7 Aspects of God, 2of3

~ The Son of God—The Son of Man ~

Our Savior, Jesus Christ—The Messiah—The Son of God—The Son of Man, is revealed in the Word of God in a number of different ways.  

As an interesting side note, notice the term “Son of Man” in the quotations below.  The Son of Man is a title which only our Lord used of Himself.  There is no record of the disciples, or others, using this title when speaking to Him or about Him to others (with the exception of John’s vision in Revelation).  The title Son of Man designates His true manhood—as distinguished from the sons of men whose humanity is fallen.

He Came To Serve  ~  Jesus said, “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:27-28).  Jesus said, “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.  And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-45). 

He Came To Suffer On Our Behalf  ~  Jesus said, “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:27-28).  Jesus said, “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.  And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-45). 

He Came To Save  ~  “And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost’” (Luke 19:9-10).  Jesus said, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him’” (John 6:27). 

He Came As The Sacrifice For Our Sin  ~  Jesus said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:14-17).  “The people answered Him, ‘We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, “The Son of Man must be lifted up”?  Who is this Son of Man’?” (John 12:34). 

He Rose From The Dead  ~  “Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, ‘Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead’” (Matthew 17:9).  “But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you’” (Matthew 28:5-7). 

He Is Glorified In Heaven  ~  “And said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God’!” (Acts 7:56).  “And in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band” (Revelation 1:13).

He Is Coming In Judgment  ~  Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory …  Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?   Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’   Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me’” (Matthew 25:31, 37-43). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

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Christ in Ezekiel

~ Jesus Christ Is the Son of Man ~

The Bible is about Jesus Christ  ~  “Jesus said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

In the book of Ezekiel Jesus Christ is seen in several different ways (including as the call from sin, the wheel in the middle of the wheel, and the four-faced man).  The most clear view is as the Son of Man sent to rebellious Israel. 

(1) God promised to send His servant David to be a shepherd over Israel (Ezekiel 34).

(2) He also to send His servant to be the king of Israel (Ezekiel 37).

(3) In both of these passages he is referred to as Israel’s coming “prince.”

(4) David was the first King in his line—that is he was never the son of a king—why then would he be called a prince? 

(5) In the New Testament Jesus Christ is referred to as the “Son of David.”

(6) The last part of the book of Ezekiel (chapters 40-48) concerns the future and especially the eternal glory of the temple and the land.  We see that certain areas of the land and specific sections of the temple grounds are reserved for the prince.

(7) The Jesus Christ—The Messiah would be called “a prince forever.”

(8) The Book of Ezekiel uses the term “son of man” nearly one hundred times!

(9) Jesus Christ’s most frequent description of Himself was the “Son of Man.” 

Comment  ~  We have only touched the surface of Christ in Ezekiel. Much more could be said about each of the previous examples.

additional comment:  Compare 2 Corinthians 6:16 with Ezekiel 36:28, and 37:23, 27. 

The Apostle Paul told us the Scriptures present many shadows of things to come but the reality is found in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:17). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “JESUS CHRIST IN EVERY BOOK OF THE BIBLE” SERIES ~~~   

(1)  Approximately once a month ALN posts an overview of how Jesus Christ is seen in a specific book of the Bible.

(2)  In most cases these posts only scratch the surface regarding Jesus Christ in the particular book.

(3)  These posts will typically be in the same order as the books are found in the Bible.

(4)  These serial posts are in addition to our other ALN postings.

(5)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Christ—Son of Man

~ Consider 7 Aspects of the “Son of Man” ~

The Son of God became the Son of Man so that the sons of men could become sons of God.  In the New Testament the title “Son of Man” is interesting in that it was primarily used by Jesus Christ referring to Himself.  His disciples never used it when speaking directly to Him or in casual conversation about Him.  In one sense the Son of Man signifies His true humanity as distinguished from His true Divinity and also from fallen humanity. 

note:  When Jesus Christ referred to Himself as the Son of Man He was also referencing His direct access to God the Father (a subject of a future post)—see Daniel 7:13-14. 

Son of Man in Service and Suffering  ~   Jesus said, “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’  The Son of Man [referring to Himself] came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’  But wisdom is justified by her children” (Matthew 11:18-19).  “But He [Jesus] turned and rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.  For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.’  And they went to another village” (Luke 9:55-56). 

Son of Man Coming to Save  ~  “And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost’” (Luke 19:9-10).  Jesus said, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him” (John 6:27).

Son of Man Suffering Unto Death  ~  Jesus said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day” (Luke 9:22).  “Then He [Jesus] answered and told them, ‘Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things.  And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?’” (Mark 9:12).  

Son of Man as the Sacrifice for Sin  ~  Jesus said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).  “The people answered Him, ‘We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, “The Son of Man must be lifted up?”’  Who is this Son of Man?’” (John 12:34). 

Son of Man Risen from the Dead  ~  At the very heart of Christianity is a crucial distinctive—we do not serve a dead leader, but the risen Messiah.  “He is not here, but is risen!  Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again’” (Luke 24:6-7).  Jesus said, “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:32).  “Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, ‘Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead’” (Matthew 17:9). 

Son of Man Glorified in Heaven  ~  “But he [Stephen], being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’” (Acts 7:55-56).   “Then I [John] turned to see the voice that spoke with me.  And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.  His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength” (Revelation 1:12-16).

Son of Man Coming Again in Judgment  ~  Jesus said, “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:27).  Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.  And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’” (Matthew 25:31-34).

the key question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW