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The Bible Says
In Matthew, “Son of David,” is emphasized. While there is perfect harmony between all the gospels, each writer was inspired to emphasize one important phase of His Ministry. Matthew is largely prophetic and among other things, sets forth Christ’s future Reign on David’s throne. Hence in Matthew, He is often referred to as “Son of David”. Luke emphasizes His humanity, hence the title “son of man,” is used again and again. John declares Jesus Christ to be the “Son of God.” This Title is predominant throughout his entire gospel.
“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, The son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). “And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitude that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:8,9).
Man, himself, was responsible for bringing the curse of death and eternal judgment upon the human race. Only a perfect man could pay the penalty for sin and redeem man from that curse. Angels couldn’t do it! God Himself could not do it, without first becoming man. Man could not redeem himself, because all men are sinners. It was necessary, then, for God to become a man and as a perfect man, die for our sins. Because of His great love for us, the “Son of God” became the “son of man” and died in our stead on the cross of Calvary. No one knows how the Son of God looked before He became a man. All we know is that He has always been God, before and after He became man. He was born a man in Bethlehem’s manger, and He appeared to His disciples as a man, after His Resurrection. He is now seated as a man, at the right hand of God the Father on High. He will remain a man throughout the eternal ages to come, seated at the right hand of the Father as the once crucified, but now resurrected and glorified Son of God and Son of man. When Jesus referred to Himself as “the son of man,” He was speaking of One who would, as a glorified man, sit on the right hand of the Father on High, and Reign as both God and man, forever and ever!
“In the beginning was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1-4). “I came from the Father, and am come into the world. Again I leave the world, and go to the Father” (John 16:28). When the Bible speaks of “beginning”, it refers to creation. It does not refer to God the Father, or God the Son, because both are eternal and have no beginning or ending. They live in such harmony Christ was able to say at the grave of Lazarus, “I know that thou hearest me always” (John 11:42).
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Who is God’s only begotten Son? The man born a babe in Bethlehem’s Manger 2000 years ago, the only sinless man who ever lived! He who was called “The Word” in John 1:1 was not begotten of God. He is as eternal as God the Father. The only time in all eternity He felt separated from the Father was that period of time on the cross of Calvary when Jesus cried, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). God turned His face from that awful scene upon that Cross because He no longer saw His beloved Son, but He saw your sin and mine! Every sin and atrocity man ever committed was heaped upon Jesus as He hung on that old rugged cross. Every little white lie; every unkind word, thought or deed; as well as the great sins of murder, lust and adultery -- “For He made Him who knew no sin to be made sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (II Corinthians 5:21 NKJB).
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