Session 7: When God Sends the Son of Man
Daniel 7:1-2; 9-18
Discussion Topics
1) Discuss the ways in which Isaiah 52:7-12 and Daniel 7 work together as ‘essential’ texts and essential promises. What aspects do you find most meaningful and why?
2) Wright notes that the Daniel passages about the Son of Man are frequently alluded to in the gospels and that some interpreters have seen “the Son of Man coming on the clouds” to mean a second coming of Jesus to earth. Wright argues that the New Testament writers would instead have understood it in light of Daniel as a vindication of the Son of Man being carried up in clouds to reign with the Ancient of Days. (more like the ascension, Luke 24:50-51) Does his interpretation make sense to you?
3) Wright quotes the historian Josephus as saying Daniel 7 was being interpreted by Jews of Jesus’ day and before as a messianic prophecy of one coming from the Jewish nation to rule the world. Wright asserts that the messiah God sent appears as a “suffering servant” to whom the nations do their worst until God vindicates him.
In light of that, what does Daniel 7 signal about who Jesus is? In reading this text with ‘Christian hindsight’ how do we see what God has done, is doing, and will ultimately do through Jesus? What form has the vindication taken so far?
4) Wright indicates that prophetic language like this is rich and can afford levels of interpretation. “The Son of Man” or suffering servant has been seen in Jewish tradition as a collective figure for Israel or the people of God. Wright speaks of Jesus acting as a representative who sums up his people in himself, offering himself a ransom for many. Do you find this understanding helpful?
5) Daniel 7 assures us that God will ultimately ‘put the world to rights’. How does this promise encourage or inspire you to faithful living?
1) Discuss the ways in which Isaiah 52:7-12 and Daniel 7 work together as ‘essential’ texts and essential promises. What aspects do you find most meaningful and why?
2) Wright notes that the Daniel passages about the Son of Man are frequently alluded to in the gospels and that some interpreters have seen “the Son of Man coming on the clouds” to mean a second coming of Jesus to earth. Wright argues that the New Testament writers would instead have understood it in light of Daniel as a vindication of the Son of Man being carried up in clouds to reign with the Ancient of Days. (more like the ascension, Luke 24:50-51) Does his interpretation make sense to you?
3) Wright quotes the historian Josephus as saying Daniel 7 was being interpreted by Jews of Jesus’ day and before as a messianic prophecy of one coming from the Jewish nation to rule the world. Wright asserts that the messiah God sent appears as a “suffering servant” to whom the nations do their worst until God vindicates him.
In light of that, what does Daniel 7 signal about who Jesus is? In reading this text with ‘Christian hindsight’ how do we see what God has done, is doing, and will ultimately do through Jesus? What form has the vindication taken so far?
4) Wright indicates that prophetic language like this is rich and can afford levels of interpretation. “The Son of Man” or suffering servant has been seen in Jewish tradition as a collective figure for Israel or the people of God. Wright speaks of Jesus acting as a representative who sums up his people in himself, offering himself a ransom for many. Do you find this understanding helpful?
5) Daniel 7 assures us that God will ultimately ‘put the world to rights’. How does this promise encourage or inspire you to faithful living?