Son of God (4th Advent) - Pastor Dave Klassen

We are in a season of asking, “What shall we name the baby?”—King, Savior, Emmanuel—and today, Son of God. Scripture calls Jesus the Son of God not as a title of sentiment, but as a declaration of His divine identity and authority. From the beginning, humanity forfeited its God-given rule by obeying the serpent. Evil’s vandalism of God’s world flows from that surrender. But the Son of God came to reclaim what was lost, to reassert heaven’s reign on earth, and to bring God’s presence into our chaos.

At His baptism, the Father named Him: “My beloved Son.” In the wilderness, Satan targeted that identity: “If you are the Son of God…” The temptations offered shortcuts—meet your needs without trusting the Father, prove God on your own terms, gain the world without the cross. Jesus resisted every shortcut and upheld the Father’s will, preserving the authority He later exercised in teaching, healing, and casting out demons. Even the winds and waves obeyed Him; even the demons named Him rightly: “Holy One of God.”

This identity became the offense that led to His crucifixion, and also the victory that disarmed rulers and authorities at the cross. The darkness still acts, but no longer rules. The Son has staked His claim and invites us out of the dominion of darkness into His kingdom of light. That is why His presence does more than soothe; it reorders. From creation’s chaos to the Red Sea, from the Jordan’s flood to a storm-tossed boat, God brings order where we have no control. And He does this now—in the storm you can’t fix, the bondage you can’t break, the questions you can’t untangle.

So this Christmas, honor Him as the Son of God by inviting Him into your real, unedited chaos. Not to make life tidy, but to bring His lordship, His timing, and His peace. With Jesus in the boat, the storm does not have the last word. With Jesus in your life, neither does your past, your fear, or your enemy. He is here to reign—and to reorder.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Jesus restores what Adam surrendered. Adam and Eve handed over their entrusted authority by obeying the serpent. Jesus came as the Son to reclaim that ground and restore God’s reign on earth. This means our battle is not for control but for consent—yielding to His lordship where we once made agreements with lesser masters. Spiritual freedom grows as we renounce those old agreements and align with the Son’s authority. [05:46]
• 2. The Son refuses shortcut temptations. The wilderness temptations were not random; they were offers to secure good ends by godless means. Jesus chose trust over immediacy, cross over comfort, and the Father’s will over personal proof. We are most vulnerable when the shortcut seems reasonable; we are most protected when we treasure obedience more than outcomes. [10:33]
• 3. Christ orders chaos with His presence. Jesus calmed a storm not just to impress the disciples but to teach them the shape of His kingdom: His presence reorders what overwhelms us. He may not remove the winds first; He often reveals Himself in the middle of them. Hope is not denial; it is confidence that the One who made the waters still commands them. [13:26]
• 4. The cross exposes and disarms darkness. At the cross, Jesus made a public spectacle of the powers that tyrannize the human soul. Evil still lashes out, but it no longer rules. We live alert, not afraid; courageous, not naive—standing under the Son’s victory rather than striving to manufacture our own. [16:36]
• 5. Invite the Son into your chaos. The Son’s lordship is not abstract; it is personal and present. Naming Him rightly means welcoming Him practically—into decisions, desires, griefs, and habits. He does not need ideal conditions to work; He makes holy ground out of troubled ground. Ask Him to reign where you most feel out of control. [21:45]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:40] - Names: King, Savior, Emmanuel
• [02:57] - Jesus, the Son of God
• [04:05] - Adam’s fall and authority lost
• [05:46] - Son reclaims authority on earth
• [06:39] - Baptism: “My beloved Son”
• [07:58] - Wilderness confrontation with Satan
• [10:33] - “Worship God alone” refusal
• [11:44] - Authority to heal and deliver
• [13:26] - Storm stilled; chaos calmed
• [14:40] - Demons recognize the Son
• [15:30] - Transfiguration: “Listen to Him”
• [16:36] - Cross and resurrection victory
• [19:41] - God brings order from chaos
• [21:45] - Invitation to honor the Son

1. In Matthew 4:1-11, what are the three temptations, and what does each one promise? How do two of them begin, and what identity is being challenged?
2. In Matthew 8:23-27, where is Jesus when the storm hits, what do the disciples cry out, and what two actions does Jesus take that change the scene?
3. According to Colossians 2:15, what exact words describe what happened to the “rulers and authorities”? List the verbs you see.
4. The message traced a pattern: “God is in the business of bringing order out of chaos.” What moments from the story of Scripture were named to show this pattern? “In the very beginning… the Red Sea… the Jordan… the storm” [19:41]

1. In Matthew 4:1-11, why does refusing each shortcut matter? What does that show about Sonship and trust—especially when good ends are offered by godless means?
2. In Matthew 8:23-27, what does Jesus want His disciples to learn about His presence and authority in the middle of fear? What kind of faith is He drawing out?
3. If Colossians 2:15 says the powers were disarmed at the cross, how should people understand the reality that “the spiritual forces of darkness… are still active”? What balance looks faithful—fearful, careless, or alert and confident? “They’re still active” [17:22]
4. If humanity “forfeited their God-given rule” by obeying the serpent, how does that shape the way someone views sin—not only as breaking rules, but as yielding allegiance? “They forfeited their God-given rule over the earth” [04:05]

1. Where do you feel chaos right now—at home, work, in your thoughts or habits? What would it look like to welcome Jesus to “bring order into your chaos” this week—one decision, one step of obedience, one honest prayer? “He has come to bring order into your chaos” [21:06]
2. Which shortcut pulls at you most today: meeting a real need without waiting on God, forcing a sign so you feel secure, or grabbing influence without the cross? What is one concrete way you will choose obedience over immediacy? “If you are the Son of God…” [07:58]
3. Name one place you have been “obeying” fear, comfort, or approval more than God. How will you renounce that allegiance and consent to Jesus’ rule there this week? Be specific. “Jesus came to reclaim the authority on the earth” [05:46]
4. Where do you feel spiritual pressure or oppression? How will you take your stand under the cross this week—prayer, Scripture, confession, community, or serving? “He disarmed the rulers and authorities” [16:36]
5. In what area of life do you need to “Listen to Him” instead of other loud voices—finances, relationships, forgiveness, time, or purity? What small act of obedience will you do in the next 48 hours? “This is My Son… Listen to Him” [15:30]
6. When storms rise, what usually comes out of your mouth first—panic, accusation, or prayer? This week, what words will you choose to speak to Jesus in the boat? “With Jesus in their midst, they couldn’t sink” [20:14]
7. If you have not yet welcomed Jesus as the Son of God, what holds you back? What step could you take before next Sunday—asking questions, praying simply, reading a Gospel chapter, or inviting a trusted friend to walk with you? “Give Jesus the honor… inviting Him into our chaos” [21:45]