The Coming Son of Man

     "And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in 

the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will

mourn, and they will see the Son of Man

coming on the clouds of the sky with power

and great glory."

(Matthew 24:30 NASB)

Jesus made this statement in the passage of scripture known as the Olivet discourse. Here He speaks of the things to come, the events leading up to and including His second coming. In this post I would like to examine this verse in light of a few other passages of scripture, to help us understand who Jesus is.

Jesus is drawing from the prophet Zachariah in this particular statement. This particular book deals quite extensively with the ultimate return of the LORD to deliver Israel, and to bring judgement upon her enemies, in what we would call the "last days." The particular verse quoted, is speaking of the day when Israel looks upon the LORD who has come to save them, and as a consequence repents in bitter mourning, and as a nation experiences the salvation of the LORD.

"I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, like the bitter weeping over a firstborn (Zechariah 12:10 NASB)."

This is the LORD speaking, telling of a day when He will be physically present in Israel (Zech 14:4), visible to the people. They will see Him, and they will repent and be saved (Zech 13:8-9). So who is this LORD who will one day be bodily present on the earth? 

Daniel speaks of a time when the saints of the Most High will be overpowered and wore down until the Ancient of Days comes and passes judgement in their favor (Daniel 7:21-22). This chapter is where we find the "Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven", the Son of Man, whom Jesus claimed to be throughout the gospels. So now we see two references to the coming of the Lord to this earth to save His people, who are under severe distress. This is foretelling of the time of tribulation where christian, and Jew alike will experience untold of suffering, ultimately ended by Christ's return.

Finally we read in Revelation 1:7, speaking of Jesus, 

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

So to sum this up, we see Jesus quoting Zechariah 12:10, and applying it to Himself, and John drawing from this same verse and also applying it to Jesus. So where we read of the LORD (Yehovah in Hebrew, the name of God) coming to save His people, we also see how it has been applied to Jesus. So we can draw the conclusion that not only John, the disciple of Jesus, but also Jesus Himself, makes the connection that Jesus is the divine LORD, who will return at the end, bringing judgement upon His enemies, and salvation to those who are His.

       

   

   

     

 

      

 

Jesus the Coming Lord.

           In this post I would like to examine a couple of statement that Jesus makes, and then take a look at the Old Testament passages where He draws them from, to show that Jesus did in fact claim to be God.

     In Matthew 16:27 we read,

     " For the  Son of Man is going to come in the glory of  His Father with His angels, and will then REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS."

     

     First of all, the title Son of Man was the title Jesus used more than any other when referring to Himself. This title is found more than 80 times in the gospel accounts. I looked at this in two previous posts that can be read  here and here.

     Jesus was referencing the seventh chapter of Daniel where we read of one like a Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven and approaching the Ancient of days. this Son of Man was given glory, dominion and a kingdom that will not pass away, and the worship of all people, nations, and men of every language (Daniel 7:13-14, see also Phil 2:6-11). 

     Next we read where Jesus states that when He comes He will repay every man according to his deeds. Jesus also makes a similar statement found in Revelation 22:12,

     "Behold I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done."

     Let's take a look at two verses found in Isaiah that Jesus is referencing in these two statements He makes concerning His coming.

     Behold the Lord God will come with might, with His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him and His recompense before Him (Isaiah 40: 10).

     Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth, Say to the daughter of Zion, "Lo, your salvation comes; behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him" (Isaiah 62:11).

     Isaiah is telling us that the Lord God (Adonai Elohim, according to strongs, used as a proper name of God only) is coming with power and to rule. He is coming to reward or repay mankind. 

     In the next verse salvation or deliverance is coming to Zion. This salvation is personified in the next part of the verse where once again we read "His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him." 

     It is of interest to note that that the meaning behind the name of Jesus is salvation (Matt 1:21). The Hebrew name for Jesus is Yehoshua meaning Jehovah saved.

     So to sum this up, Jesus is applying these verses to Himself. He is stating that salvation is coming, The Lord God is coming to repay man according to his deeds, and this Lord God is...Jesus. This is another place where Jesus is claiming to be God.

Jesus, the First and the Last.

      People will often pose the question, "Where in the Bible does Jesus say, 'I am God, worship me?'" While that explicit statement is not found in the scriptures, at least not in those words, Jesus does make claims to His divinity in numerous places. One such place is found in the first chapter of Revelation.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, 

saith the Lord, which is, and which was,

and which is to come, the Almighty.

Rev 1:8 KJV

     In this verse we see the eternity of God. He has always existed, and always will. One thing that I have always struggled to wrap my mind around is the fact that God has no beginning. He has always been. No one, or no thing has created God. There has been no time where He did not exist. That thought leaves somewhat of a holy mystery to the person and being of God.

     John writes in this book that he was in the spirit on the Lord's day when he heard a great voice behind him (Rev 1:10). 

     I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:  and what thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea

(Rev 1:11 KJV).

     The voice John heard behind him was the voice of Jesus. So here we have a statement that Jesus makes. He claims to be the Alpha and Omega, the first and the  last.  John is overwhelmed by the appearance of the glorified Christ and falls at His feet as dead. 

     And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 

     I am he that liveth, and was dead: and behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and I have the keys of hell and of death (Rev 1:17-18 KJV).

     Jesus is making a bold statement here. There can hardly be any doubt as to what He is implying. In making this claim of Himself, Jesus draws on several scriptures found in Isaiah. Lets take a look at them, it will help us in our understanding of what Jesus meant. 

     Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, am the first, and with the last; I am he (Isaiah 41:4 KJV). 

    Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me (Isaiah 43:10 KJV).

     Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God (Isaiah 44:6 KJV).

     Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last (Isaiah 48:12 KJV).

     The above verses quoted out of Isaiah all refer to the LORD, the eternal one. There is no doubt that this is speaking of God. God affirms in these quotations that He is the first, the last, and there is no other. He is God, the only God. therefore by applying these verses to Himself, Jesus in no uncertain terms is claiming to be Yehovah God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The eternal one who has existed from eternity past, who is, and is yet to come.