Who Is The Son of Man

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Ladies Daily Devotional

3-01-07

Who Is The Son of Man?

By Nikki Derouin

Part 1

How many of us know the story of “Daniel in the Lions Den”? What about the “Fiery Furnace”? How many of us feel comfortable explaining the vision of the ‘statue’? Can you translate “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN”?

Now, here is a tough one. How many of us feel comfortable with the book of Daniel past chapter 6? I don’t. It seems as if many of the Jews of Jesus’ day didn’t get it either.

It was on this point that much of the frustration and righteous anger of Christ comes into play. The Jewish authorities and scribes were known for the large amounts of time they spent studying the Law and the prophets. Yet they made several fatal errors ...

They spent more time studying the rabbinical traditions than studying the Law...

They failed to see God’s spiritual teaching and love for all mankind ...

They taught their faulty traditions as if they were the Law....

Many of them never admitted to their confusion nor did they accept the answers Jesus provided for their questions.

In Deuteronomy 18:18 Moses specifically spoke of the Great Prophet. As the years passed every prophet after Moses continued to speak of the Messiah. God wanted His people to be prepared. He wanted them to recognize the One who would be sent to free them from bondage and suffering.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

Yet ignorance and apathy stood in the way of many.

“He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” John 1:11

Yet envy and hate stood in the way of many.

“The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.” John 12:19

“For he [Pilate] knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.” Mark 15:10

Yet unbelief and pride stood in the way of many.

“For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.” John 5:46

Those who were observant and faithful followers of the Law saw Jesus as he truly was.

“Philip found Nathanael, and said unto him, ‘We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph’ ... Nathanael answered [Christ]and said unto him, ‘Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel’ ...And he [Christ] saith unto him, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.’” (John 1:45, 49-51)

Those like Philip and Nathanael could clearly see what was before them. They had followed the Law with a pure heart and an open mind. They were willing to follow Jesus and learn more clearly the mission of the Messiah.

Daniel 9:25 and 26 specifically speak of the Messiah and prophetically describe His reign. For the Jews, the coming of the Messiah promised to bring imaginable blessings. This was not the first time Daniel spoke of the Redeemer of Israel.

“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.” Daniel 7:13

It is in this context that the Son of Man was seen coming before the Ancient of days, the God of the Universe. As each of the four beasts, or four world empires, are subdued, the Son of Man is able to access the throne of God. It is in this section of scripture that the Son of God is seen taking on the form of fallen man. Although this is the only time in the Old Testament that the term “Son of Man” is used in reference to the Messiah, it is a vivid and descriptive portrayal.

For the observant and faithful Jew, the coming of Jesus would have clearly shown Him to be the Messiah, the Son of Man. Christ was not sparing with His use of the term. He used it often and with great authority. It would not be difficult for His followers to make the connection.

Yet there were those who missed the obvious. Those who were ignorant of His elevated position were willing to put Him on par with the prophets before Him.

“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.” Matthew 16:13f

Those filled with pride and envy, wished to put Jesus in the worst light possible.

“The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!” Luke 3:34

Those with an open heart and unbiased knowledge saw Christ as he truly was.

“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16

To make a clear distinction between those who were following Christ as a ‘mere prophet’ who would ‘perform’ for them, and those who were following him for His teaching; Christ began teaching in such a way that would force His listeners to make a spiritual distinction in their own minds.

“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” John 6:53

This form of teaching had the impact that was anticipated. Many left Jesus at that point realizing that His teachings were ‘hard’. Those who had always been willing to lay aside personal presuppositions were willing to continue with Christ.

“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:67-69

Christ was never afraid to state who He was or what His mission on earth was. He was the Son of God, sent to save the world, and He knew what His mission on this earth was.

Continued.......

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