Matthew 12:14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

Yesterday I left off stating that the religiously well-educated were offended by Jesus referring to Himself as Son of man. To the Pharisee that was equivalent to blasphemy, calling Himself God. He was and He did offend them intentionally.

Here is how I define a Pharisee: anyone who hates to take second place to anyone else. I say this because it is in direct contrast to what Jesus instructed His disciples to do.

Mark 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

Our real danger in ministry is in trying to appear to be something which we are not.

2 Timothy 2:2,5 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

We know what we should look like and how we should act. If it is an act, we are not being real. You cannot fake humility, it is an inner quality and not a cover. Modestly is an outward appearance which has nothing to do with humility. Modesty is a choice to look good. Humility does not care how it looks, it is not concerned with anything except being real.

Give praise, glory and honor to God who has done so much for you, in you, and thru you.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

1 Corinthians 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Paul tells us here that love is not easily provoked, offended if you will. One of the tests of love in us is exactly that, ease of offense. I see it often and it amazes me that my brothers and sisters do not see the direct correlation between love and offense.

Ever notice how some find it so offensive to take the Lord’s name in vain to the point at which they spell God, G-d? They are offended at the practice yet fail to realize God is not His name, only His title. Then there were those in earlier times that were so offended at the use of “I AM” as Moses was told to tell them “I AM that I AM, tell them I AM has sent you.”

In those days Jesus walked the earth and cared about the common man, the less educated, the superstitious ones who would be easily offended by hearing Him refer to Himself as “I AM”. It is for that reason I have often thought that Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of man to keep from offending the common man. At the same time Jesus could and did offend the religiously well-educated with a high degree of insult using the same phrase, Son of man.

Daniel 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Son of man was what Daniel called the Messiah.