Advent Day 21: Son of Man

As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13–14 NLT)

When Jesus talks about Himself or refers to His deeds or ministry, He refers to Himself as Son of Man more often than anything else. On first glance, it appears this is simply an awkward method of saying that He is human, as if He was a child still learning the nuances of language. Instead, for those with ears to hear, Jesus is alluding to something grander than the phrase seems to imply. He is making a direct connection between Himself and this vision from Daniel 7.

Jesus is not the first to make this connection. Gabriel references the Son of Man’s eternal reign and never-ending Kingdom when he tells Mary of her impending pregnancy. Yet despite Son of Man being His rightful title since before His birth, He does not take it on lightly. In his book God the Son Incarnate, Stephen J. Wellum writes, “To become the promised Son of Man, the Son of God came from heaven through incarnation, conquered Satan, sin, and death through crucifixion and resurrection, gives victory to his people through vicarious suffering and justification, and will return to bring eternal judgment upon all his enemies and to reign forever with his people in righteousness.”

Whether it is in resisting temptation, bringing hope to a soul in need, using your gifts for the good of your church family, or in some other way announcing the Gospel of the Kingdom, how will you manifest Christ’s victory over sin and death in your life today?

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