Son
of Man
Jesus referred to Himself a the Son of Man.
He deliberately chose this title to conceal and reveal eternal truths about
Himself. No other title used by Jesus of Himself so clearly testifies to His
messianic self-consciousness.
In Ezekiel the expression "Son of Man" is used more than ninety times by God
addressing the prophet (Ezek. 2:1; 3:1, etc.). In this most basic usage it
simply means an indefinite expression for "a man." The phrase brings out the
humanity, weakness, and frailty of the prophet in contrast to the infinite
glory, strength, and knowledge of the LORD God.
However, Jesus used this title when He made many of His strongest statements
revealing His deity.
"Son of Man" was a Messianic title. Jesus took a well-known title and filled
it with rich new meanings that revealed the work of the Messiah and His
superhuman claims.
There is no doubt Jesus had in mind Daniel 7:13-14 when He
referred to Himself as the son of Man. "I kept looking in the
night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was
coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him.
And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all
the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is
an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which
will not be destroyed" (Daniel 7:13-14).
Jesus used the expression "Son of Man" as the first person
singular pronoun "I" when referring to Himself (Mk. 2:10, 28; Lk. 9:58; 7:34;
Matt. 11:19; 16:13). In these and other passages Jesus tells His listeners that
He has extraordinary authority over men, authority to forgive sins, authority
over the Sabbath, and equality with God.
"The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give His life a ransom for many" reveals the central purpose of His becoming man
(Mark 10:45; cf. Matt. 20:28).
"The Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost"
(Lk. 19:10) foretells in considerable detail His coming betrayal, condemnation,
death and resurrection (Mk. 8:31; 9:12, 31; 10:33-34; 14:21, 44, 41; Matt. 26:2;
17:12, 22; 16:21; Lk. 22:48; 24:7).
The resurrection from the dead vindicated Jesus as the Son of
Man. It proved all of the claims Jesus made as the Son of Man. His death without
the resurrection from the dead three days later would have put an end to the
whole idea of Jesus being anything more than a mere human being. Jesus said, "For
just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster,
so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth"
(Matthew 12:40).
The ultimate triumph and glory of the Messiah must first be
fulfilled by the Suffering Servant of the LORD. "The Son of Man is going as it
has been determined" (Luke 22:22; cf. Acts 2:22-24; Mk. 9:9). The shadow of the
cross was always before Him.
Jesus used the title Son of Man to reveal Himself as glorified
deity. It declares His own prophetic vision of His vindication and
glorification. Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that
you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on
His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve
tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28). "And then the sign
of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth
will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky
with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30; cf. Mk. 13:20; 14:62).
Judgment will come upon all who reject the Son of Man. "For
whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation,
the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His
Father with the holy angels" (Mark 8:38).
Jesus is coming to this earth again (Matt. 16:27-28; 24:27, 30,
44; Lk. 12:40; 17:29; 18:8).
The Son of Man and the Kingdom of God have come. There is the
now and the yet to be as we look forward to the full manifestation of His glory
in the consummation.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Come!
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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