April 19, 2004

THE SON OF MAN

"The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).

In yesterday's portrait, we saw Christ as the "Son of God." Today, we will unveil Him as the "Son of man." This is the most numerous of Christ's titles. It occurs eighty-nine times in the New Testament. Eighty-four of these references are found in the four Gospels, and Jesus directly applies all of these references to Himself. It is His favorite self-designation.

The title, "Son of man," links Christ fully with the human race (see Philippians 2:6-8; John 1:14). By becoming the Son of man, divinity has identified with humanity for the recovery of humanity from the ruin of sin and the restoration of the lost dominion.--(See The Desire of Ages, p. 25). As the Son of man, Jesus came as man's perfect representative.

The redemptive job description of the Son of man has been well expressed by Jesus Himself: "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). This He has accomplished by His atoning death and triumphant resurrection. It was to guarantee this formidable task that Jesus came as Son of God and Son of man. "Clothing His divinity with humanity, He came to earth to be called the Son of man and the Son of God. He was the surety for man, the ambassador for God... and the representative of God to make manifest His character to a fallen race."--Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 257. How wonderful to know that in so doing, Jesus has "bound Himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken."--The Desire of Ages, p. 25.

My Prayer Today: Lord, thank You for binding me to Yourself with a tie that can never be broken. Amen.