Son of Man: Daniel 7:13-14
Anyone can be a part of the indestructible kingdom of the Son of Man. There is no secret handshake or password. There is no secret invitation you need to receive. All that is necessary to become a part of the kingdom of the Son of Man is to receive God’s grace and allow Christ to dwell within you.
Daniel looks and sees one like a son of man come before the Ancient of Days. The phrasing here is interesting. In the modern church, we hear the expression “Son of Man” and immediately think of Jesus. This is because in several places Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man to connect his divinity to his humanity. Prior to Jesus, though, this phrase didn’t have much to do with God’s Messiah. Throughout the Old Testament, the phrase son of man was a glorified way of saying a human being.
What makes this expression in Daniel 7:13 interesting is because Daniel doesn’t say a son of man. Neither does Daniel say the Son of Man. Daniel claims that one like a son of man comes forth. In other words, Daniel claims that something that is not a human being but who appears like a human being comes to stand before the Ancient of Days.
I can’t think of a better way to refer to Jesus prior to Him coming to earth. Jesus did look like a human being. People who saw Him thought He was a regular human being. After the crucifixion, the disciples asked if they could literally put their fingers into the crucifixion wounds. You don’t get more human in appearance than looks like a human capable of being wounded in ways similar to how human beings are wounded.
At the same time, Jesus wasn’t fully human. He was born of Mary, but he was not fully human. He was fully human and fully divine. He was more than a son of man. He was God-made-man. He appeared like a human being, but was so much more. Jesus is the one Daniel sees come before the Ancient of Days in his vision.
Jesus is given an eternal kingdom that cannot be destroyed. I find the kingdom of the son of man difficult to contemplate. Jesus’ kingdom cannot be seen. You cannot find Jesus’ kingdom on a political map of the world. Membership cards aren’t carried by those in the kingdom. However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Anyone who serves Jesus is a part of His kingdom. Membership into His kingdom is simple: He dwells within you.
Daniel tells us all people of all nations will belong to His kingdom. The kingdom of the Son of Man does not end with the Jews, or the males, or the smart, or the pretty. Anyone can come to Jesus. Anyone can serve Him. Anyone can be a part of the indestructible kingdom of the Son of Man.
