The Man Who Is More Than A Man

The Man Who Is More Than A Man

"...Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" - Jesus Christ

Throughout the Gospels, the Lord Jesus Christ referred to Himself as "the Son of man." In fact, it is documented that He did so 31 times in the Book of Matthew...14 times in Mark...25 times in Luke... and 13 times in John.

For a title to be repeated 83 times in all would be a sure indicator that this was His favorite title of self-designation.

From whence did He derive such a form of address?

Commentators all agree that Daniel 7:13 was the background for His choice - "I 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." Here the Prophet was referring to the Messiah Who would rule God's universal and eternal kingdom.

Why this particular title?

"Son of man" - in the Aramaic - referred generally to man or was used as a reference to one's self -

" I ." It was a way for the speaker to speak of himself modestly and humbly.

Jesus used this title in order to reveal as well as to conceal. As "the Son of man," He was mortal...a man born of a woman...and One headed for suffering and death. But what most did not realize was that this particular title concealed Who He really was - that is, until the time had come for His unveiling - He was born of a virgin...the One and Only Messiah...Immanuel - God with us...and the Incarnate One Who became a man to carry out God's service to save mankind from their sins.

This expression - which flowed from His lips more than anyone else's - was meant to conceal His exact claims until after His death and resurrection. Instead of directly coming out and saying to the people - "I am the Messiah" - He referred to Himself - using the title mentioned by the Prophet Daniel. In doing so, the Jews would hopefully and prayerfully get the point.

He used this expression while describing His earthly ministry -

Matthew 8:20 - "...The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head."

Matthew 9:6 - "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins..."

Matthew 11:19 - "The Son of man came eating and drinking..."

Matthew 12:8 - "For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day."

Matthew 13:37 - "...He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man."

Matthew 16:13 - "...Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?"

Matthew 18:11 - "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost."

He used it in referring to His suffering, death on the Cross, burial, and resurrection -

Matthew 12:40 - "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

Matthew 17:9 - "...Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead."

Matthew 17:22 - "...The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men."

Matthew 20:18 - "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death."

And He also used it in referring to His Second Coming -

Matthew 16:27 - "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels..."

Matthew 24:27 - "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

Matthew 25:31 - "When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory."

Matthew 26:64 - "...Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."

"...Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" (Matthew 16:13)

It is interesting to note that the devil and the demons never referred to Jesus as "the Son of man" but as "the Son of God" -

Matthew 4:3 - "And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If Thou be the Son of God..."

Matthew 8:29 - "And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God? art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?"

In Matthew 16:16, it is recorded that Peter received a revelation from the Father as to Whom Jesus really was - "...Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God."

"...Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" (Matthew 16:13)

"...But whom say ye that I am?" (Matthew 16:15)

Many in our world today think of Jesus as a mere man.

He called Himself "The Son of Man" for a special time and in order to fulfill a designated purpose.

However, He is the "Man Who is more than a man."

In fact, He is - "...the Christ, the Son of the Living God" - He is God

How is it that the demons have more sense than most men today?

The Apostle James said - "...the devils also believe, and tremble"(James 2:19).

The reason why they tremble is because they know that Jesus is more than a man.

They recognize that He is God in the flesh - the very Son of God.

"...Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?"

"...But whom say ye that I am?

After reading this message, may your life never be the same again - simply because you have no doubt as to Who Jesus truly is - God in the flesh.

Hence, let's give Him - and Him alone - our worship!

Connie

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