Who Is Jesus Christ (Part 2)? The Son of Man

My family and I once attended a Barnes and Noble to look for some books for the children. My eyes glanced up to a display of books that are part of a “Who Was…” series (“Who Is…“when it is written about someone who is still living). Some of the people that these book focus on are Albert Einstein, George Washington, Muhammed Ali, etc. I was surprised to find that they had one titled “Who Was Jesus” (there we go with that “was” thing that I had mentioned in Part 1). My curiosity got the best of me and I skimmed a few pages. I wasn’t surprised to find that this Jesus wasn’t born of the Virgin Mary, nor was He God incarnate (or the “Son of God”), but that He was a “good moral teacher”. The title “Son of Man” would be a more fitting description for those who do not know who Jesus truly is or deny His deity. It is better described as His humility, or Him in the human flesh form. This is when Jesus hungered (Matthew 4:2), thirst (John 19:28), cried (John 11:35), and bled (John 19:34). It can also be viewed as a descriptive form of his humility in that he was born of a woman (“man” as a collective representation of “mankind”) and that He was raised by a man in His earthly father Joseph. Jesus also refers to Himself as the Son of Man in that He was claiming to fulfill prophecy as the Messiah. In Daniel 7:13-14 it says “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then 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 the one which shall not be destroyed.” Jesus was essentially saying that He was the one who Daniel prophesied about when He claimed the title the “Son of Man”.

In Part 1 I had briefly touched on the divinity of Jesus with His title “The Son of God”. I had just briefly touched on what it meant when He had called himself the “Son of Man”. However, to grasp these two titles we need to ask the important question: If Jesus is God then why did He come to earth as man? There was once a hit secular song by an artist by the name of Joan Osborne called “One of us”. In the chorus she sings “What if God was one of us? Just a slob like one of us. Just a stranger on the bus. Tryin' to make his way home.” (Some of you are all like “Oh yeah! I remember that song.”) In reality God did endure being a slob like one of us. He could have chosen to remain in Heaven and enjoy all of His glory and praise. But no. He chose to come here as one of us and endure the same hardships that you and I face. He traded His crown for thorns. His royal robe became a robe of blood. Can you imagine the creator of Heaven and Earth hanging on a cross as folks mocked him? Can you imagine trading praises from the heavenly host for jeers and scorn? Why would anyone do that? Why would any God so chose to be humbled in that way?

Philippians 2:5-7 states “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” (NASB). Jesus chose to set aside His place in Heaven and instead come as a humble man. In doing so He did three things: He showed us who God is, became a High Priest, and became the Lamb who was slain. These three things are very important and they deserve a deeper look.

The Mirror of God

Jesus said in John 14:7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” Jesus revealed to us who God is. Studying the life of Jesus we see love, compassion, and mercy as He dealt with the sick and the poor, both physically and spiritually. He didn’t limit himself to just Jews, but even Gentiles (Mark 7:24-30). He said in Mark 2:17 “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” He also showed us righteous anger and judgment as He flipped over tables and chased the money changers out of the temple. We can learn that God too is merciful and desires repentance (2 Peter 3:9), but at the same time will judge those who are living outside of His will, whether saint (Hebrews 12:7-11), or sinner (Matthew 13:41-42).

The High Priest

Hebrews 2:17 states “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” What exactly does this mean? In the Old Covenant the High Priest entered into the Holiest Place in the temple to offer sacrifices for himself, as well as the people of Israel. The most remarkable thing about Jesus is that He was without sin, whereas the High Priest still had to atone for his. “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:14-15). Jesus, in His flesh, felt everything that we do. He walked with nowhere to lay his head. He knew thirst and hunger. He knew ridicule and mockery. He felt pain. He cried. He bled. He died. You get the point. Therefore, as or High Priest, He can have sympathy for what we endure because He endured them too during His pilgrimage here on earth. This He understands as He is our mediator in Heaven before God, as the High Priest was the mediator between God and the people. “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1).

The Lamb Who Was Slain

In 1 Peter 1 it states, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (vv. 18-19). This statement harkens back to the sacrificial lamb that was used by the High Priest during the Day of Atonement. This lamb was to be free of any defects and any spots. In other words, pure and one could say “perfect” for the sacrifice. As I had mentioned earlier from Hebrews 4 that Jesus was without sin. Therefore, He was the perfect sacrifice. Further in Hebrews the author states “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.” (Hebrews 7:25-28).

The verse from Hebrews 7 is a great summary for the point that I am trying to make. Jesus offered up himself as the perfect and final sacrifice. Only the High Priest could do such a thing to intercede for the sins of the people. Jesus acted as the High Priest by offering himself as the final sacrifice to atone for our sins. He continues to act as intercessor through His blood for those who believe on Him. So we see evidence from this verse alone that Jesus was the slain Lamb, as well as the High Priest. But what set him apart from all the other High Priests that His sacrifice was the final one and that God would accept it as that? “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission [of sins]. Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.” (Hebrews 9:22-28).

As High Priest He offered a final sacrifice. But it is a sacrifice whose atonement isn’t for once at a set point per year, but is ongoing for everyone who believes and confesses their sins (Romans 10:9), always interceding on our behalf. This He did as the perfect Lamb because He chose to be the sacrifice in our place because we deserve to die instead for our transgressions. But He, as God the Son, chose to die so that we may live.

I may have briefly touched on Jesus’ divinity in Part 1 and the reasons for His becoming the “Son of Man” this time, but honestly I can’t do such a great truth the justice that it deserves while being brief. Next time I will finish this series by exploring the “Name above all Names”.

When The Flesh Speaks

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30).

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7).

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:12-13).

There was once a man who stood before a storm. He knew the outcome as His eyes were fixed upon the blackened sky. Lightning flashed and He heard the thunder say “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?", and “Crucify Him!” as the spray of human saliva splashes against the face of The Rock. Lightning strikes the flesh again. Spitting, taunting, cursing, and beating. The storm was beginning to take shape.

He was led before the crowd as the jeering thunder continued to roar. Then a new sound was introduced. The sound of whips creating a division in the air around Him. His skin began to split like the air around Him. Again. Over and over. Again. Slice, split, crack. Blood splattered all over the earth beneath Him. All over the guards who enjoyed the punishing mockery. Some in the crowd even felt the crimson droplets. “No!” cried His flesh. “Not again!” it cried out. His flesh competed with the screams of His mother Mary. “No!” They would shout. Louder and louder, as if competing to see who could shout the loudest. “Please make them stop!” His flesh would shout. His back recognized no pure, untouched, unstained skin. His flesh cried “Enough already”. Then he fell on his back. It was over. Or was it?

“No! Father please make them stop!” The flesh would scream as they began tearing apart his chest. The air around would cower and make room for the whips as they cracked upon the ribs and the breast bone. The flesh begged for mercy, but they did not hear. Or maybe they did hear, and just wanted to hear the flesh scream for mercy. The sight of the crimson excited them. “Finally, He is ours. His pain is ours!” Both sides of His body were unrecognizable. No flesh should ever appear this way. Covered in His blood, and the tears of His damaged body. “No more! No more please!” His flesh cried.

“No more! I cannot take this anymore!” His flesh screamed as numerous thorns dug into the skin of his brow. More beating. The precious blood flowed. Exhaustion. The flesh was weakened. “I cannot go on!” His flesh said. “I’m done.”

Arise! Arise my Lord! The time has come to carry your cross. The flesh rolls its eyes into the back of it’s head, trying to muster the strength to go on. “I can’t do this. God, I just cannot do this.” But He knew the will of His Father. He, The Spirit, persuaded the flesh that this prophesy needed to be fulfilled. The world needed this. “Let us be going.” The Son thought to the flesh.

A blood curdling scream can be heard from the flesh. “How can this be?” it thought. “How can I go through this? I cannot possibly have the strength to survive this.” The flesh may have felt deceived by The One who loved Him. “My Father has forsaken me!” the flesh shouted. Shouted so loudly, that it permeated The Savior’s spirit and came from His lips as the nails were driven in. “How much more can I take? How much more will you put me through God? I cannot take this weight anymore! I cannot go on!” His flesh would say. Exit the spirit. It is finished. “I am dead. I am done.” the flesh spoke.

Christian, what is the state of your flesh? Is the weight of fear causing your flesh to crush your spirit? Are you crying out “I cannot take this anymore! Please God make this stop.”?
What is it that is whipping you?

Is it divorce? Is the preceding your judgment? Is the judge your Pontius Pilate? Every accusation another lashing with the whip? Every demand another beating with a reed? Is your head hurting from the thorns? Is the custody battle of the children the nails that hang you up on your cross? “Please God make this stop! I cannot take this anymore!” your flesh cries.

Is it illness? As you stand before the doctor, what judgment will he give your flesh? What will the fate be? Medications, visits, injections, bills…are all your whips. The mental anguish of your illness and the financial blows surrounds your head like a crown of thorns. Has the progress been your nails? Getting worse are you? Have you been condemned to death? “Please God make this stop! I cannot take this anymore!” your flesh cries.

Is it finances? Bills upon bills are coming in. You don’t even want to check your mail anymore. The phone is ringing off the hook. It is them. The accusers. The bill collectors. They hound and insult you. You can almost hear them shouting “Crucify him”. Your flesh cries “Please stop! No more, please!”. But all you hear is the cracks of the whips as your flesh fights a losing battle. Bills come in, but there is no money to match. Then things start disappearing. You feel the pressure of the thorns as they tow away your car. You feel the nails being driven in as your lights go out. Then it is finished…you no longer have a home. “Please God make this stop! I cannot take this anymore!” your flesh cries.

Is it your past mistakes? Or current sins? When you sleep at night, do you sleep lightly? Do you sleep at all? Do you toss and turn, only to look down and see the monsters peering up at you from under your bed? Do the skeletons come out of your closet to play? These beasts, or demons, are they tormenting your every thought and shortening your every breath? Are they whipping you? Alcohol? Drugs? Abortion? Fornication? Adultery? Abuse? Can you not move past regrets and forgive yourself? “Crucify him” they shout. The pressure is mounting as the crown is beat down over your head. As your life shatters, you may feel like you are being crucified. Like the weight of your body is being suspended by only three nails. “Please God make this stop! I cannot take this anymore!” your flesh cries.

I am not even going to inquire about the condition of your spirit. If you feel this way and your flesh is begging for mercy, then your spirit has been grieved. It has been overrun by the pressures of the world, and therefore welcoming the power of the flesh. Christ Himself even said "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34). I am sure this cry has left your lips during the time of trial and suffering. But what can you do to turn this around? Your situation? No. Because this trial is not guaranteed to get any better. And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39). This is not according to your will, but The Father’s will. It is up to Him whether or not your trial shall pass. I am talking about turning around your outlook. Getting your spirit to silence the flesh. So what are you to do? As the song says:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
(“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”, Helen H. Lemmel)

If your whips belong to finances, illness, and trial, understand that some cases may be by God’s hand, some are by our own. But the fire is by His will. To refine and strengthen us in our relationship with Him, as we will learn to rely on Him. If you are saved, but cannot escape your past trespasses, you need to forgive yourself as you have been forgiven. If you are being punished by current sins, then you need to repent and nail them to the cross.

Compare yourself to what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ endured during the last moments of His life. He knew the storm. He knew the outcome. He faced it with the diligence that pushed Him to carry His cross upon His back up the mountain to Calvary, even in the state of weakened flesh. Punishing whipping crashed upon His flesh amidst insults and jeers. To the extent that He inquired as to why God had forsaken Him. But He knew that this was God’s will, and that His Father knew what He was doing. God’s glory was the purpose for this, along with saving the world from sin. You may ask, “What I am going through won’t save anyone from their sins.” My friend, if you hold to God’s promises, you will praise His name when you make it through. This will be a testimony before fallen men and sinners. Your story could very well cause a non-believer who is going through a storm to repent and accept Christ as his savior. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Even though He endured this storm, and His flesh cried out against the lashings of the whips, He managed to utter “It is finished.” (John 19:30). But not as an end all death. Remember my friends, Christ has risen. He came back to life for the glory of God. So it is not over until God gets the glory. There is a reason why you must drink from this cup. He knows the reason, and all you can do is rely on Him and lean on Him. It will soon be finished. Look upon Jesus Christ to strengthen your spirit when the flesh speaks.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7).


Love In Christ!

If your flesh is crying out, and you do not have a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, and would like to know Him, then you are ready for salvation. You must deny yourself and confess your sins, repent of your sins, and ask for forgiveness.

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23).…because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:9-13). For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).

Please pray the following prayer:

“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”