Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
— Matthew 16:13 (WEB)
In the Bible we see that Jesus is called the “Son of Man” and at other times he is called the “Son of God”. Do you know how Jesus referred to himself? He used the title“Son of Man” which is very interesting.
This title was used in the Gospels 82 times and 81 of these times is Jesus referring to Himself! That says a lot. It is in Matthew over 30 times, in Mark 15 times, in Luke 25 times and in John 12 times. All of these are Jesus referring to himself while once it is used by bystanders asking what the title means (John 12: 34).
This was his preferred title while here on earth – “Son of Man”. Though Jesus does indicate He was the Son of God saying “before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58) and in other references we see the indication that he is the “Son of God”. However, he is not explicit in calling himself “Son of God” though he refers to being the Son of God. While others referred to him using the specific title “Son of God”, he used “Son of Man”.
The point of this is it clarifies that he came AS me, for me. He was one of us. “Son of Man” refers to the completeness of his humanity; the totality of his person was human. The fancy word is incarnation, that he came in the flesh.
It shows us this was not a cloak that covered his divinity. He put off the divinity and was born of the flesh. He was God from God but he came as the Son of Man.
I have heard these two titles of Jesus explained by saying he had two natures. But how could he have two natures? When you look again at Philippians 2:6-7, it states that he emptied himself of his divine qualities. He didn’t walk on earth having two natures.
He took on our humanity and left behind the divine. He let it go, emptying himself of one to contain the other. He was still God but here on earth he revealed himself as the Son of Man.
What other religion can say their god identifies with them – NONE! Our God so loved us that he came to identify with us. He came to save us. He came to show us how to live in our shoes, living in the feelings and experiences we have. He truly understands and loves us. Other religions have demands their gods place on them with no love there. Our God fulfilled all demands FOR us BECAUSE he loves us.
He does not empathize with us. To empathize is the sharing of someone’s feelings by imagining what it would be like to be in their shoes. He does not imagine what it is like to be human, what it must feel like. He doesn’t say to us, “oh that must be difficult!”. Instead, he says to us, I understand, I know what you are going through. I have been there. That is incredible. We all want someone who KNOWS what it is like. That is Jesus, our God, Redeemer and Savior.
He has lived the mundane life, run the family business, gone to birthday parties, weddings, funerals and family gatherings. He has experienced the ups and downs of life, the joys and sorrows.
We can proclaim with joy and awe in our hearts. “Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, working wonders?” (Exodus 15:11).
“He came into my humanity to wrap his arms around me.”
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