When did Jesus realize that he was the son of God?

Question

I know about the trip to the temple when he was 12. But was he certain then? The first two temptations that satan presents to him, seem to be designed to cause him to doubt.

Answer 1

I was going to say when he began going to the temple on His own around 12, too. He had to be a devout and loyal little Jewish boy, so I am sure once He recognized Himself in the scriptures, He knew. Plus He told His mother and father, "I must be about my Father's business." And Joseph was like, "what am I? Chopped liver." Just kidding, but I believe that is when He knew. Satan's temptations were designed to cause Him to doubt and to try to get Him to become blemished and cause His prophecies to be false and unprovable. I like your question. Where'd you get it? ;-D

Answer 2

It can be reasoned that he did know that he was the Son of God (his response to the accusations brought against him when he was in front of the sanhedrin), but to precisely when he knew, that's very debatable and difficult to say. So, maybe it doesn't matter when he realized he was God's Son, just that he did realize it, meaning that the Christian confession of Jesus as the Son of God is not something just made up by the Church after Jesus's death but can be traced back to Jesus himself.

Yes, your reference to the temptations could make a case of self knowledge then, especially since they came right after the Baptism in the Jordan when he heard a voice from the Father call him His son. So, the case could be made that at the Baptism he came to know this. However, another argument could claim that the voice fromt he Father was not for Jesus's self-knowledge but for revealing who Jesus was to others (as this event is considered by some to be a theophany). In this case, his knowledge of being God's Son can be argued to before the baptism. The passage mentioned from Luke about the finding in the temple could make the case that he knew when he was 12 since he said he must be about his father's business. Then again, since it was revealed to Mary that the child would be holy, the Son of God, that his knowledge predated the visit to the temple. So, all this would be speculation, and any case could be made.

Thanks for the interesting question.

Answer 3

That is a very interesting question, and one that I've wondered about myself. I can only guess at the answer. As "Lover of God", I do interpret the Bible to say that Jesus also has no beginning or end. Perhaps he was born with that knowledge? Perhaps as soon as he could possibly comprehend it? Sin separates man from God. Since Jesus was born without the stain of sin on him, I imagine he must have been in very close communion with God the Father, and that knowledge imprinted on his soul.

Answer 4

If He had any dougts when His mother told Him about His birth, if after the temple when He saw the Lamb slain and understood He was that lamb, He had NO DOUBT when He heard His Father's voice saying "This is MY Beloved son in whom I AM well pleased. Learn more about Jesus The second member of The Godhead free bible lessons www.itiswritten.com bible questions www.bibleinfo.com talk to me also [e-mail] God bless.

Answer 5

I think He was certain at the Temple, but Satan doesn't know everything, so might have termpted Him this way. ( Supermannn, what does the date have to do with anything?)

Answer 6

Hi cemya2!!!

JESUS THE LORD, knew HE is THE SON OF GOD, since HE ever being!!!!

People are forgetting THREE very important things!!!

GOD FATHER, GOD SON AND GOD HOLY SPIRIT !!!!!!!!!!!

So is NOT that JESUS THE LORD was born, what made HIM GOD's SON!!!!! JESUS THE LORD WAS ALREADY!!!!!
JUST LIKT THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS, so was JESUS THE LORD!!!!!

The Bible says, And GOD "SEND", "SEND" "SEND"!!!!!!!!
So when one sends somebody is because that person already exist!!! And you want to know why?????

BECAUSE GOD IS GOD FATHER, GOD SON AND GOD HOLY SPIRIT!!!!!

And THESE CAN NOT BE SEPARATED, because they are ONE!!!!!! Have you heard of "THE TRILOGY OF GOD"???

JESUS THE LORD was always certain, HE knew what HIS father send HIM for!!!! And it was NOT for vacation!!!!

If JESUS THE LORD reacted the way HE did, even until HIS death, was because HE was in the human/flesh!!!!
THAT"S WHY HE DIED!!!! HE WAS NOT IN THE FATHER, OR THE HOLY SPIRIT, but IN THE SON, as a mortal!!!! The flesh was weak!!!
BUT NOT HIS HEART!!! And GOD FATHER LOVES HIM THAT MUCH, HE WAS WITH HIM,until they capture JESUS!!!!
For it to be a true sacrifice, he left JESUS, as a mortal HE was.
We can clearly know this when once in the cross one of the seven words JESUS COULD whispered, was, FATHER, FATHER why did you abandon me???
That's why HE went and talked to GOD and asked "HIM FATHER, TAKE THIS CUP AWAY FROM ME"!!
He was asking GOD FATHER to spared HIM that pain HE knew HE was facing!!! He fasted and prepared HIMSELF for HIS ULTIMUM SECRIFICE!!!!
He is obidient, and carried his sacrifice whith humbleness
giving GOD FATHER, ALL THE GLORY. And ONCE JESUS resusitated, HE reclaimed HIS throne once again!!! SINCE forever HE has being sitting(NOT LITERALLY) as the Bible says,
to GOD's right.

To die in a cross and to have a MAGNIFICIENT RESURRECTION, so we believe, GOD IS GOD, IS REAL, AND HE WILL FULLFILL HIS PROMISE!!!!

GOD BLESS US ALL HAPPY LIFE

A.Z.

Answer 7

Well the bible is not a history book and is interpreted in the right fashion when you turn them within yourself, as it speaks of esoteric truths rather than history. But from a scriptural prospective at the baptism is when he gained sonship, when he became one with the logos or mind of God, thus becoming the son.

The true baptism before it was changed at the Nicea meeting and proven with OVERWHELMING evidence from many writings dated back pre-4th century,

"Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee" and not the corrupted version, "In thee I am well pleased".

Clement of Alexandria in his 2nd century work, THE INSTRUCTOR, said, “For at the moment of the Lord's baptism there sounded a voice from heaven, as a testimony to the Beloved, 'Thou art My beloved Son, to-day have I begotten Thee’". Methodtus (A.D. 260-312), in his works THE BANQUET OF THE TEN VIRGINS; OR, CONCERNING CHASTITY, he writes: "Now, in perfect agreement and correspondence with what has been said, seems to be this which was spoken by the Father from above to Christ when He came to be baptized in the water of the Jordan, 'Thou art my son: this day have I begotten thee’".

Lactantius (A.D. 260-330.), in his THE DIVINE INSTITUTES, he writes: "Then a voice from heaven was heard: 'Thou art my Son, today have I begotten Thee'. Which voice is found to have been foretold by David. And the Spirit of God descended upon Him, formed after the appearance of a white dove. From that time He began to perform the greatest miracles, not by magical tricks, which display nothing true and substantial, but by heavenly strength and power, which were foretold even long ago by the prophets who announced Him; which works are so many, that a single book is not sufficient to comprise them all". DIALOGUE OF JUSTIN WITH TRYPHO, A JEW, Justin writes about Jesus: "He was in the habit of working as a carpenter when among men, making ploughs and yokes; by which He taught the symbols of righteousness and an active life; but then the Holy Ghost, and for man's sake, as I formerly stated, lighted on Him in the form of a dove, and there came at the same instant from the heavens a voice, which was uttered also by David when he spoke, personating Christ, what the Father would say to Him: `Thou art My Son: this day have I begotten Thee’"

Answer 8

He has realized that each and every one of us is a son of God for eternity.

He was also always aware the he was not an exception to this rule.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 9

He first realized when He was 12 and spoke to the elders at the synagogue.That is when He said to His Mother.I must be about My Fathers business.

Answer 10

All men are the'Sons of G-D',as we are all children of.J of the C didn't have a corner on that market.Either the words were lost on the people of the time,or a gross misunderstanding of what he said has snowballed to epic proportions.