Ginter Park United Methodist Church

At each worship service, everyone is invited to write down their questions about Ginter Park Church, our mission or our services. If the pastors provoke questions during the sermon, those are also encouraged. 

The first question to be asked was from the scripture lesson, John 13:31, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified…”  So why is Jesus called “the Son of Man”? 

A good question! 

      In the Old Testament Prophet Ezekiel, the term “Son of Man” is used frequently as God speaks to the prophet (check out Ezekiel 2:1). The writer of Daniel uses “Son of Man” in the description of Daniel’s vision of heaven. (Daniel 7:13)

      Some scholars believe the 83 times the New Testament uses “Son of Man”, it represents an apocalyptic (end of time) title of Jesus, as in Daniel 7:13).

            “It is Jesus’ own designation for Himself

      and denotes one who is a man but who will

      also come in angelic glory’ who is also

Messiah and Son of God; and who will suffer

and give His life for others in accordance

with scripture, and rise again.”        

                 (Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary p 414-415 vol 4 R-Z)

They would cite:

            “Those who are ashamed of Me and of

      My words in this adulterous and sinful

      generation, of them the Son of Man

      will also be ashamed when He comes

      in the glory of His Father with the holy

      angels.”

      (NRSV Mark 8:38, Matthew 16:27; Luke 9:26) 

      “For the Son of Man came not to be served

      but to serve, and to give His life a ransom

      for many.”

      (NRSV Mark 10:45; Matthew 20:28)

Also take a look at the death of Stephen in Acts 7:56, and worship in heaven in Revelation 1:13 and 14:14, where Jesus is glorified.

      Some scholars believe Jesus didn’t use the phrase as a title at all, but meant humanity in general. You can see this in Ezekiel 2:1 in the New Revised Standard Verson which says: “He said to me: O mortal….” Not “Son of Man” as in the New International Version.

      It comes down to, scholars aren’t quite sure what Jesus said, since direct quotes that we are so use to in our time, were not how the Gospels were written in the first century. Like so many other parts of scripture, it is a matter of faith.

Personally, I find it helpful to my faith, that Jesus would identify with

humanity by the title “Son of Man”  and would also give us a glimpse of heaven too.

      In the New Testament, “Son of Man” is found in the Gospels in the sayings of Jesus, or in a report of what Jesus said. The writers understand it as a self-designation of Jesus. Other than the Gospels, it is found in Acts 7:56, where Stephen, as he is dying, says he sees the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. In Revelation 1:13 and 14:14 where Jesus is glorified in worship. 

On the journey with you,

Pastor Dorothy