THE SERVANT OF THE LORD, THE SON OF MAN, THE LAMB, AND THE SHEPHERD

Sometime after they left the Garden of Eden, God blessed Adam and Eve with a son.   They called him "Cain," which means "Possession." The name seems strange, but God had promised that a descendant of Eve would be the Savior.   This is where the understanding of the Promised Seed comes from.   It also helps to understand the term, "Son of man," when viewed as the Seed.   Note that the Son would be Divine, yet of man, who was human.   In naming him Cain, Eve was saying, "I have gotten a man with the Lord."   She thought that Cain was the promised Seed, the Savior, the Son of man.   (Some translations try to add the words "help of."   To them, it just does not make sense for Eve to say.   "I have gotten a man with the Lord," so they add what is not there and make it say, "I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord."   Such additions demonstrate a poor understanding of Christology.

When the Savior would finally be born, He would in all truth be a man with the Lord, or as Jesus referred to Himself, "the Son of man."   Jesus used this title to refer to Himself throughout His ministry.   In Matthew this title occurs over thirty times, in Mark fourteen times, in Luke twenty five times, and in John twelve times.   When something is repeated this often it is a good idea to become familiar with it and understand why.  

Many point to Ezekiel or to Daniel, where the term the "Son of man" is used.   Others point to the Messianic Psalm, Psalm 8.   While all of these add to the understanding of the term, "the Son of man," perhaps the clearest reason why Jesus applied it to Himself is found in Psalm 80.   In this Psalm, God's people make their plea to God for help.   Their plea is to the "Shepherd of Israel." How fitting that Jesus referred to Himself as the "Good Shepherd" and "The Shepherd who searches for and lays down His life for the sheep."   Remember this as you read the first few verses of Psalm 80.   Note also the position that it says this Divine Deliverer takes up for man; it is "between the cherubim."   Then, see how beautifully it closes with everything depending upon the, "Son of man."   The Son of man, who is the right hand of God, whom the Lord made strong for Himself.  

This Son of man would have a tremendous work to accomplish when He came.   Isaiah describes His personage and His work, clearly identifying Him as the Servant of the Lord.   He does this in what are referred to as the Servant of the Lord sections.   Isaiah 41:1-7, 49:1-6, 50:4-9, 52:13-53:1-2, 61:1-3

The Servant of the Lord in these sections has the following things said about Himself and His work.

As was true with Jesus as the Divenly Promised: "Seed," "Rock," "Prophet," "Priest," and "King;" - As it was also true with Jesus as the Divine: "Word," "Wisdom," and "Messenger of the Lord,"- So then, it continues to be true.   If you make Jesus work as the "Servant of the Lord" and as the "Son of Man" less than being Divenly established and Divenly carried out, then you are missing the Depth of the Personal life, Suffering, Death, and Ressurection of the Savior.   These are things that should never be missed! The Christ of Scripture needs to be the focal point, knowledge, and faith of the believing soul.




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