The Son of Man bringing the Kingdom

‘I am,’ said Jesus. ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ – Mark 14:62 (NIV)

Daniel’s leading prophecy is: ‘I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshipped him. His kingdom is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed’ - Daniel 7:13-14 (NIV).

Mark presents Jesus the Messiah fulfilling this prophecy; He is this ‘Son of Man’ from heaven, establishing his kingdom on earth.

In Mark 4, Jesus teaches about how this kingdom has been planted and is now growing in the world.

In Mark 13, Jesus teaches how this present human age we live in will be brought to an end through the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom to all nations and the coming of the Son of Man in the clouds with great power and glory.

In Mark’s gospel, the title ‘Son of Man’ is used 14 times and in every case, Jesus uses it to refer to himself.

In 12 of these cases, Jesus uses this term to describe and teach in different ways how he will be glorified through suffering and death.

There is a remarkable similarity between Daniel’s picture of men and women enduring suffering because of their obedience to God but then being subsequently vindicated by God, and the way Mark demonstrates that Jesus, ‘one like a son of man’, is vindicated and glorified by God after suffering and dying.

Mark shows that Jesus, the Son of Man, reigns from the Cross.

‘If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this sinful and adulterous generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels’ – Mark 8:38 (NIV).

QQQ – How, either with words or without words, can you identify with Jesus and his teaching among those you are with today?