The Son of Man

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13,14)

The book of Daniel teaches us how important it is to worship the one true God, the God of Daniel, the living God, the one who rescued Daniel from the lions’ den.  We worship the Lord our God and serve him only.

So do Christians worship human beings as well?  Absolutely, that is, one particular human being.  He is a son of man, that is, he was actually born from a woman.  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.  Christians from every nation and language worship him.  That true man is Jesus.

How can we worship a man?  Because Jesus lived a perfect life in our place and then took the punishment for our sins, he was given authority, glory, and ruling power, the power of a king.  He is no earthly king.  Because he conquered death and lives forever, his dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away.  Because he has defeated his enemy, the devil, his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

We worship the true man Jesus because Jesus is also true God, the one true God of Daniel.  He is the God who rescued Daniel.  He is the God to whom we pray when we ask for his kingdom to come in the Lord’s Prayer.

How does God's kingdom come?

God's kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives his Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe his holy Word and lead a godly life now on earth and forever in heaven.


The Holy Spirit uses the holy Word and sacraments to lead us to faith in Jesus as true God and true man.

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