Concluding Mark #3 More on "Son of Man"
| For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. (Romans5:7) |
The Biblical Book that uses the phrase "Son of Man" even more than the gospels do is Ezekiel. There it means "Mortal Man" as some of the older translations put it. I think this is part of the reason that Jesus used the phrase. He was emphasising the incarnation. He was the "Word made Flesh".
But in His trial Jesus brings another emphasis when He quotes from Daniel 7: "You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." This powerfully brings together the idea of "Mortal Man" and "Messiah"
Other Messianic titles like Messiah, King, Son of David were politically loaded - Jesus chooses a title that is Messianic, but conveys His mission. "The Son of man came not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom to many."
Paul develops a similar thought using a different analogy. He talks about Jesus as a kind of "Second Adam" and in Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15 he talks about how Jesus' death and resurrection open a new way for us.
When we combine this with John's idea of the "Word became flesh and dwelt among us" we start to see the huge significance of the Incarnation.
We have a God who came to live among us and rescue us.
HALLELUJAH!
