Introduction:
This Wednesday begins the Lent season leading up to Easter. For Lent supposed to give up something. This year let’s give up cold weather and snow.
There are some who believe that the cross was not the original plan of God. The original plan was to have the Jews accept their Messiah the first time around and then set up a world wide earthly kingdom with Jesus as the King. They say that the cross, the resurrection, and the church is an apostrophe in the plans of God, a plan B. After this time of the church and the Gentiles then God will get back to his original plans with Israel. God is just waiting for the right time for the Jews to come back to His ways before He uses them again.
Hogwash, the cross was in the mind of God since the creation of the world. The Jews rejecting their Messiah was not a surprise to God, it was all part of the plan. The cross of Christ is not an apostrophe or Plan B, it is and was Plan A all the time. God’s will and ways are not thwarted by man. God uses man’s actions, even the sinful ones, to execute His plan.
Another question and debate that goes along with this is what did Jesus know about his death, his main mission, and when and how did he know it? We know that Jesus came to earth as a baby, as a man, and that he “emptied himself.” (NASB- Philippians 2:7) Because of this Jesus grew in wisdom like any normal child until he became a man. In other words Jesus didn’t know everything, he had to learn things. Question remains: What did Jesus know about his death and when and how did he know it? We will never know the answers with complete satisfaction because the NT does not give that information.
The first 3 gospels all contain an episode with his disciples during the ministry of Jesus around Galilee. At this time Jesus knew a great deal about his death even though it was a few years in the future. “Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”” Luke 9:18-22, NIV. We see here that one full year before His death, Jesus knew a great deal about the Passover Plan. Talking about the plan that was being orchestrated by God and also Jesus Christ to bring about the salvation of mankind through the cross.
Part of the plan involved that phrase in Luke 9:22 that Jesus used- the Son of Man.
For most of us this is not that big of a deal. Yes, Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Son of Man. Son of Man referring to his humanity and Son of God referring to his divinity, Godhood. However, for the people of that day, these terms had slightly different meanings.
Thesis: Talk about how the phrase “the Son of Man” fits into the Passover Plan
For instances:
Where did this title come from
Mainly comes from here: ““In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, (one like the Son of man- KJV) 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.” Daniel 7:13, 14
In this apocalyptic vision this son of man approached the heavenly throne of the Ancient of Days (who can do that?) while riding on the clouds.
God gave him authority over all creation for eternity. What mortal man will have all that?
Jews were looking for one who would be appointed by God to be ruler and judge over all
Jesus’ use of the phrase “ The Son of Man”
Jesus used the phrase “Son of Man’ to refer to himself at least 34 times in the Gospels, more than any other phrase. Jesus used this phrase in a way that indicated the claim to heavenly majesty associated with it (from Daniel)
Though the phrase “Son of Man” did not necessarily give the idea of full deity or Godhood, the way that Jesus used it did encompass a glory that exceeds that of a normal human being.
Jesus probably used the phrase to hint at deity without actually declaring it. Given all of the ways that Jesus used the phrase, at the very least he was laying the groundwork for people to think more of him than a common man.
Jesus preferred the “safe” title “Son of Man” over the more controversial title “Son of God.” Jesus many times avoided making direct statements regarding his deity, his Godhood and the title “Son of Man” helped him to do that.
One of the advantages of the title “Son of Man” is that in Jewish thinking it did not carry the full divine, Godhood, implications of the title “Son of God.”
The Gospels do not record any blasphemy charges against Jesus for calling himself “The Son of Man.” As a matter of fact, at his trials, we find this: ““If you are the Christ,” they said, “tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You are right in saying I am.” Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”” Luke 22:67-71, NIV. They wanted him to be plain about his claim to Godhood, Son of Man was not enough, Son of God was what they wanted to condemn him.
We also find Jesus using the title “Son of Man” in the 3rd person. Jesus does not say I must suffer many things, be rejected and then killed, no it’s in the 3rd person, the Son of Man... Jesus made it vague for a reason. Because of the way that Jesus used it the leaders had insufficient legal evidence to condemn him until he said, “I am the Son of God”
Jesus’ preference for a safe title over a title that makes a clear statement of deity has lead some to conclude that Jesus never intended to claim deity, Godhood. We find in Luke 9 and Matthew 16 privately with his disciples that he definitely accepts the clear title to Godhood.
Why is Jesus being so mysterious, unclear and evasive?
Jesus skillfully managed his ministry so that he was able to carry on his work in dangerous circumstances and build up to a crucifixion climax at just the right time.
“But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No-one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him. Therefore Jesus told them, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come.” Having said this, he stayed in Galilee.” John 7:2-9, NIV.
The Feast of Tabernacles was a 8 day religious festival of the Jews held in mid October. How sad that Jesus’ own brothers did not believe in him. These men certainly had the world’s point of view; if someone wants a following, use opportunities to do something spectacular. Jerusalem would be crowded with people in high spirits and this would give Jesus a great platform to present Himself and win the people. However, not God’s plan.
Jesus was waiting for the right time. It had to be at Passover, not any other time. “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” 1 Corinthians 5:7, NIV.
Conclusion and invitation:
A man once dreamed that he was witnessing the Day of Judgment. He saw billions of people scattered out across a great plain before the throne of God. And then overheard voices:
“How can God judge us?” One asked “What does He know about suffering?” said another, who rolled up her sleeve to reveal a tattooed number from a Nazi concentration camp “We endured terror, beatings, torture and death!” From another group came the comment from a black man who pulled down the collar of his shirt “What about this!” he demanded, showing an ugly rope burn. “Lynched for no crime but being black! We were suffocated in slave ships, been wrenched from loved ones, toiled till death gave release.”Far out across the plain were 100’s of such groups. Each had a complaint against God for the evil and suffering He permitted in His world. SO THEY DECIDED TO MAKE THEIR CASE BEFORE GOD.
Each group sent a representative to prepare their defense...
There was a Jew, a Black, an untouchable from India, an illegitimate person, a victim of Hiroshima, and someone who’d endured the horrors of a Siberian slave camp. Their decision was that before God could judge them he should be “Sentenced to live on earth as a man!”
· He must be born of a despised race. · The legitimacy of his birth should be doubted so that no one would know who was really His father. · He should champion a cause so just, but so radical that it would bring down upon him the hate, condemnation, and efforts of every major traditional and established religious authority to eliminate him. · He should have to try to describe what no man had ever seen, tasted, heard, or smelled - He must try to communicate God to man. · He should be betrayed by someone he considered a friend. · He should be indicted on false charges, tried before a prejudiced jury, and convicted by a cowardly judge. · He should see what it is to be completely and terribly alone · And He should be tortured and die the most humiliating of deaths. And then as the man dreamed - he realized that God had already done those very things.
