The New Testament has Jesus & others referring to the Christ as the “Son of Man” 82 times. The one instance of the phrase being used to refer to mankind is where the author of Hebrews quotes Psalms (Heb. 2:6). Even in Christ’s post-ascension realm (Heaven), He is titled in this way (Acts 7:56), as well as described in His appearance this way (Rev. 1:13, 14:14).
Matthew 16:13-16 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
This shows the frequency Jesus has taken this title at this point in His ministry, for He first of all asks the question referring to Himself in the third person, but His disciples knew who He was talking about. “Son of Man” does firstly speak to His full acceptance of a humble human existence, but note the Spirit has Peter speaking of Him as the “Son of the living God” as well. This further confirms the doctrine of Jesus as fully man and fully God concurrently, for both claims are present tense. His standing as “Son of God” was not subsequent to His measure of obedience as the “Son of Man”, despite the heresy of some false teachers.
“Son of Man” is used 12 times prior to Ezekiel; generally in the same manner that Hebrews 2:6 uses it- to refer to the pale banality of man in comparison with God. The phrase proclaims the humility of man, & Jesus had great humility as He trudged towards a cross He would bear for the sin of others. But in the light of Christ, we perceive Ezekiel as a prophetic type of Christ. The expression’s usage spikes tremendously in the book of Ezekiel. The phrase is used in almost every chapter & is introduced in chapter 2:
Ezekiel 1:28-2:10 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking. (1) And he said to me, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you." (2) And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. (3) And he said to me, "Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. (Matt. 15:24) They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. (4) The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.' (5) And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. (6) And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. (7) And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house. (8) "But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you." (9) And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. (10) And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.
As Isaiah 52-53 describes, Jesus’ earthly ministry was one filled with “lamentation and mourning and woe.” The OT is filled with fractional archetypes of the coming Christ, though it should be noted that none expressed the fullness of the Christ alone. David & Boaz foretold a measure of Christ's authority & power, while Joseph & Ezekiel foreshadowed a degree of His suffering, humility, & weakness in the face of unrepentant sin for the sake of love.
Ezekiel 3:25-27 And you, O son of man, behold, cords will be placed upon you, and you shall be bound with them, so that you cannot go out among the people. And I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and unable to reprove them, for they are a rebellious house. But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.' He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.
Anyone familiar with Jesus' ministry can see the parallels between these two “Son of Man” ministers. Ezekiel was likewise tasked with speaking a hard message to a rebellious generation.
Daniel 7:13-14 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. (14) And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
The "son of man" is the subject of this passage, but verse 14 makes clear this is no ordinary man. "Son of man" refers to a human & was Jesus' favorite self-title in the course of His ministry, but "all peoples ...serving him" can only refer to God alone. Thus, the dual nature of the Christ in O.T. prophecy.
John 5:24-27 "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man."
Both the Son of God & Son of Man in one Person...
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Workplace Equality
John 5:16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. (17) But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." (18) This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (19) So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
Non-Trinitarians often trumpet this last verse to speak against the concept of Jesus’ Godliness. Of course they must rip it from its context to do so, for in many other places in this chapter Jesus clearly verifies the Jews’ view that He is claiming to be God in a fleshly form.
But I speak insincerely when I say “in many other places” for this verse, when more closely examined, exalts the glory of Christ as well.
In all truth, non-believers in Christ do not even let the full context of the verse speak to their heart. They dwell on “the Son can do nothing of his own accord,” & miss the pertinence of the next phrase- "but only what he sees the Father doing." Jesus speaks in the present tense as He references His vision of all the Father is presently doing. He fully & continuously perceives the workings of His Father in all His glory. As mere men, we are blind to the day to day workings of the Father in our midst, but Jesus was privy to all the Father’s labor; for as John 1:1-2 says, He "was with God." His extraordinary intimacy with the Father, in that He Himself was God as well, allowed extraordinary knowledge of His Father’s work.
"For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise." Jesus’ equivalent nature drove His equivalent work. And Jesus’ equivalent ability allowed His equivalent work. It is only because He had the same character & ability as the Father that He was driven to & capable of “likewise” work. Indeed, the reason the Son could do “nothing of His own accord” was because of the fact that He was God as well. Witness Jesus' own line of thought in Mark 12-
Mark 12:28-37 "And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the most important of all?" (29) Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. (30) And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' (31) The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (32) And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. (33) And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." (34) And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. (35) And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? (36) David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, "'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.' (37) David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?" And the great throng heard him gladly."
Reading Scripture in context helps true understanding greatly. Jesus clearly states “the Lord is one,” and just as with John 5:19, non believers in the fullness of Christ’s everlasting glory try to corrupt His teaching by taking it out of context. But in both cases, we must ask them “What is the next thing He teaches?”
Just as with our opening text, in Mark 12 Jesus follows the teaching that seems to oppose the idea that He is God with a teaching that reinforces His Godly status. The honest seeker of truth does not divorce one teaching from the other, but marries them together to comprehend Christ’s essence.
The Son cannot work apart from the Father any more than an airplane can fly without its wings. The wings can be looked at & described independently from the fuselage & engine but they are in fact far too integral (intimate) to function apart from one another. Primarily, it is because of their very measure of intimacy that drives their likewise working in the same accord.
The Father, Son, & Spirit dwell together & are absolutely singular in purpose because they are singular in a sort of Godly egalitarianism. Rank & class must exist in this world because some men are better, in terms of knowledge, ability, or character, than other men. Consequently, even those of us who accept the Trinity often feel the need to “rank” the Godhead as well. But the Persons of the Triune God are not like a man with his varying knowledge, ability, & character, for they are all three God. To comprehend the character of Christ is to equally comprehend the character of Father & Spirit as well, for there is no difference.
They are all equal in all measure.
Unlike us, they are all Three perfect in holiness & righteousness & honor; & so all Three are likewise complete in themselves, yet unified as one- in authority, power, & purpose.
Workplace equality may never truly happen with man, but with God it has been the modus operandi since day one- for as the first chapter of Genesis states: “Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”
John 14:10-11 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. (11) Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
Non-Trinitarians often trumpet this last verse to speak against the concept of Jesus’ Godliness. Of course they must rip it from its context to do so, for in many other places in this chapter Jesus clearly verifies the Jews’ view that He is claiming to be God in a fleshly form.
But I speak insincerely when I say “in many other places” for this verse, when more closely examined, exalts the glory of Christ as well.
In all truth, non-believers in Christ do not even let the full context of the verse speak to their heart. They dwell on “the Son can do nothing of his own accord,” & miss the pertinence of the next phrase- "but only what he sees the Father doing." Jesus speaks in the present tense as He references His vision of all the Father is presently doing. He fully & continuously perceives the workings of His Father in all His glory. As mere men, we are blind to the day to day workings of the Father in our midst, but Jesus was privy to all the Father’s labor; for as John 1:1-2 says, He "was with God." His extraordinary intimacy with the Father, in that He Himself was God as well, allowed extraordinary knowledge of His Father’s work.
"For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise." Jesus’ equivalent nature drove His equivalent work. And Jesus’ equivalent ability allowed His equivalent work. It is only because He had the same character & ability as the Father that He was driven to & capable of “likewise” work. Indeed, the reason the Son could do “nothing of His own accord” was because of the fact that He was God as well. Witness Jesus' own line of thought in Mark 12-
Mark 12:28-37 "And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the most important of all?" (29) Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. (30) And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' (31) The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (32) And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. (33) And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." (34) And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. (35) And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? (36) David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, "'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.' (37) David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?" And the great throng heard him gladly."
Reading Scripture in context helps true understanding greatly. Jesus clearly states “the Lord is one,” and just as with John 5:19, non believers in the fullness of Christ’s everlasting glory try to corrupt His teaching by taking it out of context. But in both cases, we must ask them “What is the next thing He teaches?”
Just as with our opening text, in Mark 12 Jesus follows the teaching that seems to oppose the idea that He is God with a teaching that reinforces His Godly status. The honest seeker of truth does not divorce one teaching from the other, but marries them together to comprehend Christ’s essence.
The Son cannot work apart from the Father any more than an airplane can fly without its wings. The wings can be looked at & described independently from the fuselage & engine but they are in fact far too integral (intimate) to function apart from one another. Primarily, it is because of their very measure of intimacy that drives their likewise working in the same accord.
The Father, Son, & Spirit dwell together & are absolutely singular in purpose because they are singular in a sort of Godly egalitarianism. Rank & class must exist in this world because some men are better, in terms of knowledge, ability, or character, than other men. Consequently, even those of us who accept the Trinity often feel the need to “rank” the Godhead as well. But the Persons of the Triune God are not like a man with his varying knowledge, ability, & character, for they are all three God. To comprehend the character of Christ is to equally comprehend the character of Father & Spirit as well, for there is no difference.
They are all equal in all measure.
Unlike us, they are all Three perfect in holiness & righteousness & honor; & so all Three are likewise complete in themselves, yet unified as one- in authority, power, & purpose.
Workplace equality may never truly happen with man, but with God it has been the modus operandi since day one- for as the first chapter of Genesis states: “Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”
John 14:10-11 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. (11) Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
A Portrait of Intimacy
John 5:16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. (17) But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." (18) This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
Jesus angered the Jews because He did something that no upright man had ever done- call the Father of Heaven His own. Nowhere in the OT is found a righteous man speaking of God in such intimate terms. Even Abraham, though he was blessed to have the closeness of God as he walked & talked with the Lord face to face did not presume to speak to or of God in such a way; rather his attitude was thus- "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes” (Gen 18:27b).
“My Father” bespeaks a warm & close bond with the awesome God of the universe. No fractious man, stained with trespass, could have such closeness to the Father of perfect holiness. Though Jesus is the first man in Scripture to use this phrase in such a way, He does not do so sparingly. Scripture has Him speaking of His Father in this manner 47 times, with it most prevalent in John’s Gospel- twenty-five times, from 2:16 to 20:17, Jesus calls on & speaks of the God of fearsome wrath with the confidence of the dearest of sons.
Too, Jesus leads His disciples into an intimacy with the Father as well. His example of fundamental prayer begins with “Our Father who art in Heaven”. Paul follows Christ’s lead by likewise commencing most of his letters with “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Jesus can lead impure men into such intimacy with the God of pure holiness only because of two precepts. Firstly, His own pure holiness of nature declares His proper place at the preeminent “right hand” of the Father. His position has been settled from everlasting. Consequently, depraved man’s rank of intimacy with a holy & wrathful God can only come through abiding in Jesus Christ- for no one else has the “right hand” of the Father’s fellowship, & no one else has deflected & absorbed the right judgment of the Father for us. Outside of His beloved Son, the Father sees only our filthy rags.
Our Lord is the lone “way” to gain the intimate bond with the Father we seek. Thomas rightly sought to see the Father, but Jesus had to instruct him & us as well, that abiding in Him was the only possible approach. His intimacy & sacrifice alone clear a path to the Father for us; we need only to abide & ride, letting Christ’s intimacy with the Father become the only basis for our intimacy.
John 14:1-11 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (2) In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (4) And you know the way to where I am going." (5) Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" (6) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (7) If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." (8) Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." (9) Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (10) Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. (11) Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
Throughout His life, Jesus humbly walked as a man to know our every toil & pain, yet even at age twelve, He was most intimate with His Heavenly Father...
Luke 2:46-49 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. (47) And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. (48) And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." (49) And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
Even then, He desired intimacy with His truest Father. Even then, Jesus alone spoke of the remarkable God of all creation as "my Father".
Jesus angered the Jews because He did something that no upright man had ever done- call the Father of Heaven His own. Nowhere in the OT is found a righteous man speaking of God in such intimate terms. Even Abraham, though he was blessed to have the closeness of God as he walked & talked with the Lord face to face did not presume to speak to or of God in such a way; rather his attitude was thus- "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes” (Gen 18:27b).
“My Father” bespeaks a warm & close bond with the awesome God of the universe. No fractious man, stained with trespass, could have such closeness to the Father of perfect holiness. Though Jesus is the first man in Scripture to use this phrase in such a way, He does not do so sparingly. Scripture has Him speaking of His Father in this manner 47 times, with it most prevalent in John’s Gospel- twenty-five times, from 2:16 to 20:17, Jesus calls on & speaks of the God of fearsome wrath with the confidence of the dearest of sons.
Too, Jesus leads His disciples into an intimacy with the Father as well. His example of fundamental prayer begins with “Our Father who art in Heaven”. Paul follows Christ’s lead by likewise commencing most of his letters with “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Jesus can lead impure men into such intimacy with the God of pure holiness only because of two precepts. Firstly, His own pure holiness of nature declares His proper place at the preeminent “right hand” of the Father. His position has been settled from everlasting. Consequently, depraved man’s rank of intimacy with a holy & wrathful God can only come through abiding in Jesus Christ- for no one else has the “right hand” of the Father’s fellowship, & no one else has deflected & absorbed the right judgment of the Father for us. Outside of His beloved Son, the Father sees only our filthy rags.
Our Lord is the lone “way” to gain the intimate bond with the Father we seek. Thomas rightly sought to see the Father, but Jesus had to instruct him & us as well, that abiding in Him was the only possible approach. His intimacy & sacrifice alone clear a path to the Father for us; we need only to abide & ride, letting Christ’s intimacy with the Father become the only basis for our intimacy.
John 14:1-11 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (2) In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (4) And you know the way to where I am going." (5) Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" (6) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (7) If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." (8) Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." (9) Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (10) Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. (11) Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
Throughout His life, Jesus humbly walked as a man to know our every toil & pain, yet even at age twelve, He was most intimate with His Heavenly Father...
Luke 2:46-49 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. (47) And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. (48) And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." (49) And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
Even then, He desired intimacy with His truest Father. Even then, Jesus alone spoke of the remarkable God of all creation as "my Father".
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