1. The Titles of Jesus?

2. Jesus Carpenter Son of God Son of Man Messiah/Christ Lord Descendent of King David King of the Jews Son of David Rabbi/Teacher

3. Messiah/Christ The Jews were expecting a Messiah, a leader sent by God. Messiah and Christ mean the same thing – anointed one. Jewish kings and priests were anointed as a sign they were chosen by God.

4. Messiah/Christ The Jewish Messiah He would be a Son of David. A descendent of King David A great king and leader just like David. The Zealots were looking for a political leader who would fight the Romans and return Israel to the Jews. They wanted a warrior. The Messiah would be a human. To claim he would be God in human form was blasphemy.

5. Meaning of ‘Messiah’ for Christians today Just as the Jews came to hope for a Messiah who would free them from all their suffering, so Christians have always thought of Jesus the Christ as one who came to guide them through such times and bring them back to God. The Christian is commanded as a follower of Christ to stand against the evils in the world; to speak out against all injustice and to work for the peace and harmony of all people under God.

6. Son of Man Son of Man is the title that Jesus uses to describe himself. In Hebrew and Aramaic ‘Son of Man’ means a human being. So Jesus could have used the title to mean simply ‘this man’ or ‘I’. He is a man of the people.

7. Son of Man Daniel had a vision of someone like a Son of Man, who was given power by God. Other books in the Bible describe the Son of Man as someone from heaven whom God would send to judge people. Jesus preferred this title because the Jews had fixed ideas about the Messiah. If people did not know what ‘Son of Man’ meant they would not think Jesus would start a war with Rome

8. Son of Man Mark uses the title Son of Man in 3 ways: The Son of Man has authority on earth. The Son of Man has power to forgive sins, and he is Lord of the Sabbath. The Son of Man must suffer, die and rise again. When Jesus uses this title it is to predict his suffering and death. The Son of Man will return at the end of the world.

9. Meaning of ‘Son of Man’ for Christians today It is important to realise that Jesus was a man. As a man Jesus experienced the things human beings experience; emotions such as love, anger, anxiety, sorrow and distress. It is because he understood these emotions that Christians believe Jesus understands them.

10. Meaning of ‘Son of Man’ for Christians today The story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, shows the human emotions of anxiety and distress experienced by Jesus; humans emotions felt by most people at some time in their lives. (14:32-42).

11. Meaning of ‘Son of Man’ for Christians today More importantly, Jesus is presented as a man who shows what it means to live a human life according to God’s will. In his life Jesus came across temptation, opposition, hatred, suffering and even death, all because he refused to turn away from God’s will. Christians are encouraged to follow the example of Jesus because he showed them how a human being could live a life perfectly dedicated to God.

12. Meaning of ‘Son of Man’ for Christians today The title Son of Man still tells of a time when Jesus will return and assist in judgement. Mark warns that the disciple who is ‘ashamed’ of Jesus will face the same treatment at the time of judgement (8:38) A person’s discipleship will be judged.

13. Son of God Mark begins his Gospel with the declaration that Jesus is the Son of God. Christians are monotheists. They believe in only one God. There are three persons: God the Father God the Son God the Holy Spirit

14. Son of God To the Jews of Jesus’ time any suggestion that Jesus was the Son of God was Blasphemy. The Jews called the kings of Israel God’s Son. They expected the Messiah to be THE King of Israel. However Jesus does not use this title to describe himself.

15. Son of God He does not want his followers to get the wrong idea. The Jews, especially the Zealots, expected a kingly Messiah, a warrior, but Jesus saw himself as a suffering servant. However, Jesus’ resurrection proved he was the Son of God and Christians openly used this title to describe Jesus.

16. Meaning of ‘Son of God’ for Christians Today This is the most popular title given to Jesus today. By the time of Jesus the ‘Son of God’ was regarded as being a Messianic title referring to the one who was come to do all that the Messiah would do. It is the title that expresses the closest possible relationship between Jesus and God.

17. Meaning of ‘Son of God’ for Christians Today Many people have difficulty in understanding what God is really like. This is not surprising; God is not a human being. Even when God is called ‘Father’ it is only an image that is being used. Unlike a human father God is everywhere: he is all powerful; he is perfect.

18. Meaning of ‘Son of God’ for Christians Today Christians believe that Jesus provides the answer to the question, ‘What is God really like?’ Jesus is someone ordinary that human beings can understand, yet he is believed to mirror God. God’s love is shown in the way Jesus cared for those who were sick or outcast in society; God’s desire for all people to come to him is shown in the way Jesus was willing to die to convince them of his love.