“And no one has ever gone up to heaven except the Son of Man, Who came down from heaven." (John 3:13)
Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus. He was explaining the Truths of the Gospel to a member of the Sanhedrin who was supposed to know all the Law. Yet he had no knowledge of the Messiah, just as the whole council also didn’t know about the Messiah. Jesus tells him that if he can’t accept the things of the world that Jesus taught on, how was he going to accept the things of heaven. (John 3:12)
Notice how Jesus refers to Himself. He left heaven to become man. He refers to Himself as the Son of Man. A Man Who feels hunger, pain and sorrow. A Man Who was tempted in all ways as a man. “This means that He had to become like His people in every way, in order to be their faithful and merciful High Priest in His service to God, so that the people's sins would be forgiven. And now He can help those who are tempted, because He Himself was tempted and suffered.” (Hebrews 2:17-18)
There is also the account where He heals the paralytic. He was in a home in Capernaum. There were so many people, the paralytic’s friends couldn’t take him to Jesus so Jesus could heal him. So, they made a hole in the roof and lowered their friend right down to Jesus. Jesus tells him his sins are forgiven. Some teachers of the Law were there and were scandalized by His words, calling it blasphemy. Then Jesus reveals His authority. “Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, pick up your mat, and walk'? I will prove to you, then, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So, He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home!" While they all watched, the man got up, picked up his mat, and hurried away. They were all completely amazed and praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!" (Mark 2:9-12) Again Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of Man.
Jesus offered Himself, Who He was and what He had, for us. “He always had the nature of God, but He did not think that by force He should try to remain equal with God. Instead of this, of His own free will He gave up all He had and took the nature of a servant. He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness. He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death—His death on the cross. For this reason, God raised Him to the highest place above and gave Him the name that is greater than any other name. And so, in honor of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees, and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:6-11)
When the rich young ruler called Jesus “Good Master,” Jesus rebuked him responding, “... Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:17 KJV) Although Jesus is God, He humbled Himself and didn’t honor Himself to people. Jesus calls Himself the Son of Man about 85 times in the New Testament.
There is the great example of Who Jesus considered Himself and who He wanted His followers to be when He washed His disciples’ feet. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served; He came to serve and to give His life to redeem many people." (Mark 10:45) In those days everyone wore sandals. There were no paved roads. There was only dirt, dust and mud. It was customary for the host in a home to have the task of washing the guests’ feet. It was usually reserved for the lowest one in the family rung or a servant. When Jesus and His disciples has finished the Passover feast, He proceeded to wash their feet. None protested more than Peter. “Peter declared, "Never at any time will you wash my feet!" "If I do not wash your feet," Jesus answered, "you will no longer be my disciple." Simon Peter answered, "Lord, do not wash only my feet, then! Wash my hands and head, too!" (John 13:8-9) Jesus explains to them that yes, He is their teacher, but as He has acted as a servant, they also must serve one another and others. “"You call me Teacher and Lord, and it is right that you do so, because that is what I am. I, your Lord and Teacher, have just washed your feet. You, then, should wash one another's feet. I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you. I am telling you the truth: no slaves are greater than their master, and no messengers are greater than the one who sent them.”(John 13:13-16)
This message of being a servant is preached in the Gospel of Jesus. Paul wrote: “For it is not ourselves that we preach; we preach Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.” (2Corinthians 4:5) In the Great Commission, Jesus gives us the ministry of servanthood. “Jesus drew near and said to them, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them My disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20) Jesus taught His disciples that to follow Him was to be a servant when the sons of Zebedee asked to sit at His right and at His left in His kingdom. They didn’t know what they were asking. They were thinking in earthly terms. “This, however, is not the way it shall be among you. If one of you wants to be great, you must be the servant of the rest; and if one of you wants to be first, you must be the slave of the others—" (Matthew 20:26-27) So we examine ourselves against the criteria for being a disciple of Jesus. Have we made ourselves servants and slaves of others?
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