Sermon #86                                                                                                                                                  JohnÕs Gospel

 

Title:               ÒWho is this Son of Man?Ó

 

Text:               John 12:31-34

Subject:         Christ the Son of Man

Date:              Sunday Morning — May 23, 2010

Tape:              John #86

Reading:       Psalm 139:1-24

Introduction:

 

LetÕs read John 12:31-34 togetherÉ

 

(John 12:31-34) ÒNow is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die. 34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?Ó

 

I take that question for my subject: — ÒWho is this Son of man?Ó — In Holy Scripture, our Lord Jesus is called Òthe Son of MaryÓ only once (Mark 6:3). Truly, he is the Son of Mary, the womanÕs Seed, conceived in the womb of the virgin by God the Holy Spirit, without an earthly father. We rejoice to know that. But the only time our Lord was ever called Òthe Son of Mary,Ó he was called that by godless, reprobate men, who were offended by his doctrine. That fact should speak volumes to us about that idolatrous religion that promotes the worship of Mary, ever referring to God our Savior as Òthe Son of Mary

 

(Mark 6:3) ÒIs not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.Ó

 

Our Redeemer is called Òthe Son of DavidÓ sixteen times. — He is called the Son of David because he was directly descended from David as a man. Being DavidÕs Son, it was his lawful right to sit upon DavidÕs throne as the king of Israel. Indeed, he is that Son of David whom God promised to raise up to set upon his throne forever. The Son of David has come. He is now reigning upon his throne, the King of GodÕs Israel, the King of glory forever!

 

Then, our blessed Savior is called Òthe Son of GodÓ forty-seven times. — Yes, Jesus of Nazareth, the baby of Bethlehem, the Son of David, is himself the Son of God, the second Person of the holy Trinity. Our Savior is God! Were he anything less than God over all, blessed forever, he could not be our Savior. Because he is God the Son, he is God our Savior.

 

But in the Book of God the Lord Jesus Christ is called Òthe Son of ManÓ eighty-eight times! This is the name he used in reference to himself more than any other. In fact, this name, ÒThe Son of Man,Ó is used almost exclusively by Christ himself. Yet, none of his disciples ever called him Òthe Son of ManÓ until after his exaltation. And then only two of them did so.

á      Stephen, when he saw heaven opened, said — ÒBehold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of GodÓ (Acts 7:56).

 

á      John in the Book of Revelation, wrote, in Revelation 1:13, ÒAnd in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.Ó — Then, in chapter 14, verse 14, we read, ÒAnd I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle

 

Why did the Lord Jesus Christ constantly refer to himself as Òthe Son of ManÓ? How can he be both the Son of God and the Son of Man? When our Savior spoke in John 12:34 of the Son of man being lifted up to suffer and die, and yet declared that by means of his death he would save men and women throughout the world, the people who heard it were confused. — ÒThe people answered him, we have heard out of the law that Christ abideth forever.Ó You say that you are the Christ, the Messiah. ÒAnd how sayest thou, the Son of man must be lifted upÓ to die upon the cursed tree? ÒWho is this Son of man?Ó That is the question I want to answer in this message. To find the answer to this question, ÒWho is this Son of man?Ó we must search the Scriptures, taking the Word of God alone as our source of information, asking God the Holy Spirit, whose Word this is, to be our Teacher.

 

Proposition: As it is used in the New Testament, the term ÒSon of manÓ never refers to anyone except the God-man, our Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. This term, ÒThe Son of man,Ó always refers to the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Mediator between God and men.

 

Divisions: The question is asked, ÒWho is this Son of man?Ó To find the answer to this question we will consult withÉ

1.    Christ Himself

2.    His Disciples

3.    His Enemies

 

Hear the Savior

 

ÒWho is this Son of man?Ó First, let the Son of man himself tell us who he is. — Of the eighty-eight times this term, Òthe Son of man,Ó is used in the New Testament, eighty-four times it was uttered by the Lord Jesus Christ in reference to himself. Who better than he can tell us who he is?

 

John 5:19-27

 

ÒThen answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.Ó (John 5:19-27)

 

In these verses our Lord calls himself Òthe Son,Ó Òthe Son of God,Ó and Òthe Son of manThis alone is enough to assure us that there is no contradiction between the titles ÒSon of GodÓ and ÒSon of man.Ó Both names refer to the same person, the Lord Jesus Christ. The one refers to his Divinity and the other to his humanity. Our Savior is both God and man, as truly God as though he were not man, and as truly man as though he were not God, the GODMAN!

 

John 6:62ÒWhat and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?Ó (See John 17:1-5).

 

ÒThese words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.Ó (John 17:1-5)

 

The Lord Jesus here declares that he existed in heaven as the Son of man before he came into the world in our nature. Though his human body and soul were created in time, he was the Son of man, our Mediator, the Surety of the everlasting covenant from eternity. He was, in the mind and purpose of God, the Son of man before any man was made. He says to the Father, — ÒMy substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect (unmade, uncreated); and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there were none of themÓ (Psalm 139:15-17).

 

John 3:13Our Savior said to Nicodemus, ÒNo man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man, which is in heaven.Ó Even while he was upon the earth, in human flesh, the Son of man was the omnipresent Son of God. His humanity, his physical form, can only be in one place at a time. Yet, he is God, everywhere present at all times. Did you get that? Our Mediator, the Son of Man, is the Lord, Jehovah, our God, omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent!

á      This One who is the Son of man is God, the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28).

á      He is the Son of man and the Son of God, who has power on earth to forgive sin (Luke 5:17-26).

 

ÒAnd it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.Ó (Luke 5:17-26)

 

Matthew 25:31ÒThe Son of man shall come in his glory, and all his holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.Ó The Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost. The Son of man came to minister and to give his life a ransom for many. The Son of man lived for us. The Son of man died for us. The Son of man arose, ascended back into heaven, and sat down in glorious exaltation on our behalf. The Son of man is making intercession for us. The Son of man rules the world for us. The Son of man has opened a way of access to God for sinful men, by the blood of his cross. The Son of man is coming again in glory. The Son of man is our Savior. And the Son of man is the Son of God!

 

Hear His Disciples

 

ÒWho is this Son of man?Ó — WeÕve heard the Savior answer the question. Now, secondly, letÕs hear what his disciples have said about him. Whenever our LordÕs disciples thought of him as the Son of man, or heard him call himself by that name, they never looked upon it as a pretty title, implying only that he was a good man, a prophet, a miracle worker or a social reformer. To the disciples this title, Òthe Son of man,Ó implied authority, exaltation, glory, power, dominion and tenderness.

 

The Apostle Peter certainly understood the title Òthe Son of ManÓ to be a title just as noble, honorable, and distinct as the title Òthe Son of God.Ó When the Lord Jesus called himself Òthe Son of GodÓ Peter called him Òthe Son of Man,Ó and the Savior took PeterÕs confession as an honor done to him by Peter (Matthew 16:13-17).

 

ÒWhen Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.Ó (Matthew 16:13-17)

 

The writer of Hebrews used this title, Òthe Son of ManÓ to ascribe glory to Christ, the Son of God (Hebrews 1:1-3, 6-9; 2:6-9).

 

(Hebrews 1:1-3) ÒGod, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.Ó

 

(Hebrews 1:6-9) ÒAnd again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. 7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.Ó

 

(Hebrews 2:6-9) ÒBut one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? 7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.Ó

 

Stephen, the first martyr, saw the Lord Jesus standing, as Òthe Son of ManÓ at the right hand of God (Acts 7:54-59).

 

(Acts 7:54-59) Ò When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young manÕs feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.Ó

 

ÒWho is this Son of man?Ó — His disciples tell us that he is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God. His disciples tell us that he is the exalted, sovereign Savior of the sons of Abraham, GodÕs elect, touched with the feeling of our infirmities, able to help us, always delighted to call us his brethren, determined to save us. His disciple, Stephen, that blessed martyr, tells us that he is a faithful friend and our faithful God!

 

Hear His Enemies

 

ÒWho is this Son of man?Ó Let us now consult with his enemies, and hear what they have to say. Our great God, in his wise and adorable providence, makes even the enemies of his Son to be witnesses for his Son.

 

The Jews in our text (John 12:31-34) understood that the Messiah would be called Òthe Son of manÓ (See Psalm 80:17; Daniel 7:13-14).

 

(Psalms 80:17) ÒLet thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.Ó

 

(Daniel 7:13-14) ÒI 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. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.Ó

 

Those Jews who raised this question, ÒWho is this Son of Man?Ó looked upon the terms ÒSon of GodÓ and ÒSon of manÓ as synonymous terms. When they heard the Lord of glory call himself the ÒSon of man,Ó they understood his meaning to be ÒI am God.Ó Therefore, they crucified him (Matthew 26:63-67).

 

(Matthew 26:63-67) ÒBut Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. 64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. 66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. 67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands.Ó

 

When they said, ÒThou, being a man, makest thyself GodÓ (John 10:33), the Lord Jesus replied, ÒSay ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, thou blashpemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?Ó (John 10:36).

 

ÒWho is this Son of man?Ó — He is God over all and blessed forever. And he is man, bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. There is no lack of efficacy in his blood and no lack of power in his grace. He can save to the uttermost all who come to God by him. Trust him and you will find his grace sufficient for you.

 

Ten Reasons

 

Still the question needs to be answered, ÒWhy is the Lord Jesus Christ called Ôthe Son of man?ÕÓ To the best of my very limited ability I have shown you who the Son of man is. Now, let me wrap this message up by showing you why the Lord of glory is called Òthe Son of man.Ó Let me give you ten reasons. They are worth writing down and remembering.

 

1.    Christ is called the Son of man because he is the original man.

 

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the man who is the image of the invisible God, in whose image and after whose likeness man was made in the beginning. God created Adam in the image of Christ, that man who was to come, who is the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3).

 

(Genesis 1:26-27) ÒAnd God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.Ó

 

(Colossians 1:15) ÒWho is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.Ó

 

(Hebrews 1:3) ÒWho being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.Ó

 

á      His Moral Image – Upright and Righteous.

á      His Physical Image – Erect Manhood.

á      His Authoritative Image – Dominion.

á      His Mediatoral Image – A Representative.

 

2.    The Lord Jesus is called the Son of man because he is the representative man.

 

He is the last Adam, the second Man, the Lord from heaven, as such he is distinguished from the first man, the first Adam, who was of the earth, earthy (1 Corinthians 15:45, 47).

 

(1 Corinthians 15:45-47) ÒAnd so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.Ó

 

In all things Christ is the Surety, the Representative, the Mediator, the Substitute of an elect race, just as Adam was the representative of all our physical race in the garden (Romans 5:12-19).

 

(Romans 5:12-19) ÒWherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of AdamÕs transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one manÕs offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one manÕs disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.Ó

 

3.    Our Savior is called the Son of man because he is the prophesied Man.

 

He is the man of whom all the prophets spoke, the man who is GodÕs equal (Psalm 89:19; Isaiah 9:6; 32:2; 53:1-12; Zechariah 13:7).

 

(Psalms 89:19) ÒThen thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.Ó

 

(Isaiah 9:6) ÒFor unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.Ó

 

(Isaiah 32:2) ÒAnd a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.Ó

 

(Isaiah 53:1-12) ÒWho hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 ¦ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 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. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 ¦ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.Ó

 

(Zechariah 13:7) ÒAwake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.Ó

 

4.    The Lord Jesus Chris is called the Son of man because he is the ideal man.

 

He is the only man who ever perfectly fulfilled GodÕs will and fulfilled the purpose of God in creating man. That purpose was and is threefold:

á      To Live in Righteousness

á      To Glorify God

á      To Have Dominion over GodÕs Creation

 

In Christ we fulfill GodÕs purpose for manhood (Genesis 1:26-28). ÒWe see not yetÉbut we see Jesus.Ó

 

(Genesis 1:26-28) ÒAnd God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.Ó

 

5.    Our Redeemer is called the Son of man because he is the justice satisfying man.

 

No mortal could ever satisfy the justice of God. Not all the race of manhood could satisfy GodÕs offended justice for sin. But the Son of man, with one tremendous draft of love, drank damnation dry, when he suffered the wrath of God in our place. — ÒIt pleased the Lord to bruise himÓ (Isaiah 53:9). — He gave himself Òfor us and offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savorÓ (Ephesians 5:2).

 

6.    Christ Jesus is called the Son of man because he is the exalted man (Philippians 2:9-11).

 

(Philippians 2:1-11) ÒIf there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Ó

 

ÒThe head that once was crowned with thorns

Is crowned with glory now.

A royal diadem adorns

The mighty VictorÕs brow!Ó

                                                                                                                                                —Isaac Watts

 

7.    Our great Savior is called the Son of man because he is the GODMAN.

 

God could not suffer. God could not die.

And man could never satisfy.

But Christ, the God-man suffered and died.

And He GodÕs justice satisfied!

 

8.    The Lord Jesus is called the Son of man because he is the saving Man.

 

The Son of man is the Savior of men. — ÒThe Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lostÓ (Luke 19:10).

 

9.    Christ Jesus is called the Son of man because he is the coming Man. ÒThe Son of man cometh!Ó (Matthew 24:44; 25:13; Luke 12:40; 18:8)

á      To Save His Own.

á      To Judge The World.

á      To Finish His Work.

 

10. And our dear Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is called the Son of man because he is the sympathizing Man (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15; 5:2; 7:25).

(Hebrews 2:17-18) ÒWherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.Ó

 

(Hebrews 4:15-16) Ò15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.Ó

 

(Hebrews 5:2) ÒWho can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.Ó

 

(Hebrews 7:25) ÒWherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.Ó

 

ÒA Man there is, a real Man,

With wounds still gaping wide,

From which rich streams of blood once ran,

In hands, and feet, and side.

 

ÔTis no wild fancy of our brains,

No metaphor we speak,

The same dear Man in heaven now reigns

That suffered for our sake.

 

This wondrous Man of whom I tell,

Is the almighty God;

He bought our souls from death and hell;

The price, His own heartÕs blood.

 

That human heart He still retains,

Though throned in highest bliss;

And feels each tempted memberÕs pains;

For our afflictionÕs His.

 

Come, then, repenting sinner, come,

Approach with humble faith;

Owe what thou wilt, the total sum

Is cancelled by His death.

 

His blood can cleanse the blackest soul,

And wash our guilt and sin away;

He will present us sound and whole,

In that tremendous day!Ó

                                                —Joseph Hart

 

Why is Christ called the Son of man? He is called the Son of manÉ

á      So that lost men might look to him, the God-man, for grace and life.

á      So that believing men might look to him, the God-man, for comfort and peace.

 

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

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