Through others’ support of Faith for Living we have been asked to join with Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship to produce tracts for the 2015 Super Bowl. This is the first of two tracts made available for that purpose. Perhaps this link could also help you in witnessing to others about our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you and Happy New Year. May the Son of Man be glorified in our land.
“Who is Jesus?” This is the most compelling question in history. Why? Because He made great claims of Himself that were attested by verifiable historical witnesses. Within their lifetimes these witnesses to Jesus would give their very lives to carry the message of His identify to the ends of the earth. In the process many other people, families, tribes, and even nations—including those nations which had opposed the message of Jesus, like the Roman Empire—believed that Jesus is God in the flesh.
“Who is Jesus?” It is a question that you, too, must answer for yourself.
When Jesus referred to Himself as “the Son of Man” (81 times in the Gospels) He communicated, at least, three great truths about Himself.
“The Son of Man” tells us about His PERSON.
Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus was referring to Himself as the promised Person of God; the One sent to earth to live the life we could never live. He became “the Son of Man” so that we could become children of God. Jesus, “the Son of Man” is completely human. In fact, his life brings nobility to humanity. Yet, He is “very God of very God, begotten not made.” Jesus is fully God. No other person was like Him.
“The Son of Man” tells us about His POWER.
“The Son of Man” has a distinctive Hebrew Scriptural meaning (i.e., the Book of Daniel the prophet). It speaks to His identify as the Almighty God. Thus we read,
“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30);
Jesus was referring to Himself as God. When Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was dying from being stoned to death, he cried, “Look, … I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56)! Jesus the Son of Man has the power of life and death for you and me. He has the power to save us from the penalty of breaking God’s universal laws. He has the power to deposit His perfect life for yours. The Son of Man’s power is demonstrated in His life—miraculous birth, miraculous healing and raising others from the death—and in His own resurrection from the dead.
“The Son of Man” tells us about His PLAN.
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man will be accomplished … They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again” (Luke 18:31-33).
Jesus was speaking of Himself as “the Son of Man.” And Jesus did just what He predicted. Jesus was crucified unto death and did rise again from the dead.
The Great Wager
The French philosopher and mathematician, Blaise Pascal (1623–1662), answered the question about Jesus for himself. He believed that Jesus was, in fact, God in the flesh. Then, Pascal, gave what has been called his famous “wager.” Pascal proposed that if Jesus and all of those who have followed him through the ages, including kings and queens, presidents and prime ministers, rich men and poor men, are wrong, then, if you would have followed him,—and Jesus was not the Son of Man—you would have lost nothing (or, at least, a “finite” loss; perhaps, some small things, like time in worship, restraint in morally questionable acts, etc., but the good of keeping His commandments would have outweighed those small “losses”). Yet, if Jesus is the One He claims He is—and the One whom others testified, unto their deaths, rose from the dead and is, in fact, God in the flesh—and you do not obey Him by faith, then you will have lost all, even an eternity. Are you willing to wager your very soul against the testimony of Jesus and those who witnessed His resurrection?
Who is Jesus? He is “the Son of Man” who lived the life you could never live, died an atoning death for you, and offers eternal life to all who will repent of their sins and believe in Him. It is no wonder that the question remains the most important single question that men and women, boys and girls must answer in this life.
What is your answer to the compelling case of “the Son of Man?” I pray you will answer, “Jesus is my resurrected and living Lord.”