Humans use titles to communicate something about themselves to others. We see them frequently in social media bios, where people use words like “influencer,” “mom,” “student,” “doctor,” etc., to tell other people who they are or what they do.
When we look at Jesus of Nazareth, we see a man who bore many titles. We see words like “Messiah,” “Prince of Peace,” “Teacher,” “Son of God,” “Son of David,” and more. But the one that Jesus himself used most often was Son of Man. Why? What was Jesus trying to say about himself? We find a surprising answer if we take a quick look at the Old Testament.
Where Did Jesus Call Himself the Son of Man?
The designation “Son of Man” was how Jesus most often referred to himself. He uses the title in all four gospels, so references are numerous. Some of the most famous examples include:
“And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’” (Matthew 8:20)
“… even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)
“But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” (Luke 5:24)
Other references include:
- Matthew 12:8; 16:28; 17:9, 17:22; 20:18
- John 3:13-14; 5:27
What Biblical Author Wrote about the Son of Man?
The phrase "son of man" appears many times in the Old Testament, both for one man or humans in general (i.e., Ezekiel 2, Psalm 8, Numbers 23:19). However, there is one Old Testament author who uses the term differently than the rest.
The prophet Daniel was taken into captivity during the Babylonian exile. God used Daniel to make himself and his will known to the Babylonians and the Jews in exile. In Daniel 7:1-14, Daniel records seeing a vision of four great beasts rising to take power over the earth. Then the Ancient of Days (God) takes his seat of judgment and takes away the dominion of all four beasts. After that, Daniel sees “one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven” (v. 13). This man stands before the Ancient of Days, who gives him authority over all nations, languages, and peoples of the world for all eternity.
Understandably, Daniel was perplexed by what he had seen, so he asked someone–presumably an angel–what the dream meant. The angel replied in verses 17-27 that the four beasts represented four kingdoms that would rise to rule the earth, the final beast being the most brutal and terrifying of them all. This fourth beast specifically would speak against the Lord and oppress his people. In the end, the Most High would judge all the kingdoms of the earth, the fourth beast would be crushed, and the kingdoms of the world would be given to the people of God.
As is common with prophetic literature, many possible identities of the four beasts have been proposed. There may be multiple correct interpretations regarding them. However, the part we want to focus on here is the identity of the Son of Man described in verse 13. Verse 27 indicates that this Son of Man represents God’s people as a whole, who will be given power and dominion over God’s kingdom once the beasts are destroyed. With this in mind, we can shift back to the New Testament, where Jesus fills out our understanding of this prophecy.
What Did Being the Son of Man Imply About Jesus?
The Jews of Jesus’ day understood the Son of Man in Daniel 7 to be a messianic figure. When Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man, he claimed to be the Messiah and King of the world. He claimed to be the one who would receive power and dominion after the four kingdoms represented by the four beasts were destroyed.
In the words of Jesus, we see echoes of the imagery from Daniel’s vision. Passages like Matthew 26:64 and Mark 16:26 describe Jesus, the Son of Man, coming gloriously on the clouds of heaven at his second coming. There will be no question when the Son of Man comes again; it will be as obvious as lightning in the sky (Matthew 24:27, Luke 17:24). When he returns, he will judge the righteous and the unrighteous. At that time, the righteous will inherit the kingdom of God (Matthew 16:27; Matthew 25:31-36).
But not all of what Jesus said about being the Son of Man fulfilled the Jew’s expectations. As mentioned above, the Jews believed the Son of Man represented the Messiah, but they did not believe the Messiah was divine. So when Jesus came claiming that he, as the Son of Man, was the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8) and had the authority to forgive sins (Mk 2:10), it did not sit well, particularly with the religious leaders.
Another way Jesus reversed their expectations was by coming first to suffer and die. Using the Son of Man title, Jesus predicted that he would be arrested by the chief priests and scribes, beaten and crucified, and then rise from the dead (Luke 17:24-25, Matthew 17:22-23; Matthew 20:18-19). These predictions went entirely against the general expectation that the Messiah would be a glorious military leader who would defeat Rome and reestablish the Davidic monarchy (2 Samuel 7).
Jesus used the title Son of Man to communicate an important truth about himself. At the same time, he used it to correct the misconceptions surrounding him. By calling himself the Son of Man, Jesus indicated to listeners that he was the Messiah they had been seeking. However, by using it in conjunction with statements about his humility as well as his deity, he completely shattered and reshaped the preconceived notions of who he was and what he had come to do.
Why Is it Good News That Jesus Is the Son of Man?
When Jesus walked this earth, many people rejected him because he was not the Son of Man they had hoped for. The irony is that Jesus was only able to secure the hope of Daniel 7 because he was not the Son of Man that his contemporaries wanted.
What the Jews missed was that foreign oppressors were not ultimately their greatest problem. Their great problem–the great problem for everyone else on earth–was sin. Sin separates every human being from God, because God is holy and cannot allow sin. God is just. Therefore he must punish sin. The sin problem is not just a Jewish problem or a Gentile problem. The Apostle Paul says that all have fallen short of God’s standard (Romans 3:19-23).
How could there be hope for a glorious future if God’s justice demanded judgment for sin? The Son of Man came to answer that question. Jesus Christ, God the Son, left his glory in heaven to become one of his creations, live a perfect life that no one else could live, and die an atoning death to pay the penalty for sin. God raised Jesus from the dead three days after his death, proving that his sacrifice was enough to satisfy God’s wrath. Jesus provides salvation for anyone who comes to him in faith (Romans 3:24-25). If we turn away from our sins and trust in Jesus’ sacrifice to save us, then sin and death no longer stand between God and us. Suddenly, Daniel’s vision of glory is not only possible but certain.
This is the hope and the endgame of our faith. Daniel 7:13-14 describes the Son of Man coming in glory to receive power and dominion over the entire earth. As Christians in a dark world, we press on in the confidence that Daniel’s vision will become our reality. One day, the evil kingdoms of this world will be destroyed, and sin will be gone. When that day comes, we, as followers of Christ, will share in his glory and enjoy his loving, peaceful kingship forever (Daniel 7:27, Romans 8:17, Revelation 21).
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