by Rex Rouis
Jesus referred to Himself over 80 times as The Son of Man, and rarely as The Son of God. When He did it was usually in the third person. He definitely is, was, and always has been The Son of God, but He walked on earth as The Son of Man.
He became The Son of Man in the incarnation; God becoming flesh and walking as ‘a son of man’ (like us), but with one big difference. The Son of Man (Jesus) was, is, and always will be sinless; a son of man (mankind) is fallen. He walked as we walk so that we can walk as He walked. This is the mystery of the Gospel miracles – God’s power in this world comes through faith in God, made possible through the work of Jesus Christ.
Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God! I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn’t doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will be done for him. That’s why I tell you to have faith that you have already received whatever you pray for, and it will be yours. Mark 11:22, 23, 24 God’s Word Translation
We have access to this authority only within the confines of the Word of God, and only through the use of His Name. When we are born from above, and His Spirit is placed within us, we are again able to walk ‘as’ The Son of Man in this realm, and do His works. We do not become The Son of Man, but rather we are given the privileged ability to walk in His authority – as long as we do His works.
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Mat 28:18
Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.. John 14:13, 14
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. John 15:7, 8
In this, the sacrificial work of the ‘second Adam’ (Jesus, I Corinthians 15:45, 46, 47) has regained for mankind the position lost by the sin of the ‘first Adam.’ We can now walk as God’s stewards in this world, having been recreated back into His image. The Son of God can now legally empower a son of man to act in His stead and do the will of God the Father. In this, God is glorified. In this, the Holy God is both a loving God and a just God.
As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. “For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. John 17:18, 19, 20, 21
Comments
That one big difference disappears when we take Christ as Savior.
This is a beautiful explanation. I sent it to some friends.
I know Jesus as the Son of Man was born into Earth to experience all our sins as He did on the cross but I think that to truly be one of us He had to experience the one sin most of us experience when we fail to believe in God’s word and promise as He did on the cross when He said, “Father, why has thou forsaken me?” I have been told that His question was a sign of humility but I do not think that questioning God the Father would ever be a sign of humility rather a sign of doubt and that was Jesus’ only sin.
In addition, you say, “Jesus referred to Himself over 80 times as The Son of Man, and rarely as The Son of God.” I know of no place where Jesus actually said He was the Son of God but at times implied it in answer to people’s questions about Him being the Son of God.
Pat – Thanks for the comment. On the ‘Son of God’ thing, I agree with you. He never really said it outright. He only agreed when someone else said it. There is something important in that fact.
His “Father, why has thou forsaken me?” was not an expression of doubt concerning God’s promise. That remark was a reflection on the terrible moment when the Son, who had eternally been with the Father, was abruptly cut off from the presence of God for our sins. I believe the agony Jesus experienced in the Garden was not about the torture and the Cross, but about this moment – the torment of broken relationship with the Father.
He was forsaken by the Father for the first time in eternity and He was now alone. Our sins were laid upon Him and He took upon Himself our penalty and curse. The Father looked away and Jesus alone went to Hell – alone. There is a huge controversy on whether Jesus died spiritually, but whatever it took in the eyes of God, He did it. It is a mystery, but whatever it was that He did between the Cross and the Resurrection, He paid the full price for us. He still bears in His hands and feet the scars of the Cross. God bless
That’s the best explanation I’ve ever heard, and I’ve wrestled with that question for years. Thank you so much and God bless!