Jesus the Son of Man · Chapter
John the Son of Zebedee explained
John the Beloved Disciple explains the various names and titles of Jesus, distinguishing between Jesus the Nazarene as a man and the Christ as the divine Word or Spirit that dwelt in Him.
What happens
John the Beloved Disciple explains the various names and titles of Jesus, distinguishing between Jesus the Nazarene as a man and the Christ as the divine Word or Spirit that dwelt in Him. He describes the Christ as the flame of God, the first Word, who has appeared in many lands and times, and emphasizes that Jesus, the Man of Nazareth, was the host and mouthpiece of the Christ. John also explains why Jesus desired to be called the Son of Man, as He knew man's hunger and thirst and sought to lead his brothers to the Anointed One.
Themes in this chapter
Humanity and Divinity of Jesus
John distinguishes between Jesus the man and the Christ the divine Word, emphasizing both His humanity and His divine indwelling.
Spiritual vs. Political Kingdom
John describes the Christ as a spiritual presence that has come to many lands, not a political ruler, and speaks of the Temple Invisible.
Characters to notice
- John the Beloved Disciple
Narrator of the chapter, explaining the nature of Christ and Jesus.
- Jesus
Referred to as Jesus the Nazarene, the Man of Nazareth, and the Son of Man; the host and mouthpiece of the Christ.
Key passages
“The Christ, He who was in the ancient of days, is the flame of God that dwells in the spirit of man.”
The Christ is the eternal divine spark within every human spirit.
John explains the spiritual nature of Christ.
“Jesus the Nazarene was born and reared like ourselves; His mother and father were like our parents, and He was a man. But the Christ, the Word, who was in the beginning, the Spirit who would have us live our fuller life, came unto Jesus and was with Him.”
Jesus was a normal human, but the divine Christ, the Word, came to dwell in Him.
John clarifies the relationship between Jesus and the Christ.