Editorial December 26, 1936 Issue

Honoring the Son

Duncan Sinclair

An unbiased study of the sayings of Christ Jesus in the New Testament shows clearly that he whom we call the Messiah understood himself to be, not God, but the Son of God. Jesus declared that God was his Father and, likewise, the Father of all men; that is, the Father or creator of the spiritual selfhood of each one of us. So understandingly did the Master identify himself with God, the Father, that he could say (John 5:19), "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things so-ever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."

How can it be said that Christ Jesus did the things of his Father? Because he reflected the qualities of God. This was outstandingly characteristic of him. Compassion, purity, wisdom, love, were his constant companions; and the source of these was God, perfect Mind. Spiritual understanding and spiritual power he also abundantly manifested, healing all manner of sickness and sin by their use; and these, too, spiritual understanding and spiritual power, were of God, perfect Mind. Moreover, as the Son, consciously at one with the Father, he was ever obedient to the law of God—spiritual law, obedient to the extent of denying all that was unlike good—all evil.

Being assured that he was the Son of God, and that he reflected God, Jesus was not backward in declaring that as the Father is honored, even so should the Son be honored. "All men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father," he said. "He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him" (John 5:23). The meaning of the words is plain. The Master was pointing out that as men honor the Father, or creator, so should they honor the Son, since the Son reflects the attributes or qualities of the Father, perfect Mind. Today, nineteen centuries after Christ Jesus demonstrated man's sonship with God, men still honor him because of his perfect exemplification of divine sonship.

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