Lesson 20
SON OF MAN
The Servant King
TEACHING AIM: To gain a clearer understanding of Jesus’ most frequent
designation of Himself, “Son of Man.” This term stresses Jesus’ humanity and His
identification with the people of God, and His atoning death on their behalf; but also
alludes to the Son of Man of Daniel 7:13-14, which reveals Jesus’ messianic identity and
the glory He will receive following His suffering.
WHY STUDY THIS LESSON: Jesus used the title, Son of Man, more than any
other when referring to Himself. It’s a title which affirms not only Jesus’ deity and
sovereignty, but also His humanity and suffering.
DESIRED OUTCOME: To understand that Jesus’ role as Son of Man points to His
humanity and destiny to suffer and die as a “ransom for many” (Mark 10:45) but also as
the divine figure of Daniel 7 who is seated at the right hand of God and Lord over all.
Following the Son of Man means we accept His suffering in our place, follow Him in His
suffering, and worship Him as our exalted Lord.
Background Passage: Matthew 26:32-68
Focal Passage: Matthew 26:57-68 (see parallel in Mark 14:53-65)
Who is Jesus?
 The false testimony and disagreeing testimony of those who accuse Jesus before
the Sanhedrin
 The High Priest asks Jesus to answer and say whether He is the Messiah, the Son
of God.
 Jesus affirms this statement and adds that they will see “the Son of Man seated
at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven” (v. 64).
 Jesus applies to Himself messianic prophesies from Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7:1314.
 Jesus is accused of blasphemy and deserving death.
Memory Verse: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and
to give His life—a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
Preparing to Teach
The “prosperity gospel” is alive and well in the 21st century. It may affect Christians
more than we realize, especially in the United States, because Americans have enjoyed
unprecedented prosperity that freedom engenders.
Spend much time in prayer and meditation on the focal passage and memory verse for
this week’s study. Suffering is not an idea we like to incorporate into our theology but it
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is a necessary reality. The Kingdom of God truly turns the world’s view of prosperity
upside down.
Write one of the following “prosperity gospel” quotes [cited by Hank Hanegraaff,
Christianity in Crisis (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1997)] and the person who
said it on four separate tear sheets or posters (do not include the reference):
 “Not only is worrying a sin, but being poor is a sin when God promises
prosperity!”—Robert Tilton [Success-N-Life television program (27 December
1990); quoted in Hanegraaff, 186]
 “Give $10 and receive $1,000; give $1,000 and receive $100,000. . .Give one
house and receive one hundred houses or one worth one hundred times as much
. . .Give one car and the return would furnish you a lifetime of cars. In short, Mark
10:30 is a very good deal.”—Gloria Copeland [God’s Will is Prosperity (Tulsa,
OK: Harrison House, 1978); 54, quoted in Hanegraaff, 199]
 “The Bible declares that the work was done 2,000 years ago. God is not going to
heal you now—He healed you 2,000 years ago. All you have to do today is
receive your healing by faith.”—Benny Hinn [Rise & Be Healed (Orlando, FL:
Celebration Publishers, 1991), 44; quoted in Hanegraaff, 242]
 “. . . how can you glorify God in your body when it doesn’t function right? . . .
What makes you think the Holy Ghost wants to live inside a body where He can’t
see out through the windows and He can’t hear with the ears? What makes you
think the Holy Spirit wants to live inside of a physical body where the limbs and
the organs and the cells do not function right? . . . The only eyes that He has that
are in the earth realm are the eyes that are in the body. If He can’t see out of them
then God’s gonna be limited. . . .”—Frederick K.C. Price [Is God Glorified
Through Sickness? (Los Angeles: Crenshaw Christian Center, n.d.) audiotape
#FP605; quoted in Hanegraaff, 259-60]
Teaching Suggestions
ABBA, FATHER, OR SUGAR DADDY?
Distribute the four tear sheets or posters you prepared of the “prosperity gospel” quotes
from various people. Instruct the person with Robert Tilton’s quote to read it aloud. Ask:
Is this good theology or bad theology? Why? Are there Scripture passages that support
or refute this theology?
Continue this same method of questions and discussion for each quote.
Call for a volunteer to read Luke 17:19. Ask: Does this Scripture support prosperity
theology (“name it and claim it”)? Why or why not?
Call for another volunteer to read Matthew 13:57-58. Ask: Does this Scripture support
prosperity theology (“name it and claim it”)? Why or why not?
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Teaching Tip
In order to fully understand these two passages, read the entire context (Luke 17:11-19
and Matt. 13:1-58) prior to the class time. Share as needed from your study so that
learners will also understand the context for Jesus’ words.
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To aid in the discussion of these two passages, share this information with your learners
in your own words: “Name it and claim it” or prosperity theology is not totally devoid of
truth. Proper relationship with God requires faith. The Bible presents many instances
where faith moved mountains and unbelief resulted in failure. For example: For who
heard and rebelled? Wasn’t it really all who came out of Egypt under Moses? And who
was He provoked with for 40 years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies
fell in the wilderness? And who did He swear to that they would not enter His rest, if
not those who disobeyed? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief
(Heb. 3:16-19). However, the healings Jesus performed bore witness to His fulfillment of
Scripture as the Messiah (see Luke 4:18-21). Prosperity theology uses Bible passages
involving faith and misinterprets them so as to apply them for selfish, personal gain.
Direct learners to page 72 in the Travelogue and lead them in responding to the
following questions: When you hear Christians talking about “blessings” or a “blessed
life,” what are they (and you) most often referring to? Are hardship, weakness, and
brokenness ever to be considered gifts or blessings from the Lord? What Scriptures come
to mind?
Now direct them to respond to the next two questions on page 72 in the Travelogue:
What are the implications of the sufferings of Jesus for us? Why is it important to have a
good theology of suffering?
Use some of the following Scripture passages as you discuss responses to the previous
questions:
 Some men were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a
better resurrection, and others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well
as bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they
died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute,
afflicted, and mistreated. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered
in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. All
these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was
promised, since God had provided something better for us, so that they would
not be made perfect without us (Heb. 11:35b-40).
 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what
is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for His body, that is, the church (Col. 1:24).
 For it has been given to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in Him,
but also to suffer for Him, having the same struggle that you saw I had and
now hear that I have (Phil. 1:29-30).
 My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship
of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, assuming that I will
somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead (Phil. 3:10-11).
Say: Compare these Scriptures about suffering for Jesus to Jesus’ words in John 10:10:
“I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” Ask: What does this
say about the abundant life Jesus provides?
A KING LIKE NONE OTHER
Direct learners to find today’s focal passage, Matthew 26:57-68, in their Bibles. Enlist a
volunteer to read this passage in its entirety.
To generate discussion, ask questions such as:
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Why did the chief priests and Sanhedrin want to put Jesus to death?
Why did Jesus keep silent rather than respond to the false accusations against
Him? (Note: His silence fulfilled messianic prophecy: Isa. 53:7.)
 When Caiaphas the high priest asked Jesus if He was “the Messiah, the Son of
God,” why do you think Jesus referred to Himself as the “Son of Man”?(Jesus
did not deny the high priest’s command: “Tell us if You are the Messiah, the
Son of God.” Jesus quoted Dan. 7:13 as His response to indicate that He was the
Messiah, referred to by Daniel as the Son of Man.) Read Daniel 7:13-14 aloud: I
continued watching in the night visions, and I saw One like a son of man
coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was
escorted before Him. He was given authority to rule, and glory, and a kingdom;
so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve Him. His
dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom
is one that will not be destroyed (Dan. 7:13-14). Say: The religious rulers knew
exactly what Jesus said: that He was the Messiah, fulfilling Daniel’s prophecy.
This is why the high priest tore his robes and cried “blasphemy!”
Use additional material in the Travelogue to guide the class in thoroughly examining
the focal passage. End the discussion of the focal passage by enlisting a volunteer to read
the last three paragraphs under “A King Like None Other,” (Travelogue, pp. 75-76),
beginning with “Don’t miss the magnificence of this moment. . . .” and ending with “—
God suffering in our place.”
AN EARLY EXPRESSION OF PROSPERITY THEOLOGY
Read aloud Mark 10:35-45. Ask: What aspects of a “prosperity theology” do you see in
James and John’s request of Jesus? (Note: Seats to the right and left of a king’s throne
were places of honor. James and John still saw Jesus fulfilling His messianic role as
having an earthly kingdom. Their request was totally selfish. They did not understand the
suffering that Jesus would have to endure to be established on His heavenly throne.)
Summarize in your own words: A prosperity theology is nothing new. As human beings
we want to avoid suffering and enjoy the good things of this earthly life. When good
things happen to us, then, yes, we thank God for these things. But we must realize that
Jesus secured our salvation from sin through His suffering, death, and resurrection. As
His body on this earth, the church, we endure sufferings that somehow God uses for His
kingdom purposes. Our theology must include a place for suffering; otherwise it is an
inaccurate theology.
Conclusion
Conclude by reading 1 Peter 4:12-13: Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery
ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you.
Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah, so that you may also
rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory.
Invite learners to pray silently, thanking God for Jesus, the Son of Man. Close the
prayer time, thanking God for the privilege to share in His sufferings.
Follow Through
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During your prayer times this week, meditate on the memory verse for this week:
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give
His life—a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
Pray for your learners by name at least once this week, that they will submit
themselves to God so that they can enjoy the abundant life that Jesus promises,
one that will include suffering for Him.
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