A SHORT time has passed since the words Jesus spoke in verses 19-21. Jesus and his disciples have come together in Galilee, and Jesus again takes an opportunity to tell his disciples that he is going to die and rise again. He did this back in chapter 6:21. Jesus takes particular time to tell his disciples that he is going to die. Two things are strange when we consider this. The first is why the disciples seemed to be unable to take this information in, and so when he was crucified, they were taken by surprise. The second is how little importance the death and resurrection of Jesus seems to figure in the church today. I speak only from the experience in hearing sermons in my own locality, but I guess it is indicative of a much wider aspect of the church. In my own preaching I am so effected by this attitude that in preaching on Jesus and his cross, I find myself feeling that I ought not to be speaking so much and continually on Christ's death and resurrection. It is as I come back to verses like these before us I know that the death and resurrection of Jesus is at the heart of the Christian message, and we can't speak too much about it, and if we care for souls then we must speak of Christ's death and resurrection again and again, because like the disciples we fallen creatures find it so difficult to take hold of the greatness and the glory of Christ's death for us.

In writing about these two verses here I would concentrate on the words and phrases that Jesus uses. The first one is the “Son of man”. It is as the Son of man that Jesus had to die. What is the significance of this? The significance is that Jesus came into the world to be the head and representative of a new, redeemed and saved humanity. To be the head and representative of a family of human beings he had to be one of us, that is a human being. The Son of man is the name that identifies Jesus as the head and representative of his people. He is the second Adam. The first Adam created by God originally, and placed in the garden of Eden, was and acted as the head and representative of all his progeny, that is the human race. Paul tells us in Romans 5 that he acted on behalf of all humanity, and the consequences of his action fell, not only on himself, but on all of us. So because Adam, the head of the human race before God, sinned and suffered death, and was cast from the presence of God, so all human beings are born in this condition. Adam was our head and representative, and so we are born in sin and death, and born with a corrupt and fallen nature which is at enmity with God. We are born sinners under the just wrath of God, and under the sentence of death for our sin, and for the sins we commit. The fact is we can't alter this condition ourselves. We can't escape the condemnation of God whatever we do. We are on the broad way that leads to destruction.

Because of this Christ came into the world according to the will and purpose of God to be a second Adam, that is a second head and representative, so that all his actions devolve on those who are his people, over whom he is the head and representative. All who are in Christ inherit, and have bestowed upon them, all that Christ did, just as the first Adam handed down to humanity all the consequences of his sin. So in Christ we have died to sin, and all the just deserving for our sin has been executed. So in Christ we are no more under the condemnation of God. So in Christ we are justified before God and accounted righteous in his sight for Christ's sake. So in Christ we are raised to new life. So in Christ we are new born and are a new creation. So in Christ, as new born, we have been born created to be like Christ in righteousness and true holiness. So in Christ we are made members of the family of God and receive the adoption of sons. So in Christ we possess eternal life and heaven is our home. So in Christ when we physically die we shall be raised in glory with a new heavenly body like unto Christ's heavenly body.

This is all in consequence of being in Christ as the Son of man, the new head and representative of human beings. Just as we inherited all the evil consequences of Adam's sin, and bondage to Satan which resulted in the sentence of death being upon us, even though we had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's sin; so if we are in Christ, then we inherit all the blessings which Christ won by his death and resurrection, and they are free.

If this is all strange to us, then read slowly, thoughtfully, constantly and prayerfully, the second half of Romans 5 from verse 12. There Paul opens up to us this grand and mind-blowing truth. We are saved, and given new life not by our own works and strivings, but by the works and victory of Christ's doing and dying and rising. Those who come to Christ in the conscious knowledge and despair of seeing themselves in Adam, sinners from birth, and hopelessly corrupt, and crying for mercy, trusting his promise and invitation that whosoever comes to him he will give rest and eternal life, then Christ will welcome us as his persons. We shall be in Christ as our head and representative, and we shall receive all the benefits he has won for his people, and we shall be heirs of heaven.