Who is Jesus the Son of Man? #2

Saturday, August 28, 2021

“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” (Matthew 16:13 KJV).

Who is Jesus the Son of Man?

In a region where pagan gods were worshipped, where deified human leaders and usurpers of David’s throne were honored, in this land that rightly belongs to Jesus Christ the Creator, we read of that most famous exchange. The Lord Jesus asks two rhetorical questions. Firstly, He would like His disciples, His followers or students, to remind themselves of the public’s opinion of Him. What does the general population think of Him? Who is He in their eyes, in their estimation? “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?”

“And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets” (Matthew 16:14). “And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets” (Mark 8:28). “They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again” (Luke 9:19). It sounds harsh, but there is no better way to describe these opinions than with the following words: what utter stupidity! Imagine such nonsense. (If it were not so tragic, it would be comical.)

Friends, think about it. Some Jews actually supposed Jesus to be… John the Baptist?! (Jesus and John lived simultaneously, and even stood side-by-side on many occasions!!) Others assumed He was “Elias” (Greek for “Elijah”), “Jeremias” (Greek for “Jeremiah”), or some other Old Testament prophet. Could the spiritual blindness in Israel be more apparent? Are they not familiar with all the scores upon scores of Messianic passages found in their Hebrew Bible? Have they not heard Jesus’ mighty words and seen His mighty works?

Yet, today, the same pervasive ignorance is found in the world—and even Christendom (supposed “Christians”)! Who is Jesus the Son of Man? Why, they tell us—“He is a good man, a great teacher, a renowned religious leader,….” They are as “informed” (yea, rather, confused) as those in Matthew 16:14, Mark 8:28, and Luke 9:19! Let us see if Jesus’ disciples have more spiritual sense than the public….

Our latest Bible Q&As: “Can you explain Habakkuk 2:2?” and “What is ‘dissimulation’ in Romans 12:9?”