Sam Shamoun

Bassam Zawadi says that Christians use Luke 1:32 where the angel Gabriel calls the blessed Lord the Son of the Most High to prove that Jesus is God. He denies that this title of honor proves that Christ is God and proceeds to cite the lexical meaning of huios (the Greek word for son) to show why this expression isn’t unique to Jesus. After quoting from the lexicon Zawadi says:

So after looking at the several definitions we see that this title is indeed a great honor but nothing to the extent of Jesus being divine! It just means that he is a great servant of God and very pious.

RESPONSE:

It seems that we can never say enough to correct these caricatures of the Christian faith, these straw man attempts of trying to undermine the historic Christian position regarding Jesus being God’s Son. For example, Zawadi continues to repeat the same mistake of assuming that Son of God means nothing more than a servant of God when this is simply not the case. Jesus himself made a clear distinction between slaves/servants and children (specifically his relationship as God’s Son):

"Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’" John 8:34-36

In another text Jesus clearly differentiates himself from God’s servants since he, unlike they, is God’s unique Son and the Inheritor:

"And he began to speak to them in parables. ‘A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, "They will respect my son." But those tenants said to one another, "THIS IS THE HEIR. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours." And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard.’" Mark 12:1-8

These servants according to the Hebrew Scriptures were the prophets whom God sent to warn Israel:

"From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have persistently sent all my servants the prophets to them, day after day." Jeremiah 7:25

"You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear, although the LORD persistently sent to you all his servants the prophets, saying, ‘Turn now, every one of you, from his evil way and evil deeds, and dwell upon the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers from of old and forever.’" Jeremiah 25:4-5

Thus, we have Jesus explicitly identifying himself as God’s beloved Son and Heir in contrast to the servants of God, the prophets. These passages should sufficiently put to rest Zawadi's erroneous assertion that being God’s son simply means being God’s servant. What makes this all the more interesting is that Zawadi's own lexical source doesn't list servant as one of the meanings of the Greek word for son! Zawadi is simply making things up in order to undermine the Lord Jesus' unique Sonship.

This leads us to our next point. It isn’t merely because Jesus is called the Son of the Most High that Christians believe that he is God since, as Zawadi points out, there are others who are called sons of God:

"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked." Luke 6:35

It is the way in which Jesus is called God’s Son, the kind of Son that Jesus is, which demonstrates that he is God in essence. For instance, let us see the part of the angel’s annunciation to the blessed Mary that Zawadi did not quote:

"But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.’ ‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’" Luke 1:30-35

Another group of angels appeared after the birth of Christ and called him Lord and Savior:

"But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.’" Luke 2:10-11

Other inspired writers reiterate the point of Jesus having an eternal kingdom and of his being both Lord and Savior:

"You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all… He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead." Acts 10:36, 42

"For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living." Romans 14:9

"and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:11

"If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning." 2 Peter 2:20

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." 2 Peter 3:18

According to the Hebrew Scriptures Yahweh is the Savior who rules forever:

"Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made." Psalm 145:13

"‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the LORD, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.’" Isaiah 43:10-11

"Declare what is to be, present it— let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me. Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear." Isaiah 45:21-23

"At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’" Daniel 4:34-35

In fact, Jesus saves his followers from their sins and heals individuals in the very same exact way that Yahweh does. Note the similarities:

"For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great." Psalm 25:11

"Save me, O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might." Psalm 54:1

"Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion," Psalm 103:2-4

Yahweh forgives sins and heals all diseases with forgiveness being granted in his name.

"When Jesus saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’ The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, ‘Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, ‘Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, "Your sins are forgiven," or to say, "Get up and walk"? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….’ He said to the paralyzed man, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’ Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, ‘We have seen remarkable things today.’" Luke 5:20-26

"He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.’" Luke 24:44-47

"All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." Acts 10:43

Jesus forgives sins and heals all diseases since it is on the basis of his name that forgiveness is granted to all who believe. Thus, Jesus is Yahweh God according to the inspired NT Scriptures!

Furthermore, the title "Great" which the angel applies to Jesus in Luke 1:32 is often used in reference to Deity, whether the true God or beings wrongly worshiped as gods:

"Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain." Psalm 48:1

"For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods." Psalm 96:4; cf. 145:3, 147:5, 150:2

"You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the fathers' sins into the laps of their children after them. O great and powerful God, whose name is the LORD Almighty," Jeremiah 32:18

"But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King." Matthew 5:35

"Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, 'This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.' They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic." Acts 8:9-11

"'There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.' When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!' ... But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!' The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: 'Men of Ephesus, doesn't all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven?'" Acts 19:27-28, 34-35

Jesus is even called the Great God!

"while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ," Titus 2:13

Thus, this provides additional (albeit implicit) evidence that Gabriel was identifying Christ as the unique Divine Son of God.

Moreover, Jesus is identified as the Most High all throughout the NT Scriptures:

"At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. ‘If you are the Christ,’ they said, ‘tell us.’ Jesus answered, ‘If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.’ They all asked, ‘Are you then the Son of God?’ He replied, ‘You are right in saying I am.’ Then they said, ‘Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.’" Luke 22:66-71

"Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."’" Acts 2:33-35

"God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins." Acts 5:31

"But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’" Acts 7:55-56

"Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." Romans 8:34

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Colossians 3:1-2

"In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven… To which of the angels did God ever say, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet’?" Hebrews 1:1-3, 13

"The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven," Hebrews 8:1

"who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him." 1 Peter 3:22

To sit at God’s right hand means that Jesus is highly exalted above all and over everything:

"and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:19-23

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Philippians 3:20-21

"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the HEAD over EVERY POWER and AUTHORITY." Colossians 2:9-10

Amazingly, the claim that is Jesus has been exalted above every power, which includes the heavenly council, is reminiscent of what the Hebrew Bible says regarding Yahweh being exalted above every so-called god:

"For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods." Psalm 95:3

"For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods." Psalm 97:9

"For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods." Psalm 135:5

More on this below.

Hence, Jesus is not only the Son of the Most High but he himself is the Most High, the One who is highly exalted above all creation! It is little wonder that Christ is called the Ruler of all kings, the very King of kings and Lord of lords:

"and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth." Revelation 1:5

"They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers." Revelation 17:14, cf. 19:16

Here is a summary of the above data which demonstrates why Jesus is not God’s Son in the same sense like the rest of believers, but in a different and unique manner:

• Jesus is Lord and Savior in the same sense that Yahweh is, obviously because he is Yahweh God!
• Jesus is King who has an eternal kingdom much like Yahweh since, again, he is Yahweh God.
• Jesus is exalted above all things and is the head of every creature which clearly makes him the Most High.

One inspired Apostle, John, even calls the blessed Savior God’s unique Son, the only Son of his kind (the literal meaning of monogenes):

"No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only (monogenees), who is at the Father's side, has made him known." John 1:18

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (ton huion ton monogenee), that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life… Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son (tou monogenous huiou tou theou)." John 3:16, 18

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son (ton huion autou ton monogenee) into the world that we might live through him." 1 John 4:9

In light of the foregoing, we can see why the inspired Evangelist did so.

And as God’s unique Son Jesus shares the same Divine name and authority of the Father and the Holy Spirit as can be seen from the following Triadic baptismal formula:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the NAME of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," Matthew 28:19

Christian baptism must be performed by invoking the singular name of the three Divine Persons, which is an indication of their essential coequality since name in the Holy Bible refers to the authority and nature of a person. For more on this issue please read this article.

Zawadi next mentions John the Baptist:

I mean are we also going to say that John the Baptist is divine as well because he has a great title of honor similar to Jesus attributed to him?...

Luke 1:76

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

I don't think so. So then why for Jesus?

Let us highlight the part that Zawadi apparently missed:

for you will go on BEFORE THE LORD to prepare the way FOR HIM,

John was sent ahead to prepare the way for the Lord. According to the NT and John himself, the Lord whom the Baptist was sent to prepare for was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ!

"The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. John answered them all, ‘I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear HIS THRESHING FLOOR and to gather the wheat into HIS BARN, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.’" Luke 3:15-17

Notice what John says about Christ:

• The Lord Jesus is more powerful than he.
• John is not worthy to be Christ’s servant (it was the job of servants to untie sandals and offer guests water to wash their feet).
• The Lord Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit, a function which the OT attributes to Yahweh:

"Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed. And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days." Joel 2:27-29

• The Lord Jesus is Judge and owner of the Kingdom, i.e. "His (Christ’s) winnowing fork," "His (Christ’s) threshing floor, "His (Christ’s) barn."

Moreover, Jesus stated John was sent to fulfill a specific OT prophecy which directly relates to the Deity of Christ:

"After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: ‘What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you."’" Luke 7:24-27

The text from which Christ cited is Malachi 3:1 which says:

"‘See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly THE LORD (Ha Adon) you are seeking will come to HIS TEMPLE; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,’ says the Yahweh of Hosts." Malachi 3:1

According to Christ, John is the messenger sent to prepare for the coming appearance of Yahweh God Almighty. We know that this is whom John came to prepare for since the word Ha Adon is never used for anyone other than Yahweh and the text expressly says that this Lord is coming to HIS temple, and yet the temple is the house of God:

"The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was." 1 Samuel 3:3

"Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!" Psalm 65:4

"Then I said, 'I am driven away from your sight; Yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.'... When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD,and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple." Jonah 2:7

Thus, this Lord for whom John prepares is Yahweh God. But as we just saw, Jesus was the One for whom John came to prepare the way, which therefore means that Jesus is Yahweh God! To put it simply, by identifying John as the messenger of Malachi 3:1 Jesus was essentially claiming to be the very Lord that was coming to his own temple!

Here is another text which links the Lord whom John prepared the way for with Jesus:

"After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go." Luke 10:1

Notice the similarities… just as John was sent ahead of Christ so too were the disciples sent ahead of the Lord Jesus. Putting it simply, Jesus is the same Lord whom John and the apostles were sent ahead of to prepare his way!

Here is a summary of the data thus far:

1. The prophet Malachi predicted that a messenger would be sent to prepare for the coming of Yahweh God.
2. John was that messenger according to the Lord Jesus.
3. John and the NT writers agree that the Baptist came to prepare for the coming of Christ.
4. Therefore, Jesus is Yahweh God in human form, that same Lord whom Malachi said was coming to his very own temple.

Hence, the Baptist was indeed highly honored by God since he had the privilege of preparing the way for the human manifestation, the very incarnation of God Almighty, the Lord Jesus Christ!

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only (monogenous), who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, ‘This was he of whom I said, "He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me."’" John 1:1, 14-15

Therefore, John is in no way equal to Christ since the former was a prophet (albeit a great one at that) whereas the latter is the unique and Divine Son of the Most High!

Appendix

The Old Testament Scriptures provide additional evidence that the Messiah, who is Jesus, is the Most High God. The inspired book of Daniel states that God will vindicate his holy ones and visibly usher in his eternal reign:

"But the saints of the Most Highs (Elyonin) will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever… But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most Highs (Elyonin). His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him." Daniel 7:18, 26-27

The word Elyonin ("Most Highs") is the plural of Elyon ("Most High").

In some translations the singular pronouns "his" and "him" used in verse 27 are translated in the plural:

"And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most Highs; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them." ESV

The plural pronouns cannot refer back to the saints, but to the nearest antecedent, namely the Most Highs, since service or worship cannot be rendered unto creatures. The verb which the ESV renders as "serve", with the NIV translating as "worship", comes from the Aramaic word pelach. This is used all throughout the book of Daniel for the worship which must be given to God alone:

"‘There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego. These men, O king, pay no heed to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.’… Nebuchadnez'zar said to them, ‘Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image which I have set up?’ … Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego answered the king, ‘O Nebuchadnez'zar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.’ … Nebuchadnez'zar said, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set at nought the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.’" Daniel 3:12, 14, 16-18, 28 RSV (cf. 6:16; 20; Ezra 7:24)

Thus, since the text of verse 27 expressly says that all dominions will serve or worship the ruler of the kingdom this shows that the pronouns must be referring to God, who is identified here by the plural "Most Highs."

A careful analysis of the immediate context will explain why Daniel referred to God as the Most Highs, as opposed to the singular Most High:

"As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened." Daniel 7:9-10 NIV

"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed." Daniel 7:13-14 NIV

Daniel sees thrones set and two distinct figures, God as the Ancient of Days who takes a seat (obviously on one of the thrones) and a Son of Man who rides the clouds and rules forever, indicating that he also occupies one of the thrones. What makes this all the more astonishing is that the reign of the Son of Man is described exactly as the reign of the Most Highs in verse 27:

"Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’ NKJV

This means that the Son of Man is the Most High who, at the same time, is pictured as a distinct figure from the Ancient of Days. This basically explains why Daniel spoke of the Most Highs since the context establishes that the plural refers to both the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man together as the Ones who rule over an eternal kingdom!

Moreover, the OT is quite emphatic that Yahweh alone is the Most High:

"that they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth." Psalm 83:18

"For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods." Psalm 97:9

When we add all these pieces together the conclusion we get is that the one true Most High is a multi-personal Being consisting of the Ancient of Days and the Divine Son of Man!

According to the NT books Jesus is this Son of Man:

"But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ ‘I am,’ said Jesus. ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’" Mark 14:61-62 NIV

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’" Matthew 25:31-33 NIV

"But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ Acts 7:55-56 NIV

"Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen." Revelation 1:7 NIV

"I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one ‘like a son of man’ with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, ‘Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’ So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested." Revelation 14:14-16 NIV

In fact, Jesus is depicted as being both the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man at the same time!

"I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone ‘like a son of man,’ dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I WAS DEAD, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.’" Revelation 1:12-18 NIV

John describes Jesus in the same way Daniel described both the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man. What this means is that John is essentially describing Christ as both God and man, that he is the Ancient of Days because he is God and that he is also the Son of man because he became a true human being.

This doesn’t mean that in Daniel the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man are one and the same Person, but that the title Ancient of Days can be used in a broader sense to encompass the Son of God since he is true Deity. In other words, even though Daniel’s Ancient of Days was God the Father who appeared to him in a vision Jesus can also be described as the Ancient of Days without this implying that he is the same Person as the Father since Christ is God as well. Hence, since God is multipersonal, and since the phrase Ancient of Days is a title of Deity, the expression can be used for any specific member of the Godhead; it is the context that will identify which specific Person of the Godhead is being called by this Divine epithet.

The foregoing provides conclusive data, this time from the OT revelation, that Jesus, the Divine Son of Man, is in fact the Most High!

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