"And behold, One like the Son of Man …" (Dan. 7:13).
No matter what political party or ruler might be in control, the scepter of power firmly resides in the hand of our mighty Lord. Jesus Christ rules. He alone has been given dominion over all nations. Like His robe that fills the temple, His majesty fills the earth, and one day every knee will bow before His throne.
For the next several blog posts, we will explore the theme of the majesty of Christ. Knowledge of His kingship will ground our confidence in His sovereignty and keep us steady as we live amid unrighteousness. As we come into a deeper awareness of who Christ is and of His authority, our faith will be strengthened and our service to the King enlarged. While the world goes about its business, ignoring the sovereign rule of Christ, the Church must remain steadfast in its duty to the King—to honor and obey Him, to trust in His protection, to live as subjects of the kingdom, and to proclaim His gospel to a rebellious world.
Like people today, many refused to recognize the kingship and authority of Christ when He lived on earth. They were blinded by their own delusions and sin. Jesus sought to dispel such delusions when He asked, “Who do the people say the Son of Man is?” In asking the question, Jesus used the title “Son of Man” to identify Himself, thus indicating His true nature.
Many assume “Son of Man” refers only to Jesus’s humanity, but it means much more. This was Jesus’s favorite self-designation. The “Son of Man” carries with it profound implications. It refers to the night vision of Daniel 7 when he saw, “One like the Son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.… to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away.…” As you can see, the true meaning of “Son of Man” is significant because it refers to one who is of divine origin and who has eternal authority over all things. The people of Jesus’ day missed the reality of who He was, and, as a result, they did not recognize His authority. In the same way, unbelievers today refuse to give Christ the glory and honor He is due because they cannot grasp the reality of His divine nature and sovereign authority.
How has the realization that Christ is the Son of Man, that the Messiah is God Himself, changed your response to His commands? Do you recognize His authority over you? Do you obey Christ as a subject obeys his king? Do you take God’s law and His commands in Scripture seriously? If not, confess it to Him today.
