Fundamentals of the Christian Faith in the Light of the Gospels
by Maulana Sadr-ud-Din
Significance of the Term “Son of God”: No Exclusive Distinction for Jesus
In brief, the term Son of God has ever been used not only in respect of the prophets and apostles of God, but also in respect of every righteous man. Jesus, therefore, enjoys no exclusive distinction in this respect. Turn to the Gospel according to Matthew once again:
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (5:9).
“Pray for them which despitefully used you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven” (5:44–45).
Jesus, according to the Gospel, was a mortal and his genealogy has been given as: Jesus son of Joseph, son of David, son of Abraham, son of Adam; and it was for this reason that he repeatedly called himself Son of Man. His disciples, too, liked upon and regarded him as a human being, and addressed him as Master. His mother said:
“Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.”
Peter, his most trusted disciple said of Jesus:
“I know not the man.”
Likewise, Justice Pilate asked
“whether the man were a Galilean” (Luke, 23:6).
And when Jesus was hanged upon the cross, the centurion said,
“Certainly this was a righteous man” (Luke, 23:47);
but Mark records (15:39) that the centurion said,
“Truly this man was the son of God.”
This proves conclusively that a righteous man and son of God are identical terms in their significance.
Furthermore, Jesus was circumcised. He was also baptised, and for thirty years he carried on the profession of a carpenter, and people called him carpenter and the son of a carpenter. In fact all activities of Jesus were that of a human being.