Fully Devoted: Israel, Act 2Sample

A Second Adam

“In my vision at night 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 worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14 NIV

Daniel continued to faithfully serve God in exile, and he excelled under multiple different kings and regime changes. He used his gifts for the good of all those around him, refused to compromise in his commitment to God, and obeyed even when it was hard—really hard, like when he was threatened with ravenous lions. God not only used Daniel’s life to draw pagan kings to Himself, but also to bring a prophetic message to His people. In fact, Daniel had so much to say on future events that this book is sometimes called the “Revelation” or apocalypse of the Old Testament. And in this particular chapter, he describes the messianic title that Jesus most often called Himself. He says “one like a son of man” would come and establish a kingdom that would never be destroyed. 

When Jesus came, He not only claimed this title—He introduced this kingdom. 

So what does “Son of Man” mean? Well, one way to think of the Son of Man is through the definition “the human one.” Jesus became one of us in order to teach us what it really means to be human. He showed us the kind of relationship God longs to have with each of us. He introduced this new way of living, thinking, loving, and seeing. The true way to be human. 

Additionally, the title connects Jesus to Adam, the first man, whose name literally meant human! Paul describes this connection: 

… Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:14-15 NLT

The first Adam brought sin, and on the heels of sin, death. But Jesus, the second Adam, brought the gift of life. He brought a kingdom that would not pass away or be destroyed. Jesus came to undo the damage of the sin that entered creation through Adam’s rebellion. And on the other side of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, Paul writes a description of our King that sounds remarkably similar to Daniel’s prophetic dream. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:8-11 NIV

Jesus came as the Son of Man—He put on human flesh to teach us how to be truly human. He became the second Adam we needed to undo the damage of sin that came through the first Adam’s rebellion. And He introduced a very different kind of kingdom. A kingdom that is both here now and still to come. A kingdom that we’re all invited into and also get to help build. It’s a kingdom that will last forever. What a message of hope for exiles—a group of conquered captives under these great empires could now look forward to an unconquerable kingdom. And because of Jesus, we get to experience, in our present reality, what was their future hope.   

Journaling Questions 

• What verse or verses stuck out to you today? Take some time to write those down. Why did they stand out? 
• Describe Jesus’ relation to Adam in your own words. 
• Why was it important for Jesus to come as the “Son of Man?”

Memory Verse

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 NIV