Jesus, The Son of God and Man

“Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.” 1 Cor. 15:24,25

When I read Reverend Edward Payson’s sermon on this passage, I was overwhelmed with the substance of what is said in these two verses. I could hardly believe that our Lord’s reign, as clearly stated in this verse, will come to an end. At some point in the future, Jesus will deliver up His kingdom to God. I was admittedly confused. In Psalm 145:13, we read of the promised Messiah, “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.” So how is it in this passage that Paul writes that Jesus will deliver up the kingdom, and His reign is limited, ’till he hath put all enemies under his feet?’  Thus, I cried aloud:

Lord, I don’t understand! I am not asking to know what You’ve kept secret. It’s right there… written down in Your Holy Word. Will my Lord’s reign end? How is that?

As I continued to read Payson’s sermon, I realized the true nature of Jesus as the Son of God and Son of man. For the first time in my sixty-two years, I finally saw a little more clearly when Payson wrote of Jesus’ birth: “The Father created a human soul, which the Word took into union with Himself, and thus became the Son of God. In union with this soul, he entered into a human body, and thus became the Son of man.”  Wow! Really? Lord, really? Now maybe I’m the densest kid on the block, and my readers knew this long before me, but this simple clarification set in order so many different passages in Scripture; especially those of Philippians 2:5-7, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”  Of course, my mind raced… flipping the pages of God’s Word in my mind… it became abundantly clear why the virgin birth is a preeminent doctrine of a Christian’s faith and how it was the Son of man, while God in the flesh, didn’t always seem to possess all of God’s attributes. For example, He didn’t know the day or hour wherein He would return. (Mat. 25:13) And further, why was it necessary for the Holy Spirit to have descended upon him? (Mat. 3:17) Was Jesus not God?

Yes! However, as Paul wrote in Philippians, as the Son of God, Jesus did not consider it robbery to cling to His Deity. In the Greek, the word robbery has as one of its meanings, ‘a thing to be seized upon or to be held fast, retained.’  Thus, as the Son of God, He was willing to give it up; rather than cling to it. What did He receive in return? Well, as is written, He made Himself of no reputation; which in the Greek has the meaning, ‘to empty, make empty.’ Thus, as the Son of man, Jesus was born empty of all of God’s attributes and glorious features; thus, as Isaiah wrote,

“For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground.
He has no form or comeliness;
And when we see Him,
There is no beauty that we should desire Him.”

In sum, Jesus was born the Son of God as conceived by the Holy Spirit. However, in the flesh, He was the Son of man; the second Adam, who was born as Adam was created at the first; subject to temptation, trial and suffering… even to His death. He came to establish a Mediatorial kingdom; as prophet, priest and king, which kingdom He will one day deliver up to God, the Father.

I have more to say on this matter and it’s impact on our lives, but for now, I’ll end and deliver up to God for you what is written in this place for His Spirit’s illumination and rumination in your life, as Paul wrote, ‘Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.’ Yes, empty yourself of all that impedes God from finishing the work that He had begun in you.