Today’s passage continues the conversation we’ve been having with Jesus about who He is, as we’re told through the Bible, God’s Word. So far, we have heard: Jesus is…the Son of God. Jesus is…the Lamb of God. Jesus is…the Teacher. Jesus is…the Messiah. Jesus is…the Temple. Jesus is…the giver of eternal life. Jesus is…the giver of Living Water. Jesus is…the Lord of Creation. Jesus is…the bread of life. Jesus is…from God. Jesus is…the Light of the World. Jesus is…a prophet.
This morning we’re going to keep looking at the story of the blind man to see what happened after he was questioned by the Pharisees and priests. If you’ll recall, the man I’m talking about had been blind his whole life and when Jesus saw him, Jesus had great compassion on him and made a little mud, rubbed it in the man’s eyes, and then the man was healed of his blindness. When the Pharisees and priests heard of this, they called the man before them and questioned him about Jesus. The man told them that he believed Jesus is a prophet, which He is. When the once-blind man insisted that Jesus must be from God, the Pharisees and priests threw him out of the temple.
Let’s read together John 9:35-38, “Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when He found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “Who is He, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in Him.” Jesus said, “You have now seen Him; in fact, He is the one speaking with you.” Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped Him.” (NIV)
The very first conversation we listened in on in the book of John was John 1:29-34, when John testified that Jesus is the Son of God. This morning, through the passage we read, we see that Jesus is the SON of MAN. This is what He proclaimed about Himself. In fact, and this is really interesting to me, this was Jesus’ favorite title for Himself. He called Himself the Son of Man more than any other name. Since it’s the title He used the most, we are wise to take some time to learn what it means.
The titles “Son of God” and “Son of Man” go hand in hand in many ways. When we say Jesus is the Son of God, we point to His divinity. We point to His divine nature. We point to the fact that He is part of the Triune God, God, three-in-one. We point to the fact that He is God.
When we say that Jesus is the Son of Man, we point to His humanity.
Talking about Jesus’ divine nature is very important to us. It’s important for us to know that about Jesus so we can worship and adore Him properly. And as great as it is for us to know Jesus as the Son of God, what we really connect with is Jesus’ humanity.
We understand what it means to be human. We don’t understand what it means to be God, but we understand human nature. Well…at least somewhat. Perhaps this is why Jesus chose to call Himself the Son of Man more than any other title, because He knew that we needed to know that He understands us entirely. The Son of Man, fully human, fully understands what it means to be human, and so He can empathize with everything we experience as humans.
Hebrews 4:14-16 helps us understand the importance of Jesus being the Son of Man, “We have a great high priest. He has gone up into heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us hold firmly to what we say we believe. We have a high priest who can feel it when we are weak and hurting. We have a high priest who has been tempted in every way, just as we are. But He did not sin. So let us boldly approach God’s throne of grace. Then we will receive mercy. We will find grace to help us when we need it.” (NIRV)
Though these verses don’t expressly call Jesus the Son of Man, they help us understand what it means. Jesus being the Son of Man means that when we hurt, when we are weak, He understand those feelings entirely because He Himself had those same feelings. It means that when we’re tempted by sin, He understands that too, because He faced the same temptations.
So, Jesus being the Son of God speaks about His divinity. Jesus being the Son of Man speaks about His humanity.
But that just scratches the surface of what Jesus was claiming and teaching when He said that He is the Son of Man. Yes, He was fully human and able to fully understand us as humans, and then He was able to die to forgive our sins because He was fully human. But there was more Jesus was saying when He said He is the Son of Man. Let’s look at that, too.
Keep your place in John 9, but turn over to Daniel 7 as well, specifically verses 13-14, “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” (NIV)
Here, Daniel had a vision of the Son of Man, and as we read on, we see very clearly that this is a vision of Christ, Jesus. He came on the clouds of heaven, approached the Ancient of Days who is God, and was given an audience in God’s presence. The Son of Man was given authority, glory and sovereign power, and all nations and peoples worshiped Him in this vision. His dominion is everlasting and His kingdom will never be destroyed.
John says nearly the exact same thing about the Christ in the vision we read about in the book of Revelation, so we know beyond a doubt that this Son of Man is Jesus. Daniel’s vision from God is clear, John’s vision from God is clear, and Jesus says it of Himself.
He’s fully human, yes, but this vision in Daniel 7 helps us understand that He is an exalted figure. This Son of Man told about in Daniel 7 is the one who would bring salvation and redemption for God’s people, for the entire world even! He would be the King of the World. He’s human, but not just any human.
So, when Jesus used the term Son of Man over and over again to describe Himself, He was saying that not only is He fully human and able to empathize with us and understand us, but also that He is the One told about in Daniel’s vision that is the exalted King, who is able to enter the Lord’s presence.
The Jews would have been well aware of this connection, and it seems the man who was once blind understood the implications of what Jesus was saying as well. Look at John 9:38 again, “Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped Him.” (NIV)
Is there any other response for the One who is both 100% God and 100% man, who is exalted to be the One who can be in God’s Presence and is given authority and dominion over all as King? He should be worshiped because only He is worthy.
Consider these verses, Philippians 2:6-11, “In his very nature He was God. Jesus was equal with God. But Jesus didn’t take advantage of that fact. Instead, He made Himself nothing. He did this by taking on the nature of a servant. He was made just like human beings. He appeared as a man. He was humble and obeyed God completely. He did this even though it led to His death. Even worse, He died on a cross! So God lifted Him up to the highest place. God gave Him the name that is above every name. When the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone will kneel down to worship Him. Everyone in heaven and on earth and under the earth will kneel down to worship Him. Everyone’s mouth will say that Jesus Christ is Lord. And God the Father will receive the glory.” (NIRV)
Jesus is the Son of Man. Fully God, but also fully man, made just like us to understand us. Humble to the Father in all things, even death, so He would be lifted up and worshiped by all to the glory of God the Father. There is no one more worthy of worship, honor, and praise, than He is.
1. How does it affect your life today to know that Jesus is the Son of Man? How does His title “Son of Man” change how you live?
2. Look again at Mark 10:45. What did Jesus, the Son of Man, come to do? What does that mean for us as we seek to be Christ-like?
3. John 9:34 tells us that the once blind man was thrown out of the temple for his statements about Jesus. Read John 2:19-21. Jesus is the temple in that passage, so even though the once blind man was thrown out of the temple, what simple thing did he need to do to regain access to the true temple?