In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
—John 5:17-18

“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
—John 10:33

James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”)
—Mark 3:17

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
—Acts 4:36-37

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
—John 17:12

~~~~~

Son of…
by Jennifer Kane

They heard Him say it—
“My Father is always at His work…
and I too am working.”
And they picked up stones.

Not because He healed,
but because He dared to say
Son of God.
Not a title of hierarchy—
but of essence.
Equal. Divine.
Unmistakably one
with the One.

They understood what He meant.
And they hated Him for it.

In Scripture,
“son of” was never just biology.
It was identity.
Nature.
Reflection.

James and John—
Boanerges.
Sons of thunder.
Not because thunder raised them,
but because thunder lived in them.
Fiery. Loud.
Unrestrained zeal wrapped in skin.

Barnabas—
Son of encouragement.
He didn’t just inspire—
he embodied it.
His generosity
a language more fluent than words.

Judas—
Son of perdition.
Not fated to betray,
but bent toward it.
His ruin came from within.
A title earned, not given.

And us?

What would we be called?
Sons of fear?
Daughters of control?
Children of light—
or shadows?

We say we’re children of God.
But would a stranger believe it
before we said a word?

The Son of God walked among us—
full of grace and truth.
He didn’t just bear the name.
He bore the cross.
And in rising,
gave us His nature.

So we walk now
as image-bearers,
as Spirit-filled mirrors
of our Father’s heart.

Let it be said—
not just on paper,
but in how we love,
how we live—

That we are truly
sons and daughters
of the Most High.

~~~~~

Scriptures: John 5:18, John 10:33, Mark 3:17, Acts 4:36, John 17:12

In Scripture, phrases like “son of…” often carry more weight than we realize. They don’t just describe lineage—they reveal nature, character, and destiny. When Jesus is called the Son of God, it is not a suggestion that He is “less than” or “after” God, but rather a bold declaration that He is God in nature, essence, and power.

Sons of Thunder – Jesus nicknamed James and John “Boanerges,” meaning “sons of thunder.” Why? Because of their fiery temperament and zealous spirit (see Luke 9:54). He wasn’t saying thunder fathered them—but that thunder described them. It was a reflection of who they were, not just where they came from.

Son of Encouragement – Barnabas’s name means “son of encouragement.” Again, it wasn’t about family bloodline—it was about character. He embodied encouragement so much, it became his name.

Son of Perdition – Judas is called the “son of perdition” (destruction, ruin). His choices revealed a heart bent toward betrayal and evil. This title pointed to his spiritual alignment more than his family tree.

Son of God – This is where it all comes together. The Jews understood that when Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, He wasn’t claiming to be a lesser being—He was declaring Himself equal with God. That’s why they accused Him of blasphemy. In Jewish thought, to be the “son of” something meant to bear its very nature.

So when Jesus calls Himself the Son of God, He is claiming what John 1:1-3 affirms: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… all things were made through Him.”

We too are called children of God (1 John 3:1-2), not just to show that God adopted us, but to reveal that through the Spirit, we begin to share His nature. As 2 Peter 1:4 says, we become “partakers of the divine nature.” That’s why our lives must reflect the One who lives in us.

Ask yourself: If someone called me a “son” or “daughter” of something, what would it be?
Would it be peace? Joy? Faith? Or bitterness, fear, and selfishness? What we reflect shows who we’re aligned with.

Let us strive to live in such a way that people see us as true children of God—not by label alone, but by nature, character, and daily walk.

~~~~~

Father, thank You for calling us Your children and sending Jesus, the exact representation of Your being. Help us to understand that to be called Your child is a call to reflect Your heart, character, and truth. Transform us daily to be more like You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May 26 2025