in the gospel of John it is the testimony of the Spirit of God who is penning these words. This shows us that John was sent for a witness to bear witness to the Light which was the Son of God so that all men would believe the Light. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (John 1:33) 　 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. (John 1:34) John had received revelation from God in the very circumstances and time that God would reveal His Son, and the condition on which the Son of God would be revealed to him. The POWER of the Almighty was upon John the Baptist. In fact, he was filled with the Spirit of God from his mother’s womb. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. (Luke 1:15) God had worked through His determinate counsels, and through the prophetic writings of the Old Testament, and also witnessed from heaven (by the angel) who declared to Zechariah that Zechariah would have a son: that his name was given from heaven and thus, he would be called John. In the revelation that John the Baptist received was the presentation to mankind, from man, presenting the Son of God. As John was previously told, the heavens opened, and the Spirit of the highest descended to supernaturally witness that the man standing before John was the Son of God, and a voice from heaven from God the Father proclaimed — This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. (John 1:31)

And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. (John 1:32)

And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (John 1:33)

And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. (John 1:34)

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: (Matthew 3:16)

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 1:31)

The Witness from the Supernatural by the Supernatural of the Supernatural being the Son of God and the sacrificial Lamb of God

  We see such a wonder in the proclamation of John. This is the wonder: John was told by God that upon WHOM he would see the Spirit descending, that THIS would be the Son of the highest, the Son of God. This gives us a supernatural witness to the Supernatural Son of God, and to confirm this wonderful truth, heaven is opened, and God the Father speaks. Then John proclaimed to Israel that this is the Son of God. Therefore, the greatest of all the prophets (John the Baptist) proclaimed Christ’s Sonship as well as His sacrificial life and death in the words Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)

And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! (John 1:36)

  We see the will and purpose of God in His Son Jesus Christ. The will of God is brought forth in Hebrews Chapter 10, verses 7 thru 10, Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

 In the will of God we see that Christ has come to take away, but He is also come to give. He took away the law as a burden to man. He took away death as the judgment upon man. He took away sin (the tangible sin) which judged man. And all this was accomplished at the cross of Calvary.

  He also gives. He gives eternal life to as many who will receive Him. He possesses us or gives us the gift of His Spirit in our heart, soul, and spirit. This gives us new life here on earth. We are born again, and this gives us a presence IN heaven where He is for He is our life and has translated us into His kingdom. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Colossians 1:13) Here is the wonder of our life here on earth: He gives us a hope that man and Satan cannot deny for heaven and its Ruler has declared that we are His children, and we are joint heirs WITH Christ as the adopted sons of God. This is part of His own inheritance accomplished by His finished work on the cross of Calvary. As adopted sons He paid our debt so that the charges against us would be released, and the charge of sin and death that reigned over us would end, and we would be given eternal life in Him. My . . my . . . what a life! Let us dig deeper into the testimony and the proclamation of John the Baptist.

The Witness of the Greatness of the great I AM Within the Names:

Zechariah — John — Elizabeth

  As I mentioned, John’s birth was pronounced from heaven by an angel from heaven. Both John’s name, and his father’s name (Zacharias) give insight into the purpose of this movement of God. Zacharias name means ‘Jehovah will remember’ or ‘Remembered of Jehovah.’ The God of heaven and earth (the great I AM) remembers all that He has spoken to the fathers, and to the prophets, and including the promises that He made to Abraham.

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, (Luke 1:67) Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, (Luke 1:68) And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; (Luke 1:69) As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: (Luke 1:70) That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; (Luke 1:71) To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; (Luke 1:72) The oath which he sware to our father Abraham. (Luke 1:73)

  So the name Zechariah pulls us deeper into the prophetic writings for not only did God promise Abraham, but each and every promise was sealed with an unconditional oath and this oath of the Almighty is unbreakable. Man may break the law and receive a penalty, but no one can break the oath that was given to Abraham for it was sealed by God their Savior in His own blood.

 And now, let us look at the name of John, ‘Jehovah is gracious giver.’ What a declaration we have in these two names, these two names are fulfilled in the Person of Christ for grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. (John 1:16) For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

 The next name to consider is the mother of John (Elizabeth) who was a daughter of Aaron. There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. (Luke 1:5)

Side Note: Zacharias of the course of Abia. The course of the priestly service according to 1 Chronicles 24:10 fell to the eighth course of Abijah known as Abia in the New Testament — The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah. Also 1 Chronicles 24:19 proves that Zacharias was also in the genealogical line of the high priest Aaron These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

 That Elisabeth was also in the line of Aaron was very important because her son would then qualify to be the high priest having a genealogy on both sides that traced directly back to Aaron (the first high priest). Also note that in the age of Christ there were two high priests (Annas and Caiaphas) documented in the gospel of Luke Chapter 3, verse 2, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. Neither of these men (Annas and Caiaphas) had the qualifications of high priest as neither had a genealogy that could be traced directly back to Aaron. And to increase this error, these two pretenders, occupied the seat of high priest together. This shows the total failure of the Aaronic priesthood and the total corruption under man’s system and in direct opposition to God’s direction of only one high priest over the nation of Israel. John the Baptist had the full qualifications of high priest both prophetically and through descent.

  Let us complete the witness of names in the meaning of the name of Elizabeth which is ‘God of the oath.’ Therefore, now, through the Spirit of God, let us put all three meanings together: ‘Jehovah will remember’ – ‘Jehovah is gracious giver’ –and ‘God of the oath.’ This should open your eyes in the definition of Scripture names, and how we should not lightly pass over them, but see the meaning and in some cases the combination of names that God has given to us. Read Luke Chapter 1, verses 11 thru 17. Let me remind you of the presence of Gabriel, the angel who stands before God. This was not prophecy given concerning John the Baptist, but it was a revelation from heaven to the fact that John would be given of God and born to Zacharias and Elizabeth, and this very fact would fulfill prophecy that was given prior.

    There are many young Christian readers who are not yet able to distinguish time lines in prophecy and in Scripture, and whenever I post headings with Old Testament and New Testament it is with this in mind.

Old Testament Prophecy

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: (Malachi 4:5)

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Malachi 4:6)

Fulfillment in New Testament

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12)

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. (Matthew 11:13)

And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. (Matthew 11:14)

Old Testament Prophecy

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3)

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: (Isaiah 40:4)

And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. (Isaiah 40:5)

The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: (Isaiah 40:6)

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. (Isaiah 40:7)

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. (Isaiah 40:8)

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (Matthew 3:3)

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. (John 1:21)

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? (John 1:22)

He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. (John 1:23)

The Witness

Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

 Now to keep our path straight, let us remind ourselves once again of the question before us: Whom do men say that “I” the Son of man “Am?” We are privileged to read prophecy and to also see it fulfilled in the life of John the Baptist. In his birth and life we have received a revelation from God that shows us both the prophetic value and the foreknowledge of God, then the revealing or completion of the prophecy that is given concerning the witness of John to the Son of God. Through this we have the combination of the fulfillment of prophecy with both John and the Son of God our Lord Jesus Christ. We see them both completed in the face of Jesus Christ. For it is Christ who is the Spirit of all prophecy, and it is from the Lord Jesus that man receives revelation of Himself. For the Lord Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy as His revelation is the quickening of the spirit of man. For no person can come to God except God Himself reveals the Son of God within that person.

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10)

If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: (Ephesians 4:21)

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:44)

And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. (John 17:26)

 In Chapter 1 of the gospel of John, we not only have the witness of John the Baptist, but we have another witness. This is a man that witnessed to the Sonship of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is from a man in whom there was no guile. This was very unusual in Israel at that time in history; as it is also unusual in our day and age in the United States, and in the world. We live in the age of worldwide guile. Since mankind is alienated from God they cannot speak the truth. They lie in wait to deceive, and guile drips easily from their lips as they speak. They speak and deceive with the darkest of hearts, no lie is too great for them to proclaim. They thrill themselves by repeating each others lie, and they repeat these lies as though it was truth knowing they are lies. There is no difference between the liar and those who perpetrate the lies. For the truth is not in them, for they are full of the guile of the devil. Our age is just a reflection of the times of Christ. And the hearts of man are still deceitful and desperately wicked above all things.

 In the day of Christ God finds a man musing under a fig tree, meditating on the prophecy of the coming Messiah. It was Nathaniel (his name means ‘given of God’) an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile that was the perfect witness chosen of God to witness and proclaim the position of the Son of God, and his witness is by the Holy Spirit of God.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! (John 1:47)

Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. (John 1:48)

Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. (John 1:49)

Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. (John 1:50)

And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.(John 1:51)

 In verse 49 Nathanael declared (by the Spirit of God) three titles to the Son of man, the Lord Jesus Christ. The first title was Rabbi, which is interpreted as Master Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master) where dwellest thou? (John 1:38) The question is, Master of what? We cannot see the depth of this until we put all three titles together. Only with these three titles being together can we see the height and the depth, and the length and the breath of this Master, who is the Son of God with all power in heaven and in earth. He is Master, He is the Son of God, and He is the King of Israel. Not one of these titles is denied by the Lord Jesus. He is Master over all. He is the supreme authority. You might even consider Master as being a title of Deity as the Creator of all things both seen and unseen. For through the combination of Master and Son of God we have the power that created all things. Under the title of Master we also have the submission of all things that were created.

 In the third title of King of Israel, it was a fulfillment of the prophetic writings concerning their Messiah. This would be a revelation from God that few Israelites would receive. The fact that God pointed out that Nathanael was an Israelite without guile is the reason for this wonderful revelation to him. When he was under the fig tree, the Spirit of God was bringing thoughts of prophecy to his mind. All things were being laid out concerning the Son of God in the law, in the prophets, and in the Psalms. Nathanael was a student of Holy Writ, he not only received revelation from God the Father (for flesh and blood had not revealed it to him) but it was the Holy Spirit of God sent by the Father working diligently while Nathanael was under the fig tree. No man comes to the Son except the Father through the Spirit draws him. One by one the Scriptures (in which Nathanael was meditating on) were fulfilled in the face of Jesus Christ. We only see Nathanael mentioned one more time in John Chapter 21:2. Through the Holy Spirit God brings us a special revelation of His Son in this chapter of John Chapter 1.

 This is every born again believers experience that God the Father draws the unbeliever to Himself to reveal His Son, then the Son of God (through His eternal Spirit) reveals to the heart, soul, and spirit the majesty of Himself, and the knowledge of Him who is the eternal God, and God blessed forever. Amen. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. (Ephesians 1:17)

  The Master controls His land, His creation. In the Son of God we have the fulfillment of Deity here on earth. Christ came down from heaven, manifested Himself, and humbled Himself as a divine Man. Christ gave up nothing of His Deity or power over His creation, or over man. This was truly, truly, God with us. The Emmanuel of heaven became the Emmanuel on earth to redeem that which was lost. The King of Israel, which Nathanael saw in his heart, soul, and spirit was the fullness of the kingdom for the King of Israel was in Nathanael’s presence. Man fails to see the millennial kingdom begins and ends with Christ Himself, and to everyone who He has plucked out of darkness, He IS the Lord of lords, and King of kings. It is Christ who IS the millennial kingdom.

 As we continue, we will see a witness that cannot be denied by the Spirit of God. However, the only witness is the witness of Christ in your own heart, soul, and spirit. I pray that the Spirit of God reveals His glory IN you.

Whom do men say that “I” the Son of man “Am?”

Amen

(Part 2 to follow, God willing).

© Copyright 2019, Michael Haigh

This article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.

All Scripture references are from the authorized King James Bible. (KJV)