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Jesus: Son of God / Son of Man
Matthew 16:13-14
13. When Jesus came into the region of Ceaserea Philippi, He asked His disciples saying, “Who do men say
that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14. So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.
Today, there is still controversy over who Jesus is as there was over 2,000 years ago when
He came to us in a tent of flesh.
In this paper, we will end the misunderstanding and prove who Jesus of Nazareth really is!
Let us reflect on some of the various ideas that people have about Jesus the Christ:
People say that...
1) Jesus was all man
2) Jesus was a "good" man and teacher
3) Jesus was a prophet
4) Jesus was the greatest con-artist ever
5) Jesus was not a literal person, but instead an illustration of truth and
an “expression” of God’s love.
6) Jesus was a man who became a god…reincarnated
into a deity.
7) And still a lot of people think that Jesus is God’s son and Satan’s
brother; co-equal with Satan, who is struggling to win a contest with
Satan over who acquires our souls.
All of these ideas are false and anti-biblical!
Matthew 16: 15-17
15. He (Jesus) said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16. Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the living God.
17. Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood
has not revealed this to you, But My Father who is in heaven.”
Question:
Is Jesus the Son of God or the Son of Man?
Answer:
The Bible explicitly tells us that Jesus is BOTH the
Son of God and the Son of Man!
JESUS IS BOTH GOD AND MAN!
Not 50/50….Jesus is 100% God and 100% Man.
To fully understand this Truth, we will explain and answer
the following four questions:
1) If Jesus is the Son of God, does that make him lesser than God?
2) What exactly does it mean to be the “Son of God?”
3) If Jesus is the Son of Man how can He be equal to God?
4) What does it mean to be the “Son of Man?”
PART I. The Son of God
The bible tells us that Jesus is NOT lesser in "value" or strength than
His Father:
Philippians 2: 5-7
5. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6. who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery (or something to be held onto)
to be equal with God,
7. but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the
likeness of men.
John 14:7-9
7. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know
Him and have seen Him.
8. Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
9. Jesus said to Him, “Have I been with you so long, and you have not known Me, Philip?
He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”
Jesus was, by no means, claiming to be lesser than the Father!
He was actually, indisputably, claiming to be One with the Father Himself!
John 10:30
"I and My Father are one."
Jesus told them:
John 8:56-59
56. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.
57. Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty-years old, and you have seen Abraham?”
58. Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
59. Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple, going
through the midst of them, and so passed by.
I AM is the name of God that was given to Moses in the burning bush about 1600 years
before Jesus’ lifetime. Jesus was claiming to be the One that spoke to Moses out of the burning
bush, calling Himself I AM. By identifying Himself as I AM, Jesus was not only claiming to be
the one that gave Moses the Law and directed him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, but also
the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob...the One whom the Jews worshipped!!
FUNDAMENTAL FACT:
Either Jesus was speaking blasphemy and the Jewish leaders were justified in crucifying Him,
or His claims are true and He is God.
Jesus never claimed to be anything less than God!
You can call Him a lunatic or you can call Him God, BUT whatever you do DO NOT
call Jesus just a “good and wise teacher.”
Matthew 19:16, 17
16 now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"
17 So He said to Him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is God.
But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
ONLY GOD IS GOOD!
Do not call Jesus “good” unless you’re willing to call Him God!
Here is what Ron Rhodes says in his book Angels Among Us:
"Now how does all this relate to Christ being called the “Son of God”? This is and important question, for Christ is not
of the same league as the angels (though some cultists try to argue that He is). A person will go far astray unless he or
she sees a clear distinction between Christ as the Son of God and the angels as the sons of God. As we will see, the Bible
indicates that Christ is eternally the Son of God. How do we know this? Consider the following.
To begin, a word study of the term “son of…” indicates that it can mean “of the order of” in certain contexts. The phrase
is often used in this way in the Old Testament. For example, “sons of the prophets” meant “of the order of prophets”
(1 Kings 20:35). “Sons of the singers” meant “of the order of singers” (Nehemiah 12:28 KJV). Likewise, the phrase
“Son of God,” used of Christ, means “of the order of God” and represents a claim to undiminished deity.
Ancient Semites and Orientals sometimes used the phrase “son of…” to indicate likeness or sameness of nature and
equality of being. When Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, His Jewish contemporaries fully understood that He was using
this term in this way-making a claim to be God in unqualified sense. Benjamin Warfield affirms that, from the earliest days of
Christianity, the phrase “Son of God”-when used of Jesus Christ- was understood to be fully equivalent to God".
Mr. Rhodes also states:
"Any attempt to relegate Christ to a position less than God simply because of His title “Son of God” is to woefully
misunderstand what the term really meant among the ancients."
Bible expositor John A. Martin suggests:
"Mary could not have missed the significance of that terminology. The fact that her baby was to be called the
“Son of the Most High” pointed to His equality with God. In Semitic thought a son was a ‘carbon copy’ of his father,
and the phrase “son of” was often used to refer to one who possessed his “father’s” qualities".
Jesus, being the “Son of God”, is not only the “same as God”, but also a ‘carbon copy’
of the Father!!
This is why when Jesus tells the religious leaders, “I and My Father are One,” they tried to kill Him.
They knew He was claiming to be God.
John 1:1-5, 14, 17 and 18
1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2. He was in the beginning with God.
3. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men
5. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot comprehend it.
14. And the Word became flesh (Jesus) and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory
as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
17. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He (Jesus)
has declared Him (the Father).
Jesus, the Son of God, is not only God but also the Creator of all things, visible and invisible.
Without Him "nothing was made that was made".
Three is the number the represents Jesus.
All of creation has His fingerprints on it:
- Our physical universe is made up of three parts: time, space and matter.
- Time is divided into three segments: past, present, and future.
- Space has three dimensions: length, width, and height
- Matter is made up of three parts: protons, neutrons and electrons.
- Water is the source of all life, biologically. Water is made up of 2 Hydrogen and 1 Oxygen.
- H2O comes in three states: liquid, solid, vapor.
- Man is also triune: body, soul, and spirit
Notice that all of these come in three.
Jesus made all things.
Three is the number for Jesus.
See: Meaning of the Simple Numbers
PART II. The Son of Man
Jesus refers to Himself as “the Son of Man” (in third person) 77 times in the Gospels.
The phrase “Son of Man” was taken from the Old Testament and known by the Jews to be a
reference to the Messiah. This phrase, in the book of Enoch (whom Jude quotes) and in the
book of Daniel (written to the Jews), was used when describing the future Messiah. In the
Old Testament, God used this phrase to even address some of the prophets.
Jesus fulfilled some 300 prophecies (or more) from the Old Testament concerning the Jewish
Messiah’s first coming.
The chances of one man fulfilling ALL of these prophecies, perfectly, are astronomical! In fact,
the statistics of this event happening by "chance" proves to be literally impossible.
This proves the validity of the Old Testament as being the inspired Word of God.
Let’s take a look at one of these passages...
Isaiah 9:6, 7
6. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and
over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even
forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
We will discuss five points about the Messiah (Son of Man):
A. Mighty God / Everlasting Father
B. On the throne of David
C. A Child is Born
D. A Son is Given
E. A King Forever
A. Mighty God/Everlasting Father
Jesus is God and one with the Father. If you know Jesus you know the Father.
(We have already explained this in part 1.)
B. On the throne of David
In the Old Testament, God promises King David, son of Jesse, who is a descendant of Judah,
that the Messiah would come from his seed and would sit on his throne forever.
Jesus can not be the Messiah unless He is a direct descendant of David.
***Both of Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph, are descendants of David by direct lineage!***
Mary is a descendent of Nathan.
Joseph is a descendant of Solomon.
Solomon and Nathan are two sons of David!!
We uncover this truth by reading:
A) Joseph's lineage which is in Matthew Chapter 1 (Solomon’s line)
B) Mary’s lineage which is in Luke Chapter 3 (Nathan’s line).
These two lineages meet for the first time with the union of Mary and Joseph
From these two lineages, from the two sons of David, come Jesus who is the Messiah!
The Messiah could not be born unless these two lines of David came together.
C. A Child is born
Mary was still a virgin when she had Jesus. The purpose of the virgin birth is that in order
for Jesus to be a perfect sacrifice, He could not be corrupted by man’s inherent state of sin.
Jesus was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit.
There had to be a union between the Spirit of God and the descent of Adam. In order
for Jesus to be perfect, the Seed of the woman had to be in a PRE-sinning
state... just as the Spirit of God was breathed into Adam in his PRE-sinning
state before the Fall. Mary's unfertilized egg was in a PRE-sinning state when
the Spirit of God filled her and germinated the egg.
The child that was born is Holy Man / Holy God, 100% man and 100% God.
Therefore, it can be said that Jesus came in the “likeness” of men but knew no sin.
Mary did not conceive until she was engaged to Joseph. In order for the Messiah to be born,
the two lines of David had to come together and at the same time The Christ had to be conceived
while Mary was a virgin. Joseph and Mary married before she gave birth.
Genesis 3:15
15. And I will put enmity between you (Satan) and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed;
He (the Messiah) shall bruise your head (Satan), and you shall bruise his heel.
The Messiah was meant to come from the seed of a woman from the beginning.
At the cross, the Messiah would crush the “head” (the power and dominion) of Satan.
Galatians 4:4
4. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law...
D. A Son is given
Jesus is given to Joseph as a son. Joseph was only Jesus’ father by adoption. Upon Jesus’ birth,
Joseph had to adopt Jesus as his son.
Jesus was both born and adopted (given) into the line of David!
E. A King forever
Jesus will come to set up His Kingdom here on earth and will reign forever. Jesus’ “right” to
kingship, is not just merely the “consequence” of being David’s offspring. Jesus' Kingship is
part of who He is as Creator and Lord over all. He precedes David, therefore, is also King over
David. Jesus is the offspring of David, but David is the offspring of Adam
(who was created by Jesus in the Beginning).
Revelation 22:13, 16b
13. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.
16b. I am the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.
As the Son of Man, Jesus has rights to the throne of David, but as Son of God,
Jesus sits on the throne at the right hand of the Father as Lord over all creation.
Matthew 22:41-46
41. While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
42. saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.”
43. He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:
44. ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool”’?
45. “If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?”
According to tradition, a father would never call a son ‘Lord.’ A father does not practice
submission to his son and a son does not rule over his father. This would be opposite to
The Created Order. Whoever comes first is greater in strength and authority: Lord God to
angels, angels to man, men to women, parents to children.
David is recognizing that the Messiah, even though from his offspring, is King over him.
The Pharisees could not understand this, nor did they recognize that David’s Lord was standing
right in front of them!
Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords who reigns forever!
Note #1
We only have one God....the LORD our God is One.
Although God is one, He is also triune.
He encompasses three individual “persons” or "aspects": Father, Son (Jesus), Holy Spirit.
Three-in-One!
Note #2
Father, Son and Holy Spirit is THE Eternal, Triune God. Since the trinity is eternal,
there is no created order within the “Godhead.” In this case, the Father is not greater than
the Son in terms of value or strength...BUT we do see the Son (Jesus) during His time here
on earth submitting Himself under the direction and will of the Father. (Remember though that
the Son’s will is the Father’s will since they are One and in perfect agreement with each other).
Therefore, there is a “divine order” that does exist, and must exist, because of the different roles
and functions each “part” of the Trinity carries out. Because of this, the Father is greater than the
Son in terms of cooperative submission. There is an “Order” in the Godhead so that different
functions can be carried out:
Example: the Father sends the Son and the Son sends the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does
not send the Son. The Son does not send the Father.
See: John 10:27, 29, 30 and John 16:5-7
Note #3
Jesus is Creator of all things visible and invisible. He is THE Eternal King who reigns forever.
Note #4
Jesus is unique from the Father, the Holy Spirit and any other being. He is the ONLY God Man.
PART III. Why the God Man?
Jesus is different from any other being since He is the one and only God Man.
Question:
Why?
What does that have to do with anything, and how is that relevant to us?
This is an important topic to understand and is the dividing factor between Christianity
and every other religion.
Answer:
There are three reasons why this is very relevant and important...
A. Kinsman Redeemer
God came to us in a “tent of flesh” in order to redeem us from the bondage of sin.
God could have only redeemed us as a man. So God became a man (Jesus) and paid the price
to free us from slavery. Because He is also God, His sacrifice was big enough to pay for the sins
of the whole world.
Read Introduction to the Bible for another explanation on this topic.
B. Mediator between God and Man
2 Corinthians 5:19
19. that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them,
and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Because of our sin, God’s Spirit could not dwell with OR in man. Man is sinful in nature since
the Fall of Adam and from that point could never again reach out to the Lord God. Jesus (The Son)
is the Mediator between the Father and man and is able to reconcile them back together. This is
something only the God Man (Jesus) could have done. Since man could not keep or adhere to the
first covenant between the Lord God and man (a covenant of “do this and don’t do that”), there
had to be a new covenant of grace if the Lord God was going to be able to dwell with His creation.
Jesus is the Mediator of this new covenant (or testament) by His sacrifice for us on the cross.
This new covenant (initiated in Jesus’ blood) reconciles man to God the Father.
Hebrews 9:15-17
15. And for this reason He (Jesus) is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption
of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of eternal life.
16. For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.
Jesus had to die in order for the new covenant to come into power. After His resurrection Jesus
presented His blood to the Father in heaven as proof of His sacrifice and that it might be accepted
to appease the Father’s wrath.
C. Our Great High Priest
As Redeemer and Mediator, Jesus has become our great High Priest-
one who offers the atoning sacrifice to God the Father on behalf of mankind:
Hebrews 9:24-28
24. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven
itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
25. not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place once every year with
blood of another-
26. He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the
ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
27. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
28. so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear
a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
Jesus, being a Jew (Jew meaning from the line of Judah) was not born into the Levitical
priesthood. According to the Old Testament, priests descend from Levi, high priests from Aaron,
and Jewish kings from the line of David. If you are a king, then you are “disqualified” from being
a priest, and if you are a priest you cannot be a king. They are two separate roles in society and
cannot be brought together under the Law of Moses.
If Jesus (a descendent of David) had to be a priest then there must have to be a different priesthood
under a new covenant:
Hebrews 7:11-17, 24, 25
11. Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law),
what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not
be called according to the order of Aaron?
12. For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.
13. For He whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated (served)
at the altar.
14. For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which the tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
15. And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest
16. who has come, not according to the law of fleshly commandment, but according to the power of endless life.
17. For He testifies: “You are a Priest forever
According to the order of
Melchizedek.”
24. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.
25. Therefore He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives
to make intercession for them.
Melchizedek is a “type of” Christ, in the Old Testament, who lived long before the Levitical
priesthood. Jesus is a priest in the order of Melchizedek under the new covenant. Melchizedek was
a priest and king just like Jesus:
Hebrews 7:1-3
1. For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the
slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
2. to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness” and then
also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,”
3. without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but
made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
Melchizedek means “king of righteousness” and king of Salem means “king of peace.”
The psalmist wrote prophetically concerning the Messiah:
Psalm 85:8-11, 13
8. I will hear what the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them
not turn back to folly.
9. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land. 10. Mercy and truth
have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed.
11. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
13. Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway.
The God Man is King and Priest....
King according to the order of David
And
Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
For more on this read Who is Melchizedek?
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