Who is the Son of Man?
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me… (Ezekiel 3:17)
There are two people to whom Son of Man is referred. Ezekiel and Jesus. Ezekiel was a prophet and lived a prophet’s life: intimate with GOD; a challenged and painful existence; one given great authority from GOD to the Hebrew people. He did not call himself son of man, but GOD did, repeatedly.
Jesus: Son of Man
But what did Jesus mean when He called Himself son of man?
“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)
Jesus did not elevate Himself above others any more than Ezekiel did. Certainly He recognised the authority of GOD and the Holy Spirit.
“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” (John 5:30)
Jesus’ lifestyle
“And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.””(Matthew 8:20)
“But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” —then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” (Matthew 9:6)
“”For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.”” (Matthew 18:11)
Lest anyone wonder if Jesus is speaking of Himself when He refers to Son of Man, He also said,
“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40)
And so, what did He mean? I think He meant simply as He refers when He washed the disciples’ feet: He is the servant of man.
This is why He instructed the disciples, “So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:12-17)
And He instructs us to do likewise.
Jesus is a servant to the people
‘A servant is not greater than his master’. As His master is GOD, Creator, Yehovah, so too GOD is our master.
We model ourselves from Jesus; therefore, we are servants to others just as He is a servant to others.
But what do we do to serve? We are not doormats. We love and serve… but how?
Washing of Others’ Feet
To serve is to suffer for others. To serve is to humble oneself. It is a tall order.
We follow Jesus
2 replies on “Jesus: Son of Man”
Shalom Sarah, Jonah was in the belly of the fish, because he refused Elohim’s commission to inform the Ninevites to repent, thinking because they are Gentiles and not Adoni’s chosen people, Noah had an issue with washing the feet of those who Adonia wanted to repent, especially if!!! they repented from their sins against Adonia!!! then they would become his grafted in brothers and sisters.
However, Yeshua – Jesus said not My will but Yours be done, regarding that which Elohim’s purpose created Him to fulfil, after His death on the cross, He through the Spirit went to preach to the spirits in prison.
I don’t know anyone other than Jesus Sarah, who would go into Hades the abode of the dead… However, we are called to go among those who are spiritually dead, with the gospel so they may repent of their sins against Adonia. Remember when Saul – Paul asked Adonia to stop the messengers of Satan from stinging him, Adonia simply replied My grace is all you need, just humble yourself to overcome these stings… I like washing the feet of Judas? I love your ready pen, Sarah.
Shalom always and for all ways…
Kenny
Wonderful Sarah!
For me, THIS is the best piece of writing, that i’ve read of yours, thus far.
Not just Christocentric, but also, with it’s emphasis on the Truth that Christ is our ‘Role Model,’ the most practically relevant, to our day-to-day lives, pure and simple.
As He did, so should we His followers do, yet thousands, perhaps millions of churchgoers, don’t even KNOW Messiah’s Teachings, in any detail, let alone PRACTICE them, in daily life.
Practice them SEVEN days a week, as well, not just ‘one-in-seven’ (THAT’s “Churchianity,” NOT “CHRISTianity!”)
And Yes, the Son of Man came to “Serve, not to be served,” so therefore we must do that too, whatever the cost to ourselves, as you rightly emphasise.
Beyond all of that (Christ’s obedient Work for God His Father, to/with others) it is ALSO written that “The Son of Man was made manifest, to DESTROY the works of the devil.”
Hallelujah to the Lamb of God, and well done you.
FIRST Class!