Lesson 2 for July 12, 2014

THE DUAL NATURE OF JESUS The Son of man Completely human He revealed His messianic mission The Son of God Completely divine He revealed His divinity

“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.” (Matthew 18:11) Jesus called Himself “Son of Man.” In the Old Testament, that term was related to human beings. God called both Ezekiel and Daniel “Son of Man.” Jesus is also introduced as the “Son of Man” in the book of Daniel (Daniel 7:13; 10:16). Jesus wanted to highlight that He was completely human. God joined the human family by being born as a man.

“I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.” (Daniel 7:13) “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30) “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.” (Matthew 25:31) “Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.’” (Matthew 26:64)

Jesus came to restore what man had lost in Eden. MAN He lost his relationship with God He lost his holiness He lost his home He lost the eternal life JESUS He restored our relationship with the Father (John 1:51) He forgives our sins and teaches us how to live our lives (Matthew 26:28; 1 Peter 2:21) He is preparing a place for us (John 14:1-3) He gives us eternal life (John 3:16) “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

“The great condescension on the part of God is a mystery beyond our fathoming. The greatness of the plan cannot be fully comprehended, nor could infinite wisdom devise a plan that would surpass it. It could be successful only by... Christ becoming man, and suffering the wrath which sin has made because of the transgression of God’s law. Through this plan the great, the dreadful God can be just, and yet be the justifier of all who believe in Jesus, and who receive Him as their personal Saviour. This is the heavenly science of redemption, of saving men from eternal ruin.” E.G.W. (God’s Amazing Grace, June 2)

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31) Both angels and men asserted that Jesus is the Son of God.  Gabriel. Luke 1:35.  John the Baptist. John 1:34.  Nathanael. John 1:49.  The disciples. Mathew 14:33.  Martha. John 11:27. The Jews understood that Jesus was declaring Himself God when using that title: “…Do you say… ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?” (John 10:36; see John 10:33) The complete unity of Jesus and the Father includes a mutual and perfect knowledge of Each Other: a unity of will, purpose, and objectives. Moreover, it includes a unity of nature. The Son and the Father are Two Persons but of the same nature (“I and the Father are one.” John 10:30)

“The Jews answered Him, saying, ‘For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.’” (John 10:33) Jesus gradually unveiled His divinity during His ministry. He claimed He could forgive sins “When He saw their faith, He said to him, ‘Man, your sins are forgiven you.’” (Luke 5:20) He could resurrect the dead “For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.” (John 5:21) He named himself “I AM” “Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’” (John 8:58) He stated He already was with God before the world was created “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” (John 17:5) He accepted to be worshipped “Then he said, ‘Lord, I believe!’ And he worshiped Him.” (John 9:38)

“At the Saviour’s baptism, Satan was among the witnesses. He saw the Father’s glory overshadowing His Son. He heard the voice of Jehovah testifying to the divinity of Jesus. Ever since Adam’s sin, the human race had been cut off from direct communion with God; the intercourse between heaven and earth had been through Christ; but now that Jesus had come “in the likeness of sinful flesh” (Romans 8:3), the Father Himself spoke. He had before communicated with humanity through Christ; now He communicated with humanity in Christ.” E.G.W. (The Desire of Ages, cp. 12, pg. 116)