υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ, υἱὸς
Understanding the Name
Though the phrase "sons of God" was occasionally used in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Greek phrase "Son of God," Huios tou Theou (hui-OS tou the-OU) belongs to Jesus in a unique way. Jesus Himself indicates that He and the Father are one. He is the only man who could bear the title without dishonoring the Father.
But Jesus is God's Son not in the sense that most Westerners think of sonship, as though the Father preexisted Him. Instead, Jesus is God's Son in the sense that He shares His nature and represents His intentions. He is fully divine and therefore perfectly capable of representing the Father on earth. Twice in the Gospels — at Jesus' baptism and at the transfiguration — a voice from Heaven announced:
This is My Son, whom I love.
During Jesus' earthly ministry, even the demons recognized Christ as the "Son of God." However, it was this politically charged title that led to Jesus' death, which may be why He avoided it until the end of His life. Recognizing this as a primary title of Christ, the early church baptized those who confessed Jesus Christ as the Son of God. These early believers understood, as we do, that our relationship with Christ enables us to become adopted children of the Father.
Though Jesus was the Son of God, His favorite title for Himself was the "Son of Man," Huios tou Anthropou (hui-OS tou an-THROW- pou). It's a somewhat enigmatic title.
τοῦ ἀνθρώπου
But certainly one meaning of it is that Jesus is the perfect human being. He shows us through His life on earth what men and women were intended by God to be before we fell prey to sin. But the title also has messianic connotations and is closely connected with Jesus' second coming. The passage from Daniel 7:13-14 is speaking of a powerful messianic king.
- Together the titles Son of Man and Son of God express the incredible mystery of the incarnation — that the second person of the Trinity came down from Heaven to become one of us so that we could be one with Him.
When Jesus rose from the dead, He ascended into Heaven, not just as God but also as a man. C. S. Lewis remarked on this truth: "I seldom meet any strong or exultant sense of the continued, never-to-be-abandoned, Humanity of Christ in glory, in eternity. We stress the Humanity too exclusively at Christmas, and the Deity too exclusively after the Resurrection; almost as if Christ once became a man and then presently reverted to being simply God. We think of the Resurrection and Ascension (rightly) as great acts of God; less often as the triumph of Man."
Connecting to the Name
- How did Jesus fulfill Daniel's vision of "one like Bar-Erash, a son of man"
- What do you think it means to say that Jesus is the Son of God?
- Why do you think Jesus cautioned His disciples against telling anyone that He was the Messiah?
- Describe your image of the ideal father. How does this compare with your image of who God is?
- Describe your image of the ideal son or daughter. How does this compare with your image of yourself in relationship to God?
- How does Jesus as the ideal human being reflect your understanding of God's purpose for all human beings?
Praying a Passage with God's Name
Thank God for revealing Jesus as His Son to you. Ask Him to deepen your own understanding of being His son or daughter. Focus on the name Huios Tou Theou, "Son of God" and Huios Tou Anthropou, "Son of Man," as you read Matthew 27:50–54.
50 Then Yeshua loudly cried out once again and gave up His life.
51 Suddenly, the curtain in the temple was split in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split open. 52 The tombs were opened, and the bodies of many holy people who had died came back to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after He had come back to life, and they went into the holy city where they appeared to many people.
54 An army officer and those watching Yeshua with Him saw the earthquake and the other things happening. They were terrified and said, "Certainly, this was the Son of God!"
Praying the Names Son of God and Son of Man for Myself
Look up and read: Matthew 16:13–16
Unbelievers are blinded to Jesus' true identity. Pray and ask God to open the eyes of the blind. Ask Him to make you into a "little Christ" so that others may know Him.
Promises from the Son of God and Son of Man
4 But when the right time came, God sent His Son into the world. A woman gave birth to Him, and He came under the control of the laws given to Moses. 5 God sent Him to pay for the freedom of those who were controlled by these laws so that we would be adopted as His children. 6 Because you are God's children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into us to call out, "Abba! Father!" 7 So you are no longer slaves but God's children. Since you are God's children, God has also made you heirs. — Galatians 4:4–7
27 The Son of Man will come with His angels in His Father's glory. Then He will pay back each person based on what that person has done. — Matthew 16:27
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Read the following passages, considering the names SON OF GOD and SON OF MAN and how their meanings relate to the context of the passage.
Matthew 12:38–42; 20:20–28; 25:31–33; 26:63–66
Mark 9:2–7
John 3:16–17; 14:12–14
Romans 8:14–17, 28–30
2 Corinthians 6:18
Hebrews 1:1–5
1 John 4:9–12
Revelation 1:12–18
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