Son of Man

What does it mean to be truly human? What was the original creative purpose for man? What does it mean to live spontaneously as a human being? Our definition for "human" is so often just an excuse for our deep sense of failure and of our falling short of our true design and creative purpose. I believe that an understanding of true "humaneness" is the key to living free and spontaneous according to our true design!

Increasingly, humanity's response is to throw off all yokes and laws in order to find this illusive "higher life", some turn to drugs, fame, sex, money and all sorts, only to discover that when you live contrary to your true design, your new found "freedom" is short lived and becomes a harder slave master than the one(s) you threw off! A fish will always be only free if it stays within the water! Unfortunately most humans associate God and Jesus with religion or religious activities and therefore have become almost immune to the only antidote to lawlessness- a relationship with Jesus! Only in a relationship with Him find the human being completeness and fulfillment.

Jesus came to earth not only to demonstrate God, but also to demonstrate true humanity-He came as the last Adam and as the Second Man! In Him we see our true purpose and design. The title "Son of Man" is the one Jesus chose to use most when referring to Himself, much more than any other title, including the title "Son of God". I believe He was trying to spell out to His "human" followers His total identification with humanity even in their sinful condition. That is also the meaning of His baptism by John the Baptist which was a baptism of sinners unto repentance-That baptism prophesied about His "baptism" on the cross when His total identification with humanity would reach it's climax!

The title "Son of Man " is first used in Daniel 7 in the Old Testament; "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (vv 13-14) This "son of man" appears to be a corporate entity as explained to Daniel by the angel; "I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: ... But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever--yes, for ever and ever"(vv.17-18). Paul refers to this in 1Cor. 6:2-3 when he says;"Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!" and John heard the same message in Revelation 2:26-27 " To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations--
'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery' -- just as I have received authority from my Father."

At the heart of this title lies the revelation of humanity's origins in God, but also the revelation of humanity's authority in it's association and identification with Jesus! May we understand what Jesus tried to get through to Peter when He said; "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matt 16:14-19) Jesus was trying to show His disciples that true authority was linked to humanity discovering their true origin and identity-the son of man is the son of God! He wanted them to "see" their true identity in the "pefect law of liberty". Faith is to see what God sees and to acknowledge His work in us.

A revelation of our origin in Christ will bring about a perfect balance between authority and humility. "The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
Joh 13:3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;
Joh 13:4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
Joh 13:5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped"(John 13:2-5) around him.Jesus knew His origin and that is why He could serve His disciples, even the one who was about to betray Him!