Evening, March 25
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
John 3:13
"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."