Have you ever thought it was odd the way Jesus often refers to himself as the Son of Man? In what we read from Matthew today Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man five times. In the Bible as a whole Jesus uses the term to refer to himself 28 times, which more than anything else. Also, Jesus alone refers to himself as that. Only once in John’s gospel does a crowd call Jesus that; and there they are asking Jesus what he means by calling himself the Son of Man. So what does all of this mean?
Perhaps the good news is that if we are confused we aren’t alone. Even the best biblical experts aren’t sure what it means! (Although perhaps that’s not good news. We often want the experts to give us definitive answers so that we can be sure!)
“Son of Man” is awkward in English. It’s also awkward in Greek. But we start to get at what’s going on when we realize that it is not a native Greek term, but is the literal translation of the common Hebrew term, “ben adam”. Remember that the name Adam means simply human, earthing, or earth dweller. It is used 93 times in Ezekiel where the phrase designates the prophet as a mere human being in contrast to God.
So does that mean that Jesus is calling himself a mere human being? Well, it’s not that simple, but we’re probably on the right track. Again, the biblical experts differ on this, but many do think that Jesus used this in a self-effacing way. He wanted people to see him as human, as relatable. This idea fits quite well.
Notice in our reading from Matthew that Peter calls Jesus the Son of the living God. At the Transfiguration the voice from the cloud says of Jesus, “This is my Son, the Beloved…” I can’t think of any place in the Bible where Jesus calls himself the Son of God.
And let’s note this little twist. Who does call Jesus the Son of God? The devil does when Jesus is tested in the wilderness. It’s interesting that evil focuses on the divine aspect of Jesus while Jesus himself focuses on his human aspect.
We saw that also playing out in what we read today. Jesus asks his disciples who do they say that he is. Peter replies, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus praises Peter for this and says, “For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Yay to Peter! But…
Jesus goes on to say he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering and be killed. Peter takes him aside and rebukes Jesus as if Jesus is demon possessed for saying such a thing. There’s no way in Peter’s mind that the Son of the living God could possibly have such a thing happen. But what does Jesus reply to Peter for insisting too much on Jesus as Son of God? “Get behind me Satan…” There’s the Satan presence again for insisting that being the Son of God is a special status that is above, and immune from, the limits of humanity and the reality of death. Jesus goes on, “You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting you mind no on divine things but on human things.”
Something fascinating happens there. By Peter insisting that Jesus be divine and not have bad things happen he is actually focused on human things. Whereas Jesus, insisting on his humanity, is actually focused on divine things. Therein is the great irony. The strength that God shows for our salvation is not divine power at all. It is in dying as a human that God reveals ultimate power; power over death.
I suspect that as we sit here we all probably have a reasonable sense of our own capabilities. We know roughly how smart we are compared to others based upon the grades we got in school. We know how strong, pretty, athletic, and coordinated we are compared to others. Perhaps we are young and feel like our powers are growing to unknown heights. Perhaps we are old and lament abilities that we once had but are now gone.
What special: intelligence, wealth, power, athleticism, beauty, or charisma did Jesus show as the Son of Man who would suffer and die? None. Absolutely zero. Yet there is God’s greatest conquest.
So what does that tell us as we sit here comparing ourselves to others in the world and at other ages? Don’t we measure our worth and build our self esteem by the things that we can do. Yet didn’t Jesus say to Peter, “Get behind me Satan, for you are setting your mind not on divine things, but on human things.”
Everything – and I mean everything we are apt to build our sense of self-worth upon in this life… is not just nonsense. It is Satanic. It is downright evil!
Let’s learn two things from this part of Matthew. First, Jesus understood himself first and foremost as the Son of Man, not Son of God. He emphasizes his humanity above everything else. He is focused on his work at the cross, not his work of healing, exorcisms, and performing miracles. (Although as we are in income tax season we have to admire his ability to pay his taxes by telling one of his followers to go catch a fish!)
Jesus wants us to understand him as someone we can relate to. He wants to be a friend, a companion. Jesus is on our side. He wants to see us flourish. We should not let his Son of God status overwhelm his Son of Man status. Jesus does not want to intimidate us or overwhelm us.
And second, we are sorely mistaken about ourselves if we think we are somehow lessor than others because society tells us that we aren’t particularly skilled or gifted, or that we don’t have much to offer. Conversely, we are sorely mistaken about ourselves if we think that we are somehow superior than others because society tells us that we are skilled or gifted. Before God we simply aren’t.
No one gets to brag. And no one gets to duck out of responsibility because they think they have nothing of value to give. All of this is very hard to take in. It flies in the face of everything we live. But let’s keep Peter in mind. He messes up miserably over and over again as a disciple. He cannot seem to escape his humanity. Yet Jesus does not reject him. Jesus, the Son of Man, forgives him and continues to work with him. Jesus accomplishes through Peter exactly what Jesus wanted to accomplish through Peter.
I don’t care what that world says about you. By faith in the Son of Man you will accomplish exactly what God wants to get accomplished through you. There is no higher dignity than that. And there is no room to brag in that either.
We are followers of the Son of Man. We are the church. We are built on a rock yet still frail enough to fail regularly. That is how God chooses to get work done here on earth.
No comments:
Post a Comment