How Jesus’ Godhood was prophesied long before His birth.

Today we’re talking about the Son of Man!

The one from the Bible, not this scene from Tarzan. Sorry to disappoint.

Who is the Son of Man?

In Daniel 7, we read a surreal story in which the prophet encounters monstrous beasts emerging from a sea of chaos. 

These beasts wreak havoc on the world until they’re stopped by God. After this, Daniel watches as “one like a son of man” shares in God’s power and is granted authority over the entire world.

The beasts in this chapter represented the empires of Daniel’s day. The Son of Man, on the other hand, is the embodiment of God’s perfect Kingdom, which will one day overcome the evils of Earth.

The Son of Man, then, is a figure who was prophesied to rise among humanity to usher in God’s perfect and good rule.

Is Jesus the Son of Man? 

Jesus frequently referred to Himself as the Son of Man.

A notable example comes in Matthew 9 when Jesus heals a paralyzed man.

Take note of what He says here…

“Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” And the man got up and went home. (Matthew 9v5-7, emphasis added)

Jesus identifies Himself with this authoritative figure that the Jewish people around Him would’ve been familiar with.

The same figure from the book of Daniel.

But how does this make the Son of Man (Jesus) God Himself?

To answer that, let’s look at who the Son of Man was and what He did…

In 1 Corinthians 5v21, the Apostle Paul describes Jesus sinless, stating that it was by this sinlessness that He was able to reconcile God and humanity.

This reconciliation between God and humanity is an integral part of ushering in that perfect Kingdom prophesied about back in Daniel (Revelation 21v3).

And that reconciliation also shows Jesus’ authority over sin, the very authority he spoke about in Matthew 9 when describing His ability to forgive sins.

So, I ask you, could a mere human accomplish such feats?

The Bible is clear, no one is perfect (Romans 3v10) except God Himself (Deuteronomy 32v4).

And it was Jesus’ perfection that made Him accomplish these feats as the Son of Man.

So this claim Jesus makes to be the Son of Man is much more than a claim about being a wise and enlightened prophet…

…it’s a claim to be none other than God incarnate.

More on that tomorrow.

For now, be blessed.

Jon,

Theophilus Newsletter