Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! We’re continuing our summer sermon series this Sunday. So far, we’ve addressed your questions about the nature of Christian community, speaking in tongues, and applying the teachings of Jesus to our lives. This Sunday, the question I will be seeking to answer in my sermon will be, “What’s with all the animal sacrificing in the Old Testament?” The Q&A’s after each of these sermons have been stimulating and educational. I hope you’ll worship with us on Sunday and stick around afterward for the discussion of the day’s topic.

Today is Day 311 of our one-year Bible reading journey, which means we only have 54 days left! That’s hard to believe!

Our Old Testament readings currently have us in the Book of Ezekiel. There have been a few questions posted by people in the Bible App about Ezekiel, and I’d like to take a moment to answer those questions here so everyone can benefit.

Throughout the Book of Ezekiel, God regularly refers to the prophet Ezekiel as “son of man.” You’ll also notice that in the Old Testament, the Messiah is occasionally referred to as the Son of Man, and, in fact, this title is applied to Jesus in the New Testament (like in Luke 19:10 where Jesus says about himself, “For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”) Is Ezekiel being called “son of man” because he was a Messianic figure, or is there a difference between how the term “son of man” is applied to Ezekiel and the other references to the Messiah? The answer is: there is a difference.

In the Hebrew language, the phrase “son of ________” is often used to describe a person who is part of a larger group. For example, when you read the word “Israelite” in the Old Testament, it’s actually translating the Hebrew phrase “son of Israel,” which simply means “one who is a descendant of Israel.” Likewise, the phrase “son of man” is simply a phrase which means “one who belongs to the human race,” or, more simply put, “a human” or “a mortal.” That’s why you’ll notice that some English translations of the Book of Ezekiel don’t call him “son of man” but simply “O human” or “O mortal.” It’s a way that the Book of Ezekiel is trying to communicate to us that the prophet Ezekiel is simply a mere mortal relaying the words of God. On the other hand, the title for the Messiah (particularly in the New Testament) is usually referred to using the definite article - the Son of Man. Why is that? It’s because Jesus the Messiah is not simply a mere mortal; rather, he is the chief and archetypal human. He is the representation for what all humans were truly meant to be. He is not simply a human; he is the Human. He is what all humans should aspire to become, and that's why we look to Jesus to know how God wants all of us to be.

Thinking of the prophet Ezekiel as a mere mortal relaying the words of God led some of you to wonder about why prophets were needed. When God spoke to people through prophets, was God “updating” things that God had previously already said? And, how were people to distinguish between true prophets and false prophets? In response to the first question, when God spoke through prophets, God was not giving a new revelation. Rather, God was using the prophet to enforce the words that God had already said previously. Ezekiel wasn’t telling the people of Judah anything new; he was simply telling them, “God really meant what God has already told you!” In fact, this was one of the ways that people can tell the difference between a true and false prophet. Was the prophet telling the people to trust in God alone for wisdom and provision? Then, that person was a true prophet. Was the prophet telling the people that obedience to God alone wasn’t really necessary and that they could trust in other gods, other people, or the power of other nations? Then, that person was a false prophet.

It is the same for us today, and it’s one of the reasons why reading the Bible is so important. The Bible communicates to us the truth of God revealed to humanity. God really meant all that has been said to us in Scripture; therefore, we should read it and trust in its truth. This is precisely what Jesus taught us to do (“One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God,” Matthew 4:4). If that’s how Jesus thought of the Bible, then as his followers, we should, too. After all, he is the one to whom we look to know how God wants us to be. He is the Son of Man!

I hope to see you Sunday!

Peace,
Pastor Aaron