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It is important to understand as fully as we can who Jesus is, and the meaning, purpose and nature of his life. We have spent some time thinking about Jesus as our Saviour. Now we need to examine more fully his other great title, Jesus as Lord. In the simplest terms this means that Jesus is God. However he is not the entirety of God. He is God, fully in nature and attributes, less than fully in his activities. Analogies are difficult to find. Think of a plant. This is an single entity, yet it has parts (stem, roots, leaves) each with its own function.So with God, there is a unity of nature and purpose, a separation of function between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

First of all, let us look at the oneness of the Father and Jesus. Another of the titles of Jesus is Immanuel, quoted in Matthew 1 v. 23, which means 'God with us', i.e. God living with his people. Jesus did not have a human father. He was conceived in the womb of his mother, Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit. This was foretold to Mary by the angel,who said, "So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God''', (Luke 1 vv . 34 & 35). This was confirmed later at the baptism of Jesus, when the voice from heaven said, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased". See Luke 3 vv. 21 & 22. Then there is the declaration by Peter, in Matthew 16 v. 16, which was approved by Jesus, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God". Again there are the words of Thomas, spoken to and accepted by Jesus after the resurrection, "My Lord and my God", (John 20 v. 28). The writer of Hebrews says of Jesus, "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being," (Hebrews 1 v. 3).

Jesus not only accepted the tributes of others, he said of himself to Philip, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father". See the passage in John 14 vv. 5 to 11, for Jesus' discussion of this issue with the disciples. Again, at his trial, Jesus faces his accusers, (Luke 22 vv. 66 to 71). 'They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied, "You are right in saying I am". These are the words that took Jesus to the cross.

Practically, the clearest demonstration of the divinity of Jesus is seen in the resurrection. The body of Jesus was nailed to the cross. There he suffered, and indeed there he died. However he overcame death and was raised again to life. He, who was with the Father before creation, returned from death in his resurrection body. With this body he ascended to heaven, where he will remain until his promised return.

In Scripture, the words that speak most powerfully of the divine nature of Jesus are in John chapter 1, particularly verses 1 and 14. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God", and, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us". Jesus is the Word, being at the same time both 'God' and 'with God', having the attributes of the whole, yet being but a part of the whole. The sharing of eternity with the Father and living a human, earthly life for thirty-three years show both his unity in the Godhead and his particular function as 'the Word made flesh'.

As we seek to understand that Jesus had the attributes of the whole, yet was only a part of the whole, we see why he referred to himself as the Son of God. He told those around him that he did not speak on his own accord, but only as he was commanded by his Father in heaven, (John 12 vv. 49 & 50). Jesus' claim to Sonship was that he was 'begotten' of God BEFORE creation. We, as human beings, are part of creation, but not Jesus. When we say that we are children of God, and call him 'Our Father', our relationship is that of adopted children. Jesus was really and truly 'of God', his one and only Son.

Having looked at Jesus and his oneness with the Father, let us look at those areas where Jesus had his own specific purpose or function. Paul tells us that right at the beginning Jesus was involved in creation, of both heaven and earth. "For by him all things were created .......; all things were created by him and for him." (Colossians 1 v.16). Now as the risen and ascended Lord, he is the head of the body, the church, (Colossians 1 v.18).