We are in Mark for our Summer Reading Challenge for 2022. Today I would like to share my reflections for Mark chapter 2, which asks the question: “Who is the Son of Man?”
- Mark chapter 2 has four key segments: (1) Jesus Heals a Paralytic (2:1-12); (2) Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector (2:13-17); (3) Jesus answers a question about Fasting (2:18-22); and (4) Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (2:23-28).
- My reflection today comes from the emphasis Jesus places on the title “Son of Man” occurring in segment 1 (the healing of the paralytic), and segment 4 (the Lord of the Sabbath). The appearance of this title at the beginning and end of Mark 2 provide nice book ends to the content in the middle.
As we begin to look at the term Son of Man in Mark 2, it is helpful to consider Mark’s usage of this title.
Mark’s use of “Son of Man”
- It is interesting that after introducing Jesus with the title “Son of God” in chapter 1, we see Jesus using the title “Son of Man” to refer to himself (and both times in the presence of the religious leaders). The title “Son of Man” appears here, in Chapter 2, twice. It is then used heavily in the second half of Mark (a total of 12 times from Chapters 8-14).
- However, THE NEXT OCCURRENCE after this one in Mark 2, will not be until the end of chapter 8 when Jesus begins to “teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again” (8:31).
- Jesus also uses this title when stating His purpose for coming into the World:
- “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
- THE FINAL OCCURRENCE of “Son of Man” in Mark is found in 14:62. The is perhaps one of the most significant statements about who Jesus proclaimed himself to be. Here, Jesus identifies Himself as the Messiah, the Son of God, and the “Son of Man” figure from Daniel 7:
- Jesus was asked by the high priest (14:61), “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
- The Jewish leaders knew exactly what Jesus meant – and the charge of blasphemy was their grounds for execution. Jesus was saying that HE IS the “Son of Man” figure in Daniel 7 who was distinct from the Ancient of Days, and yet remarkably received “dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him” (Dan 7:14) — an everlasting kingdom.
- For a scholarly exploration of what Daniel understood of the vision of “the Son of Man” in Daniel 7, see “With the Clouds of Heaven: The book of Daniel in biblical theology” by James Hamilton Jr. – pages 135-154.[1]
- The Jewish leaders knew exactly what Jesus meant – and the charge of blasphemy was their grounds for execution. Jesus was saying that HE IS the “Son of Man” figure in Daniel 7 who was distinct from the Ancient of Days, and yet remarkably received “dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him” (Dan 7:14) — an everlasting kingdom.
- Jesus was asked by the high priest (14:61), “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
- How then could we summarize these verses on how Jesus understood His role as the “Son of Man”?
- Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God — The Son of Man — came into this world to serve and give His life as a ransom for many – this would be accomplished through His suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection after three days. But that is not the end of the story, the Son of Man will be seen seated at the right hand of the Father and will be coming with the clouds of heaven.
- While these verses give us a great broader understanding of Jesus’ use of the title “Son of Man” in the Gospel of Mark, what do we learn about the Son of Man specifically in Mark 2?
“Son of Man” in Mark 2
- In Mark 2:1-12 we behold the scene of Jesus healing a Paralytic. But prior to healing the man, Jesus says something curious, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5). The nearby scribes (who were experts in the Law) were quite enraged, for as they thought, “He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (2:7).
- But Jesus knew their very thoughts — pause for a moment — imagine being in a large crowd, then thinking about what you have just heard, Jesus interrupts those thoughts and, specifically looking at you, addresses your thoughts without you ever having voiced them!! Who knows the thoughts of men? These verses would have been known to the Pharisees
- Psalm 139 is full of such proclamations — “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar” (139:2). “Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether” (139:4).
- Jeremiah 17:10 – “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds”
- David, speaking to his son Solomon states, “know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought” (1 Chron. 28:9)
- Who knows the thoughts of men – the answer is GOD, the LORD.
- Continuing in Mark 2 – Jesus then asks those who were thinking “blasphemy” – which is easier to say, “your sins are forgiven” or “rise, take up your bed and walk”? And we come to verse 10 “But that you may know that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sin” — he said to the paralytic — “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.”
- ULTIMATELY the question that is at the heart of the issue is addressed by Jesus in verse 10 – the question which must be answered (and is actually asked throughout the Gospel accounts) — “By whose (or what) authority do you do these things?” See Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 20. And that is a good question to ask! If you were unexpectedly being arrested, you would want to know what crime you committed and by whose authority are you being arrested.
- Jesus, in Mark 2:10, answers that question in two ways: (1) by applying the title “Son of Man” to himself. This figure in Daniel 7 who has been given dominion and a kingdom over all people; and (2) by doing only what God can do! By virtue of who He is, He has authority.
- But Jesus knew their very thoughts — pause for a moment — imagine being in a large crowd, then thinking about what you have just heard, Jesus interrupts those thoughts and, specifically looking at you, addresses your thoughts without you ever having voiced them!! Who knows the thoughts of men? These verses would have been known to the Pharisees
- So, in a similar fashion in Mark 2:23-27, we see Jesus addressing the charge that His disciples were doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath. Jesus addresses the Pharisees by showing them that “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath” (2:27).
- Once again, by what authority does Jesus allow His disciples to do what they are doing? The answer comes in that last phrase. How could “the Son of Man” claim “lordship” over the Sabbath when it was God who established it from the Creation of the World, it was God who commanded the observance it in the 10 Commandments?!
- Either Jesus is usurping a role which is not His to take —— or He is greater than a mere man, or a prophet, or a king.
- Mark is setting before you, and me, today this Jesus Christ. This Jesus who came to serve and to ransom many. This Jesus who called the rejected, the sinners, the tax collectors and make them emissaries of His Kingdom. This Jesus who came and calls you now to follow Him.
Conclusion:
- My friend, have you considered who this Jesus is? Do you know him? If you follow him, oh that you would worship this Great One! The Son of God, the Son of Man! I have added a link below to a spoken word piece.[2] It is literally Scripture after Scripture about who Jesus is. I highly encourage you to watch it!
- Have you read through Mark chapter 2 yet? Which of the four segments impacted you the most? What do you think about the title “Son of Man”? How are you going to follow this awesome Christ? Let me know in the comments below! If you have not already, please join us in this Summer Reading Challenge. I have included a link below to find the PDF for the reading plan.[3]
- I want to say, Thank you so much for joining me today on Byte-Size Theology
- Until next time friends, May our Great and Gracious God grant you focused, faithful, and fruitful time in His Word! See you over in the next episode!
[1] “With the Clouds of Heaven: The book of Daniel in biblical theology” by James Hamilton Jr. – see pages 135-154.
* This is an Affiliate Link. Affiliate links mean I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. This helps support Byte-Size Theology at no additional cost to you!