“6. What is the significance of the name ‘Son of Man,’ with which
Christ designated Himself?
This name is also derived from the Old Testament, specifically from
Daniel 7. After the description of the four world monarchies, portrayed by as
many animals (a lion with eagle’s wings, a bear, a panther, a beast not
mentioned by name), reference is made to one ‘who is like a son of man’ and who
by the ‘Ancient of Days’ is given ‘dominion and honor and a kingdom that all
peoples and nations and languages should honor him; his dominion is an
everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingdom shall not be
destroyed’ [Dan 7:13-14]. It is not subject to doubt that the Messiah is
intended here, although not the Messiah by himself. Since the Son of Man comes
to supercede the earlier world-kingdoms, he must be taken here, together with
his kingdom and it subjects, as ruler over Israel representing his people. He
is called a son of man because over against the wild and animal-like
world-kingdoms he represents true humanity as it must be in God’s kingdom…he
apparently wanted to counter the faulty conceptions that people had formed
about the Messiah as an outward king. The kingdom in which He is Messiah and
King is not according to the manner of the kingdoms of this world – which find
their image in an animal-type, but it bears a human countenance…”
- Geerhardus Vos (1862-1949), Reformed
Dogmatics, vol. 3 (Lexham Press), pgs. 17-18.
Every once in a while you come across something truly special in a
Systematic Theology (even Louis Berkhof gets almost poetic at times). In this
quote, Vos reminds us how important it is to know your Old Testament, and to
let the O.T. inform our reading of the New. You will never understand the Book
unless you read it as a whole, unified, connected Book.
The theme of “king” and “kingdom” are massively important to a right understanding
of Jesus – I was reminded of that yesterday writing part of a sermon on the
second petition of the “Lord’s Prayer.” Vos’ words underscore that for me.
Jesus is King of the heavens and the earth. In His Kingdom and in submission to Him as King, humanity
will one day become what it was created to be.
While Vos doesn’t make this connection here, this commentary on the
title “son of man” also informs us concerning the “beast” in the Revelation. All
other kings and kingdoms are ultimately bestial (rebellious against God’s will)
because they deviate from Christ.
(As a side note, this shows that Vos does his best Systematic Theology
when he’s actually doing Biblical Theology.)
