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Topic: Son Of Man
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Eden
unregistered
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posted
Hi, Carol Swenson, welcome back. Among other things, Tyndale's article said, quote:
In all these texts, Jesus was always the speaker, and no one else ever called him “Son of Man.”
Good point, I never knew that before.
Thanks, Eden
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Found in Him
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Member # 7596
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posted
Jesus... Son of God and Son of man. Jesus...He's The Lion and the Lamb!
Amen Great post!
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~To Him That is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy...to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.~ Jude 24
Posts: 1503 | Registered: Jan 2009
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Carol Swenson
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Member # 6929
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posted
SON OF MAN
Jesus gave himself this name. The name reflects both his humanness and his divine origin, as well as the mystery of his becoming human, and his work on earth that took him to the cross and then into glory.
The background of the term “Son of Man” is in the Old Testament. The book of Ezekiel is the main source, since Ezekiel was called the “son of man” ninety times. For example, God said to him, “Son of man, stand upon your feet, and I will speak with you” (Ezekiel 2:1, RSV). Jesus’ use of the term “Son of Man” and his repetition of other ideas in the book of Ezekiel suggest that he wanted to identify himself as a prophet who, like Ezekiel (Ezekiel 4; 7; 10; 22; and 40–48) had the last word about the destruction of Jerusalem and the restoration of the kingdom of God to Israel (Matthew 23:1-24; Acts 1:6-8).
The first use of the term is Daniel 7:13-14, which describes someone who is “like a son of man” who “comes with the clouds” into the presence of “the Ancient of Days,” who gives him the universal and eternal kingdom of God. Jesus repeatedly quoted parts of this book when he taught people about his second coming (Matthew 16:27; 19:28; 24:30; 25:31; 26:64). Jesus viewed this passage as a prediction that he himself would come, and as a prophecy of his own life: his incarnation, ascension, and inheritance of the kingdom of God.
In the Gospels, the term “Son of Man” is used by Jesus about eighty times as a mysterious, indirect way of speaking about himself (Matthew, 32 times; Mark, 14 times; Luke, 26 times; John, 10 times). In all these texts, Jesus was always the speaker, and no one else ever called him “Son of Man.” Some scholars believe that the way the term is used is so unclear that they believe Jesus is talking about someone else. But the only place in the gospels where Jesus’ hearers seem unclear about who the Son of Man is appears in John, where the crowd asks Jesus, “Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” (John 12:34). In most texts, Jesus is clearly calling himself the Son of Man. In some it is very clear indeed: “Who do men say that the Son of Man is?”—followed by, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:13, 15).
The term is used only four other times in the New Testament. In Acts 7:56, Stephen says, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!” Hebrews 2:6 quotes Psalm 8:4 as if it were describing Jesus. Finally, Revelation 1:13 and 14:14 record visions of someone “like a son of man,” who is undoubtedly the glorified Jesus.
In the synoptic Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke, the main idea behind the name “Son of Man” seems to be that Jesus has come to earth, as a man, to accomplish his mission. Jesus compares the humbleness of his life on earth with his glorious life in heaven: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20; see Luke 9:58). This saying indicates that the Son of Man gave up his heavenly home to suffer all the humiliations of earth (Philippians 2:5-11).
Jesus used the title to claim that he had the same authority as God: “The Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath” (Matthew 12:8; Mark 2:28; Luke 6:5). The Sabbath was ordered by God, so no mere human can revise or change it. But since Jesus is the Son of Man from heaven, he is free to rule as Lord even of the Sabbath, because he is the same Lord who created the Sabbath (Genesis 2:2; Exodus 20:8-11). After healing the paralyzed man at Capernaum, Jesus claimed that “the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Matthew 9:6; Mark 2:10; Luke 5:24). Previously, forgiveness of sins came from heaven and from God, but now forgiveness comes from Capernaum and is given by Jesus.
The second aspect of Jesus’ use of the “Son of Man” name concerns his suffering, death, and glorious resurrection, the mysterious method he would use to fulfill his earthly mission as the Son of Man. Jesus began talking about this after Peter confessed him to be the Messiah and Son of God (Matthew 16:16). Jesus’ prediction of his death, also known as the “passion,” begins in Mark 8:31-32 and is repeated in several other texts. The Gospels expand the theme to include his suffering of mockery and scourging (Matthew 17:12; 20:18; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22), betrayal by Judas (Matthew 17:22; 26:24-25; Mark 14:21, 41), rejection by the Jewish leaders (Matthew 20:18), death by crucifixion (20:19; Mark 9:12, 31; 10:33), burial for three days (Matthew 12:40; Luke 11:30), and resurrection (Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 8:31). In the famous text “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45), Jesus makes the announcement—which was new to his disciples—that his death was a sacrifice for the salvation of his people.
Jesus also used the “Son of Man” title to teach about his second coming. As the Son of Man, Jesus will return to earth from heaven in the glory of his Father with the angels (Matthew 16:27; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26). First, he will be seated at the right hand of God, and then he will come again (Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62; Luke 22:69) with the clouds (Matthew 24:30; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27). This coming will be unexpected (Matthew 24:27; Luke 12:40), like a flash of lightning or the flood of Noah (Matthew 24:37; Luke 17:24). His coming will be for the gathering of the elect, the judgment of all the nations of the earth (Matthew 19:28; 25:32), and the restoration of goodness in the world (19:28; 25:46).
In these passages, Jesus’ focus shifts from the current victory of his death and resurrection to the final victory of the Son of Man at his second coming. Here again, the emphasis is on the heavenly origin and authority of the Son of Man. This man Jesus, the Son of Man, will be the final judge (see Acts 17:31).
The Gospel of John has its own material concerning the Son of Man that the other gospels do not have. The angels are said to ascend and descend on the Son of Man (John 1:51), showing that he existed before he lived on earth and has come from heaven to earth (John 3:13; 6:62). His being lifted up (by crucifixion) will bring about eternal life for all who believe in him (3:14).
The Son of Man (3:14) is also the Son of God (3:16), God’s one and only Son (1:18; 3:18). Quite simply, in John’s Gospel, the “Son of Man” title is equivalent to the title “Son of God.” It reveals his divinity, the fact that he existed before he was born on earth, his heavenly origin, and divine authority. It affirms his present duty on earth to die and be resurrected, and his future eschatological glory. The Father has given the Son of Man authority to raise the dead and to judge the world (5:25-27).
(Tyndale iLumina)
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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