The title “Son of Man” is used numerous times in the Bible to refer to Jesus Christ. It is one of the most distinctive titles Jesus used to describe Himself. Understanding the meaning behind this title is key to understanding who Jesus claimed to be.
The title “Son of Man” comes from Daniel 7:13-14, where Daniel has a vision of “one like a son of man” coming with the clouds of heaven and being given dominion and glory by God. This passage is interpreted as a messianic prophecy by Jews and Christians. Jesus frequently used “Son of Man” to refer to Himself and His ministry.
The title “Son of Man” has several implications:
1. It emphasizes Jesus’ humanity
By calling Himself the Son of Man, Jesus was identifying as a human being. The Son of Man was a human figure in Daniel’s vision, in contrast to the various beasts which represented pagan kingdoms. Jesus referring to Himself in this way highlighted that He had come to earth as a man – the Word becoming flesh (John 1:14). This sets Jesus apart from conceptions of God as distant and uninvolved with humanity.
As the Son of Man, Jesus fully experienced human life. He got tired, hungry, and thirsty just like any other person. Hebrews 2:17 says Jesus was made like His brothers in every way. Calling Himself the Son of Man expressed Jesus’ genuine humanity. He was not merely a spirit appearing in bodily form, but was fully God and fully human.
2. It hints at Jesus’ divine identity
However, the term Son of Man also has divine and messianic overtones when referring to Jesus. In the Gospels, Jesus uses the title Son of Man interchangeably with “I” and “me” – following up talk of the Son of Man with “I have authority to forgive sins” etc (Mark 2:10). This implies an equivalence between Jesus and the exalted messianic Son of Man from Daniel’s vision.
The Jews of Jesus’ day were very monotheistic, yet Jesus applied the transcendent descriptions of the Son of Man from Daniel’s vision to Himself. This was understood as blasphemy by the Jewish leaders, as they knew the implication that He was making (Mark 14:62-64).
So while the title affirmed Jesus’ humanity, it also subtly alluded to His deity. This theme of Jesus being fully divine yet fully human is hard for us to fully understand, and yet is crucial to who Jesus is.
3. It connects Jesus with His ministry on earth
Jesus’ favorite name for Himself was deeply connected with His earthly ministry. Jesus used the title Son of Man especially when speaking about His sacrificial death and resurrection (Mark 8:31, Mark 9:9). This was because He came as the Son of Man specifically to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
The Son of Man was sent by the Father to redeem and restore humanity through His suffering and death on the cross. Jesus was announcing that the incarnate Son of Man described in Daniel 7 had now come to fulfill His mission. The title connected who Jesus was with what He came to do – to die and rise again for humanity.
4. It speaks of Jesus’ authority
In the Gospels, references to the Son of Man focus a lot on His authority and future reign:
– Authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:10)
– Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28)
– Authority over angels (Mark 13:26-27)
– Will judge the world (Matthew 25:31-32)
– Will reign over all people and nations (Psalm 8:4-6)
Though He came first as a suffering servant, the Son of Man would ultimately be enthroned in power and great glory. The title encompasses both Jesus’ present ministry and future kingdom.
As the Son of Man, Jesus claimed to have supreme authority given by God Himself. His reign would eclipse even the greatest human empires, as prophesied in Daniel 7. This shows that the title Son of Man encompasses far more than just Jesus’ humanity.
5. It shows Jesus as the ideal man
Some scholars suggest “Son of Man” also refers to Jesus as the ideal or archetypal human. In the Old Testament, the phrase “son of man” is used to refer to someone distinctly human (in contrast to God).
As the Son of Man, Jesus represents restored humanity – what God intended mankind to be like, in full relationship with Him. Jesus is the perfect image of God in human form (Colossians 1:15). He is the second Adam who succeeds where Adam failed (1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 45-49).
Through His obedience, Jesus inaugurates a redeemed humanity and offers Himself as a model for reborn human nature. Believers are being conformed to His image through sanctification. In this sense, Jesus as the Son of Man could represent the ideal of a new humanity restored to God’s original purpose.
6. It shows Jesus as the divine Messiah
Considering all the above aspects, the most comprehensive understanding of Jesus as the Son of Man is that it refers to Him as the divine Messiah sent from heaven to redeem and rule humanity.
The title includes Jesus’ humanity, authority, sacrificial death, resurrection, and future reign. It was Jesus’ favorite self-designation because it so powerfully communicated His identity and mission as the God-man Messiah.
Matthew 16:13-17 shows that Peter’s confession of Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God” equated to recognizing Him as the Son of Man. The title summarized both Jesus’ deity and His purpose to die as a ransom for sinners.
7. It enables Jesus to hide as well as reveal His identity
During His time on earth Jesus needed to conceal the fullness of His identity until His death on the cross. If people had understood too soon that He was the divine Messiah, they would have wanted to force Him into a political role as king.
The title Son of Man allowed Him to hide His full glory from people until the right time. Yet to His disciples in private, He could explain the divine significance of the Son of Man that pointed to His true identity (e.g. Matthew 16:28-17:8).
In this way, Jesus used the term Son of Man masterfully – revealing and concealing different aspects of His identity and purpose according to the context. It enabled Him to keep His Messianic mission on track until its appointed time.
8. Jesus uniquely qualifies as the Son of Man
No one else is ever described as “the Son of Man” in Scripture, even though other humans are called “a son of man.” This exclusive title belongs to Jesus alone. It is applied to Him over 80 times in the New Testament, compared to just 14 times in the Old Testament.
Jesus is the ultimate Son of Man that Daniel saw in his vision – the exalted divine Messiah who would redeem mankind. This sets Him apart as utterly unique among all who have ever lived. The apostles and New Testament authors clearly understood this title as referring exclusively to Jesus Christ.
The title Son of Man succinctly captures both Christ’s humanity and divinity. He can represent and sympathize with human beings as a man, yet has the power and authority of God Himself. There has never been and will never be anyone else like the God-man Jesus Christ.
9. It will be central to Jesus’ identity forever
The title Son of Man will continue to be relevant in the future after Christ’s second coming. In Revelation 1:9-18, Jesus appears to John on Patmos in a vision. There He calls Himself “the First and the Last” – a clear claim to deity. Intriguingly, “Son of Man” is also mentioned in this vision of Christ’s exalted glory.
Likewise at the end of Daniel 7, the Son of Man figure is described as having an eternal dominion. The Son of Man’s reign will never end. This shows that “Son of Man” does not just apply to Jesus’ earthly ministry, but will remain central to His identity for eternity.
10. The Son of Man and the Son of God
The title Son of Man complements the title Son of God which was also applied to Jesus. Son of God emphasizes Christ’s deity, whereas Son of Man emphasizes His humanity. Yet both titles indicate His divine nature.
At Jesus’ trial before His crucifixion, the Jewish leaders ask if He is the Son of God, and Jesus responds that they will see the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven (Matthew 26:63-64). This directly links the two titles as referring to His identity as the divine Messiah.
As the unique God-man, Jesus Christ is rightly called both the Son of Man and the Son of God. These titles work together to give a complete picture of who Jesus claimed to be.
Conclusion
In summary, the title Son of Man has several layers of meaning for Jesus:
– Affirms His humanity
– Hints at His deity and authority
– Connects Him with His earthly ministry of redemption
– Shows Him as the ideal man and second Adam
– Points to His identity as the divine Messiah
– Allowed Him to conceal as well as reveal His identity
– Jesus uniquely qualifies for this title
– The title will apply to Him forever
– It complements His title Son of God
As the ultimate Son of Man, Jesus fulfills God’s purpose in sending the Messiah to redeem humanity through His suffering, death, and resurrection. This powerful title succinctly expresses both Christ’s deity and humanity united in His redemptive mission. The richness of meaning behind Jesus as the Son of Man tells us much about His person and ministry.
