As Michael Keen says in ‘St Marks Gospel and the Christian Faith’, the title ‘Son of God’ could also refer to God’s angels (Genesis 6:2), to Israel (Hosea 11:1) or to the King (2 Samuel 7:14) – those who had a very close relationship with God.
‘Mark A Gospel for Today’ claims that to Christians today, Jesus is the Son of God who has always existed. The miracle of the virgin birth shows that he is different from ordinary men. Jesus is said to be the incarnation of God, or God made human. This idea is backed up by sayings from John; (Jn 10:30) “The Father and I are one” and (Jn 14:9) “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father”. Simon and Christopher Danes also point out that ‘Son of God’ is the shorthand way of referring to the Incarnation. How Jesus suffered, died and rose again (Mk 8:31). The Nicene Creed also sums up the meaning of the Son of God for Christians today. The Nicene Creed dates from the 4th century and some parts are earlier still. It is a written statement of belief, and it says about Jesus as the Son of God:
“We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate form the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.”
Simon and Christopher Danes suggest that, through Jesus, Christians can see what God is like. ‘Son of’ can also translate as ‘like’, so Son of God can also mean ‘like God’. His teaching has God’s authority, which makes him the perfect human being. This is why Christians today try to imitate Jesus by acting as he would, in hope of being a good Christian and being accepted into the Kingdom of God.
Jesus used the title Son of Man for himself more than any other title. It comes from the Old Testament, from Daniel chapter 7, where it is described in an account of one of Daniel’s dreams or visions. He explains he sees four terrifying and savage beast appear form the sea. Then he sees and old man sitting as though in judgement and Daniel describes him as “one like the Son of Man” (7:13). The title was used to describe a heavenly being with immense power. The ‘Son of Man’ was an ambiguous title because it had two meanings; describing someone human and someone divine. The ‘Son of Man’ was said to be close to the Father and adored by angels. Jesus used the title Son of Man (and kept the Messianic secret) rather than other titles such as Son of God or Messiah because he knew people misinterpreted these, and would believe him to be a great warrior who would free the Jews from the Romans by fighting. It is thought that this is not what Jesus wanted to do. He used the title to show his power and authority came from God. In Mark’s Gospel, there are three passages that show this power and authority: The Paralysed Man (2:1-12), where he showed he has the authority on Earth to forgive sins. The Question about the Sabbath, showing the Son of Man was the Lord of the Sabbath, and (10:45), where Jesus says; “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served; he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people.”. It is said that this shows the Son of Man’s life was a ransom, but eventually will be seen on the right hand of God in the clouds of Heaven. This is the assumption that the atonement theory of sacrifice is true (that Jesus came to die for our sins). Jesus also says that the Son of Man will suffer and die, rise again and will come in glory at the end of time to judge people.
Christians today don’t use the title Son of Man very often when talking about Jesus (but the ideas behind his words are still important to them). As Simon and Christopher Danes say in ‘Mark A Gospel for Today’, Christians believe Jesus has God’s authority, he can forgive sins, Jesus’ death means salvation for everyone and Jesus is with the Father in heaven, but will return to earth in glory at the end of time. They also believe Jesus is fully God and fully human, the incarnation of God.
So like the Son of Man in the Old Testament, Christians believe Jesus had the authority to forgive sins. They also say that his destiny was to suffer and die and to give himself as ransom for our sins.
