The name “Son of Man” appears five times in Matthew 26. It is striking to connect them together. Three times it speaks of Him as being delivered up or betrayed. This, we know, was by Judas, one of the twelve apostles who had followed Him for three and a half years. In verse 2, the Lord said He would be delivered up to be crucified at the Passover time. He knew the means of His death as well as the time.

A fourth time He says that the Son of Man goes as it is written of Him (Mt. 26:24). Although He was betrayed by Judas into the wicked hands of men who would crucify and slay Him (Acts 2:23), yet it was also foretold in the Scriptures that He must suffer. From the first promise in the Garden, about the woman’s Seed, to the prophecy of Isaiah 53, many scriptures announced that He must suffer for the sins of His people.

The last mention of the Son of Man in this chapter is in verse 64: “Hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” The high priest had just charged the Lord to tell them whether He was the Christ, the Son of God. The Lord responds in the affirmative—it was as he said. He speaks of Himself as the Son of Man glorified. He was about to suffer, as it was written of Him, but then He would be glorified. First, He would soon be sitting at the right hand of power. This is where we know Him today. He is there for us. Then, in that soon coming day of His power, He will come on the clouds of heaven to reign. In this wonderful chapter, then, we see the Son of Man betrayed, yet going as was written of Him; and also His future glory, the answer to all His sufferings. Our privilege today is to know Him at the right hand of power. May we worship Him!