“Stand up, son of man,” said the voice. “I want to speak with you.” The Spirit came into me as he spoke, and he set me on my feet. I listened carefully to his words. “Son of man,” he said, “I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have been rebelling against me to this very day. They are a stubborn and hard-hearted people. But I am sending you to say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says!’ And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for remember, they are rebels—at least they will know they have had a prophet among them. “Son of man, do not fear them or their words. Don’t be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels. You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious! Son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not join them in their rebellion. Open your mouth, and eat what I give you.” Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me. It held a scroll, which he unrolled. And I saw that both sides were covered with funeral songs, words of sorrow, and pronouncements of doom. [Ezekiel 2.1-10]
There are two main things I see in this passage today One is that the term "son of man" is used four times. The other is that this message was for Israel.
"Son of man" is the term Jesus repeatedly used when identifying Himself.
Israel has connection to every believer because predestination makes them in Christ Who is in Israel.
With these two statements in consideration, Ezekiel 2.1-10 becomes something that every believer needs to take to heart!
When God is addressing "son of man" here, the context of the passage makes that address specifically to Ezekiel. However, as Jesus referred to Himself as "Son of man," we can see and understand His role in this passage. But it doesn't stop there because Jesus' reference to Himself as "son of man" served to identify Himself as a willing member of humanity, meaning we too can identify with "son of man!" This is only further confirmed in the Apostle Paul's later writings about believers being "in Christ."
Likewise, Israel very much identifies Christ and very much identifies every believer in Christ because Israel was identified long ago as God's "chosen people." Jesus' identity was revealed in Israel. But, like the paragraph above, it does not stop there because every believer's identity is revealed in Christ - and Christ in them.
No passage of scripture more clearly reveals all this "identity" than John chapter 17. Here is some of that:
They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. [John 17.16-23]
The conclusion of all this interconnectivity is that all the Bible is about Jesus and therefore about me. Ezekiel 2.1-10 is about Jesus and is about me. John 17 is about Jesus and is about me. The Bible is speaking to me! And I am to speak to all who would-be believers as Christ Himself would speak to all would-be believers.
The only difference between "son of man" in Ezekiel 2.1-10 and "Israel" is that one is "messenger" and the other is recipient of the message.
Hmmm...
Father, I want to always see Jesus in the Word - Old Testament as well as New Testament. As I see Jesus, help me to see myself so You will be glorified, not in me, but in Christ!
1 comment:
I love the simplistic way your write this down for us to see more clearly Greg, thanks brother. I have always felt the connection to the Lord Jesus Christ. I have felt the me in Him and Him in me way before I ever truly knew who He was. I have heard all my life who Jesus is but that does nothing for me not until I know in my soul that revelation. I have to receive the Rama Word of knowing not hearing but knowing who Christ is and who I am. As I come to know who I am and who he is in me I can begin to grasp the concept of your words here. It has taken me years to get to this understanding of who I am and who He is. but through the help of brothers like you Greg I have gained that understanding much sooner than this ol' mind could on its own. I have learned through the relationship I have with Christ and through the relationships I have with Brothers and Sisters such as you dear brother. God bless you and thanks for always being so open and direct and thought provoking.
Love ya Brother.
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