Who is this Son of Man?

Here's something that I wrote after I read through John 12 this morning. It's kinda wierd, but hey, that's what the RecklessRagingFury is all about, so bear with me...

Where is he from? How did he become educated? Who are his parents?

All of the side issues that have arisen throughout Jesus' ministry boil down to this one question, in John 12:34: "Who is this Son of Man?"

The question's immediate meaning has to do with Jesus' self-prophecy that He, like a grain of wheat, must die and that His death would result in "much fruit". In other words, by the lifting up of himself on the cross (His death), many would be drawn to Him (a.k.a. "much fruit). It's the second time in the space of two chapters that Jesus' death is foretold, following up Caiaphas' unwitting prophecy in 11:45-54.

But, back to the question, and back to its answers. In John 12:1-8, two answers are crafted into one stark contrast. Mary, celebrating and honoring her Lord--who she has just seen raise her brother from the dead--is pouring out a lavish, self-impoverishing amount of perfume onto Jesus' feet, wiping his feet with her hair.

Meanwhile, Judas trots out a religious argument to try and conceal the motives of his money-grubbing. It's true greed and self-righteousness contrasted with heart-worship and humility. Who is this Son of Man? Lord or Leverage?

Next, there is the fickle crowd and the hardened religious elite. The crowd sees once-dead Lazarus alive and believes (however temporarily) that Jesus is Messiah, while is the religious leadership sees once-dead Lazarus alive, the people believing, and sets out to un-do both. The crowd hails Him with Hosannas, the religious prioritize their politics and efface their own ineffectiveness. Who is this Son of Man? Coming King of Israel or Enemy of the State?

But there are two more groups and there is one more contrast waiting to be discovered. There are, on the one hand, those who believe because of the miracles and there are, on the other hand, those who believe because of the cross. This is the most subtle contrast of them all.

We all must love our life or hate our live; lose our life or keep our life. We all must serve Jesus and be honored by the Father, or serve self and be honored in the sight of men.

Who is this Son of Man? Well, whose glory do we love--that which comes from man or that which comes from God? Do we see the Son of Man in the true light or do we prefer to walk in darkness?

Who is the Son of Man?
He is the only truly worthy Object of worship--not a means to an end.
He is the only true King of God's People--not an inconvenience.
He is Eternal Son of God.
He is Jesus.