Evening, March 25
Go To Morning Reading
“The Son of man.”
John 3:13
How constantly our Master used the title, the “Son of man!” If he had chosen, he might always have spoken of himself as the Son
of God, the Everlasting Father, the Wonderful, the Counsellor, the
Prince of Peace; but behold the lowliness of Jesus! He prefers to
call himself the Son of man. Let us learn a lesson of humility from
our Saviour; let us never court great titles nor proud degrees. There
is here, however, a far sweeter thought. Jesus loved manhood so much,
that he delighted to honour it; and since it is a high honour, and
indeed, the greatest dignity of manhood, that Jesus is the Son of
man, he is wont to display this name, that he may as it were hang
royal stars upon the breast of manhood, and show forth the love of
God to Abraham’s seed. Son of man —whenever he said that word, he shed a halo round the head of Adam’s children. Yet there is perhaps a more precious thought still. Jesus
Christ called himself the Son of man to express his oneness and sympathy
with his people. He thus reminds us that he is the one whom we may
approach without fear. As a man, we may take to him all our griefs
and troubles, for he knows them by experience; in that he himself
hath suffered as the “Son of man,” he is able to succour and comfort us. All hail, thou blessed Jesus!
inasmuch as thou art evermore using the sweet name which acknowledges
that thou art a brother and a near kinsman, it is to us a dear token
of thy grace, thy humility, thy love.
“Oh see how Jesus trusts himself
Unto our childish love,
As though by his free ways with us
Our earnestness to prove!
His sacred name a common word
On earth he loves to hear;
There is no majesty in him
Which love may not come near.”