The MAN: Threefold Identity of Yeshua the Christ

Son of Man: Messiah, Christ, and Head

1. Messiah: Yeshua of Nazareth

   1. Historical identity of Yeshua of Nazareth, a rabbi, prophet, and messiah of first-century Israel.

      1. Rabbi who taught with authority.

      2. Prophet to both the established religious and political entities of the time.

      3. Arguably a failed messiah or the most revolutionary messiah of Jewish history.

         1. Didn't overthrow the Romans, He adopted them.

         2. Didn't restore the Temple, He decentralized it.

2. Christ: Eternal Word of God

   1. Eternal Identity as the Word of God. Capturing and expressing the fullness of the nature of the Father in Heaven and embodying the role of the submissive, and thereby glorified, aspect of Divinity.

      God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. - Hebrews 1:1-4

3. Head: Chief Human and Firstborn of the New Humanity

   1. As the one who emptied Himself that He might be made full, He is the true expression and definition of what it means to be human as well as being the one who restores and completes humanity into their role as divine beings reigning with YHVH.

      And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; - Romans 8:28-29

The Gospel of the Kingdom: A New Restored Way to be Human

1. The Anthem of the Born-Again

   "When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." - Matthew 5:1-12

   1. Blessed: the greek makarios meaning to be happy, fortunate, or well off. This calls to mind the idea that there is an extension of divine power to enable the joy and fortune. Not just good circumstances, an impartation from divinity.

   2. The Blessed Circumstances

      1. Poor in Spirit: literally means to be bowed down in spirit.

         1. Blessed has a wordplay meaning “bowing before” and thus the wordplay here is that the blessed of God are bent over either by the harshness of the world or as a bowing before God to receive the Kingdom.

      2. Mourning: the experience of grief and sorrow.

         1. The emotional response to loss or discontent that does not involve anger, vengeance, blaming, or ignoring.

      3. Gentle: meaning humble, meek, lowly, or modest.

         1. Those who either cannot or who will not act in their own self-interest or aggrandizement. Those who do not rule over others.

      4. Those who feel lust, longing, and painful wanting for righteousness.

         1. Their desires will be met. The restoration and transformation they long for will happen.

      5. Merciful: meaning those who extend the grace and loving-kindness of God.

         1. This creates a Divine feedback loop.

      6. Pure of heart: those who have their hearts cleansed.

         1. Not those who have never experienced twisted motivations and emotions, but those who have allowed those emotions and motivations to be cleaned.

      7. The Peacemakers: the ones who demonstrate God.

         "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. - Matthew 5:44-45

      8. The Persecuted.

         1. Notice that this is not about those who are persecuted for any kind of meanness or unkindness, but merely as the collateral damage from being in Christ.

         2. Persecuted as prophets

            1. following God rather than men

            2. speaking truth to power