Turning the page…
Turning the page…
Glory · Jesus Christ
Jesus wears two titles that seem to pull in opposite directions: Son of God and Son of Man. One declares His divinity, the other His full humanity, and Scripture insists on both, because a Savior who can stand between God and us must be truly God and truly one of us. The church's confession of Christ has always been both at once.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/why-is-jesus-both-son-of-god-and-son-of-man · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
John 5:19-30
As you read: Jesus speaks as the Son of God, and in the same breath calls Himself the Son of Man with authority to judge.
19Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.
20For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
21For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.
22For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son,
23that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.
24“Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
25Most certainly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live.
26For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.
27He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.
28Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear his voice,
29and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.
30I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.
Hebrews 1:1-9
As you read: The opening of Hebrews: the Son is the appointed heir of all things, the exact imprint of God's nature, addressed as God.
1God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
2has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.
3His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
4having become so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they have.
5For to which of the angels did he say at any time, “You are my Son. Today have I become your father?” and again, “I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?”
6When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.”
7Of the angels he says, “Who makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire.”
8But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.
9You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.”
Hebrews 2:5-9
As you read: The same Son is the man Jesus, crowned with glory through suffering, tasting death for everyone.
5For he didn’t subject the world to come, of which we speak, to angels.
6But one has somewhere testified, saying, “What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him?
7You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor.
8You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don’t see all things subjected to him, yet.
9But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.
Luke 1:30-35
As you read: Gabriel declares both: the child will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Holy Spirit will come on Mary so the holy one born will be called the Son of God.
30The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and give birth to a son, and will call his name ‘Jesus.’
32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David,
33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”
34Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”
35The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.
Mark 14:60-64
As you read: The two titles meet in one answer: asked if He is the Son of the Blessed, Jesus answers that He is, and they will see the Son of Man coming with the clouds.
60The high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it which these testify against you?”
61But he stayed quiet, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
62Jesus said, “I am. You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of the sky.”
63The high priest tore his clothes, and said, “What further need have we of witnesses?
64You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” They all condemned him to be worthy of death.
Gabriel announces the child as the Son of the Most High, and in the next breath says He will sit on the throne of David. At the baptism, the Father calls Him 'my beloved Son.' And before the high priest, asked, 'Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?' Jesus answered yes, and immediately named Himself the Son of Man coming with the clouds. The two titles belong to one Person.
“He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David,”Luke 1:32
“The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.”Luke 1:35
“A voice came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.””Mark 1:11
“But he stayed quiet, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus said, “I am. You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of the sky.””Mark 14:61-62
Hebrews opens with the Son as the appointed heir of all things, the radiance of God's glory, the exact imprint of God's nature, and it quotes the Father's own words to Him: 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.' Jesus taught that the Son does the Father's works and is honored just as the Father is honored. As the Son of God, He is God's equal.
“has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”Hebrews 1:2-3
“For to which of the angels did he say at any time, “You are my Son. Today have I become your father?” and again, “I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?””Hebrews 1:5
“But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.”Hebrews 1:8
“Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.”John 5:19
“For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son,”John 5:22
“that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.”John 5:23
The same Jesus is the Son of Man, as genuinely human as the title sounds. Hebrews applies the psalm to Him: made a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor through suffering, tasting death for everyone. He shared in flesh and blood, was made like his brothers in every way, and was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. He is not a God pretending to be human; He is the God-man.
“But one has somewhere testified, saying, “What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don’t see all things subjected to him, yet. But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.”Hebrews 2:6-9
“Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,”Hebrews 2:14
“Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.”Hebrews 2:17
“For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.”Hebrews 4:15
“but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.”Philippians 2:7-8
To reconcile God and man, the mediator must know both sides. If Jesus were only God, He could not die for men; if only a man, His death could not save. Paul names Him 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.' As the Son of Man He can suffer and die in our place; as the Son of God His death has infinite worth. The two titles are the two halves of the gospel's only bridge.
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,”1 Timothy 2:5
“Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold tightly to our confession. For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.”Hebrews 4:14-15
“No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.”John 1:18
“My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.”1 John 2:1-2
Thomas met the risen Jesus and cried, 'My Lord and my God,' and the church has confessed Jesus as Lord and God ever since, without ever ceasing to confess that He is man. John saw Him as 'the one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father,' who lived among us full of grace and truth. Not a Jesus diminished to fit our categories: the fully divine Son of God who is also fully the Son of Man.
“Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!””John 20:28
“The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.”John 1:14
“No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.”John 1:18
“Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”Philippians 2:9-11