I find it interesting when, in English, the etymology of an English word doesn’t involve Latin, but follows an older path more directly. While I do understand the gospels were not written in English, our language can give us valuable insights. A son is a male offspring, used as an informal term of address, and/or suggests someone is from a specific place. The word son comes from the Old English sunu (“son”), and can be followed back to Proto-Indo-European *sewH- (“to bear; give birth”).
Jesus refers to himself as Son of Man throughout the gospels, but most typically follows it directly by mentioning Father, who is not a man. Jesus makes this point repeatedly… the Father, Lord Almighty and man are inextricably linked as kin and family.
A high compliment is to say that someone is ‘like a sister, mother, son, daughter.’ There are no stronger or tighter ties than that of family, for better or worse. Scripture, from Genesis to the Early Christian letters, seems to be a story of the Lord trying to help humans shrink the perceived distance between the Lord and humanity. The Judeo-Christian narratives are striving to demonstrate to humankind the Lord perceives us as His family.
The plot of scripture revolves around the external and internal conflicts that arise when the Lord tries to help humans understand their inherent place in a spiritual cosmos. Ultimately, the Ancient of Days realizes the perceived gap has become a chasm, getting bigger and bigger by the day and Jesus is sent to fix it. This misunderstanding on humanity’s part seems to really upset the Lord, because the whole of Scripture, He is trying to address this issue.
In this passage, Jesus reminds Peter that he’s come to bring about a new way and it is different from the old. It involves paradoxes and mixed metaphors, like simultaneously being the Son of Man, while being sent by the Father. Things are to be turned upside-down… literally the last shall be first, and the first last.
Journal Reflection
Detail the 5 or 6 most important kin and kind relationships, focusing on the relationship itself, more than personalities. Following that, reflect on how your relationship with the Trinity parallels each of these relationships.
Writing to Pray 