The resurrection of Jesus, whether God still speaks today, and the significance of "Son of
God"
TL;DR:
This page describes how historic Christian doctrines concerning Jesus’ divinity, His resurrection, and the nature of God’s revelation differ from the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses. Biblical testimony identifies Jesus as both fully God and fully human—not a created being, but the incarnate Lord who conquered death.
- The Scriptures declare that God raised Jesus bodily from the dead; His resurrection was not merely spiritual.
- "Son of God" refers to Jesus' nature rather than to an ancestral relationship, just as "Son of Man" means He was fully human.
- Although we now have the Bible to read, God still communicates with human beings, though never in a way that contradicts Scripture.
My responses to a Jehovah's Witness
“As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures.” — Acts 17:2 (2011 NIV)
Excerpts from email exchanges I had with a Jehovah's Witness
- Jehovah's Witness question: Since Jesus died and you are teaching
that Jesus is God, isn't that saying God died? So, if that's the case, who resurrected him? Did a
dead person resurrect himself?
- My answer: I understand that Jehovah's Witnesses believe that human
beings cease to exist at death and that "resurrection" means to be recreated from
Jehovah's memory. Do I correctly understand what you have been taught on that?
Let's look at some scriptures that show that our Lord Jesus Christ did not cease to exist when he
died but which indicate that he was raised immortal in the same physical body that died on the
cross.
The second chapter of John's Gospel recounts a conversation
between Jesus and some unnamed Jews. In this passage, John quotes what Jesus said and then
notes the response of those Jesus was speaking with. John then explains what Jesus meant and
how Jesus' disciples understood what he meant. The passage says:
"Then the Jews demanded of him, 'What
miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?'
"Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and I will raise
it again in three days.'
"The Jews replied, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this
temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?'
"But the temple he had spoken of was his body. His disciples recalled what he had said after he
was raised from the dead. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken."
--
John 2:18–22 (2011 NIV)
In this episode, skeptical Jews asked Jesus to provide a sign demonstrating His authority. Jesus used the destruction and raising of the temple as a metaphor for the death and resurrection of His body.
Jesus’ statement implies that He would continue to exist after His bodily death. Several other passages point more directly to conscious existence between death and resurrection. Jesus told the repentant criminal, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Paul desired “to depart and be with Christ” (Philippians 1:23) and wrote of being “away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Revelation 6:9–10 portrays the souls of martyrs consciously calling out to God. These passages support the belief that death does not mean the cessation of personal existence. Scripture also teaches that all people will face God’s judgment. Matthew 25:46 contrasts the final destinies of the wicked and the righteous: “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (2011 NIV)
Jesus claimed (and John affirmed) that his resurrection
would be bodily and would maintain continuity with the body that had been crucified, although it would now be glorified. Jesus said,
"Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again."
John defines "this temple" as his body. Therefore, Jesus
declared, and John affirmed that Jesus was raised bodily. Thus, Jesus' resurrection is a bodily resurrection,
not merely a spiritual resurrection. In Luke 24:38–39, the resurrected Jesus
assures his disciples:
"Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my
hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost [spirit] does not have flesh and
bones, as you see I have.” (2011 NIV)
By saying that He will raise Himself from the dead, Jesus
is also claiming to be God Almighty. Although prophets were used by God to resuscitate people
who had died, the power to resurrect someone from the dead who will never die again belongs to
God alone. The Scriptures clearly declare that it was God who raised Jesus from the dead (Acts
2:22, 24, 32, 36; Acts 3:13-15; Romans 10:9).
In John 10, Jesus explains how it is possible for him to die and yet raise himself from the dead.
Because He was Yahweh,
Jesus had the power to raise his
physical body from the dead. He declares:
"The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life -- only to take it up
again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it
down and authority to take it up again.” (John 10:17–18, 2011 NIV)
I realize all this sounds different from what you are
being taught by the Watchtower Society. Since questions of faith and eternal life are profoundly important, should we not be willing to follow the Scriptures wherever they lead?
- Jehovah's Witness question: Did you know that God no longer
speaks to us today now that we have the Bible to read? Why would He need to repeat Himself by
speaking to us directly?
- My answer: I understand your belief that God no longer speaks directly to people. I believe, however, that God continues to communicate with human beings, although never in a way that contradicts Scripture.
Throughout His dealings with humanity, God has communicated in various ways and has also provided written revelation. The biblical record portrays the Creator continually interacting with His creation. I do not believe that God has ceased communicating with people simply because we now possess the Scriptures.
- Jehovah's Witness question: Didn't the religious leaders execute Jesus
because he said he was God's Son? Look at John 19:7: "The Jews answered him: 'We have a
law, and according to the law he ought to die, because he made himself GOD'S SON.'" What
part of this scripture don't you understand?
- My answer: First-century Jews would have understood the phrase “Son of God”
to be referring to his nature rather than to an ancestral relationship (just as "Son of Man" refers to
His nature as a human being and not to his ancestry). If "Son of God" means Jesus was not God
Himself, shouldn't the title “Son of Man” mean that Jesus was not human? It doesn't.
The two titles affirm both His genuine humanity and His full divinity.
According to John’s Gospel, some Jewish leaders sought Jesus’ death because they understood His words and actions as claims to divine authority. The Roman governor ultimately authorized His crucifixion. A few chapters
earlier in John, there is this passage:
Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father.
For which of these do you stone me?"
"We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a
mere man, claim to be God." -- John 10:32-33
That Jesus identified Himself as God is also clear from
Matthew 16:16, 26:63-65, and Luke 22:70-71 as well as the passage from John, which you
quoted. When the Sanhedrin condemned Christ to death, it did so on the grounds of His claims
concerning His identity, messiahship, and unique relationship with God were central to the accusations against Him. To Jews, there was only one God, and He was called the Lord:
"Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the
Lord is One." -- Deuteronomy 6:4
Was Jesus condemned merely because He claimed to be an exalted angel? The Gospel accounts instead portray the leaders as understanding His words as a claim to divine identity. Claiming to be an angel—even the archangel—was not in itself a capital offense. The fact that some Jewish leaders pressed the Roman government to put Jesus to death suggests that they regarded His claims as far more serious.
The English phrase “Son of God” may not always communicate clearly what first-century Jews
would have understood when they said "Son of God."
The English words can make us think of "son" as something totally separate. However, think
about the phrase "Son of Man," which was also used for Jesus. Does "Son of Man" mean Jesus
was not really Man? No, what "Son of Man" meant to the Greek-speaking people of the First
century was that Jesus was fully human. Therefore, wouldn't they have meant that Jesus was fully God when they said “Son of God”? In this context, “Son of God” does not describe biological descent. It identifies Jesus’ unique relationship with the Father and His divine identity.
In these titles, “Son” expresses identity and nature rather than biological ancestry. This meaning would have been clearer to Greek-speaking people in Bible times than it may be to English-speaking people in the 21st century.
The separation between Jewish Christ-followers and synagogues developed gradually and varied from place to place. The New Testament nevertheless indicates that confessing Jesus openly could lead to exclusion from the synagogue (John 9:22; 12:42; 16:2). Such conflict centered on claims about Jesus’ identity and authority, not on a belief that He was merely an exalted angel subordinate to Yahweh. Before his conversion, Saul persecuted followers of Jesus because he regarded their message as a serious threat to the faith and traditions he was defending.
Takeaways Concerning Jesus as the Son of God
When the Bible refers to Jesus as “the Son of God,” it says something profound. Here are some key issues wrapped up in those few words:
- Unique Relationship with God
The title “Son of God” emphasizes Jesus' unique and intimate relationship with God the Father. Ordinary human use of the word “son” often suggests biological descent, but the biblical title “Son of God” does not describe a biological relationship. It signifies a spiritual and eternal relationship, affirming that Jesus shares the same divine nature as God (as, for instance, in John 10:30: “I and the Father are one”). This parallels Jesus' title “Son of Man.” That phrase is used of Jesus more than 80 times in the Gospels and also appears in Acts, Hebrews, and Revelation. “Son of Man” affirms Jesus’ humanity while also evoking the authoritative heavenly figure described in Daniel 7:13–14.
- Messianic Role
In the biblical and Jewish setting, “Son of God” could describe Israel, the Davidic king, or the promised Messiah. Applied to Jesus in the New Testament, it carries an especially profound meaning concerning His identity and relationship with the Father. Jesus the Christ—the Anointed One—is the promised Messiah, Lord, and Savior.
- Divine Authority
Referring to Jesus as “God's Son” underscores His divine authority to teach, perform miracles, forgive sins, and bring salvation. It stresses that He was much more than a prophet or teacher.
- Eternal Preexistence
“Son of God” also highlights Jesus’ preexistence and divinity, as affirmed in John 1:1–14, where He is described as the “Word” (Logos), who was with God and was God and who became human flesh.
- Obedience and Mission
As the Son of God, Jesus is depicted as the One who perfectly obeys the Father’s will, even to the point of sacrificing Himself for humanity’s redemption.
Note: Common Misunderstandings
Some interpret “Son of God” as implying a biological relationship or inferiority to God. However, the Bible teaches that Jesus is coequal and coeternal with the Father. His title “Son of Man” affirms that He was fully human, while “Son of God” affirms His divine identity.
The "sonship" of Jesus is both a mystery and a foundation of faith for Christ-followers. Sonship highlights Jesus' divine nature, His earthly mission, and His role in our salvation.
-- Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu
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