The 'Son of Man' title would appear to contradict the "Son of God" title. But there is no contradiction since they are two aspects of Christ. The letters which symbolize the Son of Man and the Son of God also appear to contradict each other.
The kaf כ and the nun נ are similar, but the kaf כ has longer horizontals. The kaf horizontal lines say that he is fully God and fully man. The shorter ones of the nun נ say that he was partially God and partially man. Again, these do not contradict, by highlight important theology.
The question of the nature of Jesus is one that still confuses and divides Christians. Almost all say that he was God and man. Some take offense if you say he was the God-man. Some say that Jesus was a super baby and could fly. Most say that Jesus used his omniscience (all-knowing) to read minds and hearts, and omnipotence (all powerful) to perform miracles, but not his omnipresence (everywhere present) limiting himself to only be in one place at one time. Others say he was imply a man.
But the doctrine is not difficult when taken one piece at a time.
The foundation
God is to us like the water is to the fish and the air to the birds. He can not be seen nor discovered except by the things he has made in order to reveal himself. [1]
He took the form of man so that he could be known. The body of Jesus was made. He was formed. He did not exist in the form of man prior to his being formed in the womb of Mary. [2]
One of the purposes of the incarnation was so that he could become our high priest; to make intercession for us. In order to do this he had to experience temptation and overcome it. [3] If he had used one ounce of his deity in order to resist sin, he would not know what it was like to be tempted.
Imagine facing God for judgement: "What's the deal God? No one is perfect!" ..."Jesus was." ... "Yeah, but he cheated. He had superpowers of God to resist temptation." How does that reveal the invisible God as Just or Love?
The self-limiting God
When you close your eyes, do you become blind or do you simply choose to not see? Do you lose your capacity to see, or simply not exercise it?
Jesus had all the attributes, all the power, of God, but he 'closed his eyes' to them. He chose not to use them. The nun נ reflects this with the shorter lines. He chose to not use his God-ness.
Likewise, he chose not to have a family and a career like men do. He chose instead to be the servant. He was 'partially God' and 'partially man' by choice, while being fully God and fully man by nature.
References
- ↑ Joh 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].
- ↑ Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
- ↑ Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.