The Importance of Jesus Being Both God’s and Mary’s Son

At Christmas time we often think about Jesus as the son of Mary, but the Bible is far more concerned that we understand he is also God's Son. In fact, John 3:16 calls him God's "only begotten son." Today the word "son" only means "a male child," but in the New Testament it meant far more.

The phrase "Son of God" occurs 37 times as the distinctive title of Jesus. His claim to this title is one of nature, not office. Luke 1:35 informs us that Mary was told, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God."

Thus, Jesus was a legal heir to his Father, God. What were the laws regarding this position during the time of Jesus? Jews of that day probably followed the practices laid down in the law of Moses. According to Deuteronomy 21:17, the firstborn son was to inherit twice as much as any other heir. But what other implications does this official title carry?

A Legal Term
In the New Testament world, the word "son" was a legal term as well as a term of relationship. A son possessed his father's power of attorney. A business transaction undertaken by a son was legally binding on the father. The first-born also inherited any judicial authority his father might possess. In many areas, a king's firstborn son, who would eventually inherit the throne, could act as if he were king already. Therefore, father and son were legally equal.

This is why the Sanhedrin judged that Jesus must die for claiming to be the Son of God. Today, if someone claims to be the son of God, we might consider them to be very spiritual or maybe even a little insane. But in the first century, Jesus was claiming to share the essence and authority of God. That was blasphemy if it were not true, and the penalty for blasphemy was death.

Inheritance/ Property Rights
According to Jewish culture, the division of inheritance was very different from today. Wealth and property went only to sons because daughters received benefits from their husband's wealth. If there were two sons, they did not get an equal inheritance. According to Deuteronomy 21:15-17, the inheritance was divided into three parts and the elder son (the firstborn) got a double portion. Great respect was paid to the first born son and, as the family widened into a tribe, this grew into a him being given authority in matters of common interest.

The Family Line was Important
In that day, inheritance was patrilineal, meaning it began with the father, who bequeathed it to his male descendants. The father also gave his name to his children, so the sons of Israel are called Israelites, and the sons of Judah are called Yehudi (which is translated "Jew" in English.)

Religious Implications
Birthright, the special privileges and advantages belonging to first-born Jewish sons, specified that the first son became the priest of the family. When sacrificial worship was introduced, a group of men was designated to be exclusive priests, and the priesthood aspect of the first-born was taken over by the Levites ( Numbers 3:11-13 ).

When this change was made, it was also required that the first-born of man and of unclean animals would need to be redeemed. Under the law, in memory of the exodus, the eldest son was said to be devoted to God and was to be redeemed by an offering within one month from birth.

The Jews attached this sacred importance of the first born especially to the Messiah (Romans 8:29; Hebrews 1:4-6). As first-born his inheritance is superior to his siblings, and He alone is the true priest for the world.

Conclusions
The sonship of Jesus denotes his equality with God. Calling him "the Son of God" gives him proper claim to his true divinity, both in word and in practical application. As 1/3 of the Trinity, he is God. The Bible testifies that he was the Son of God before his incarnation, and this gives him legal claim to equality with God.

The Jewish religious leaders of his day recognized this claim, and it was why they desperately wanted to put him to death. It was undeniable blasphemy to claim to be the Son of God: "That really set them off. The Jews were now not only out to expose him; they were out to kill him. Not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was calling God his own Father, putting himself on a level with God." (John 5:18b The Message)

As the rights of the eldest son became more definite, we see how they apply to Messiah. If Jesus is God's first-born son, he has the right (1) to be the priest for the human family and to give the blessing; (2) to take a "double portion" of His Father's possessions, which includes the earth and everything in it; (3) to all the authority of God. ( 4) He is also entitled to the right of a kinsman redeemer to all of us, his brothers and sisters adopted by God. The Son of God is God's promised redeemer for the entire universe.

Therefore, when God claimed Jesus as His Son (Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35) it had a much more powerful meaning than accepting a child as his own.

http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/smiths-bible-dictionary/birthright.html

http://www.biblestudytools.com/encyclopedias/isbe/son-of-god-the.html

http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/smiths-bible-dictionary/first-born.html

http://www.crivoice.org/inheritance.html

http://www.jacksequeira.org/parabl10.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inheritance

http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/eastons-bible-dictionary/birthright.html

http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/eastons-bible-dictionary/first-born-redemption-of.html