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While on earth, our Saviour very often referred to Himself as the “Son of Man.”  In Matthew, the term occurs over 30 times, in Mark 15 times, in Luke 25 times, and in John a dozen times.  However, it is significant that there is no record of His being addressed or personally designated in this way by any other individual except once, when the crowd asked Him for the meaning of the title: “We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?”  (Jn. 12: 34).  

It is likely that Jesus used this term in the light of the vision described in Daniel 7: 13-14: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him.  And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”  By identifying Himself with the “Son of man,” whose “dominion is an everlasting dominion” and whose “kingdom … shall not be destroyed,” Jesus proclaimed His divine Messiahship and the certainty that , “in spite of the seeming victory of His enemies and the seeming helplessness of His followers, He would ultimately triumph.  The Son of Man Who humbled Himself to be truly man is at the same time the eternal Victor” (Matt. 24: 30) – New Bible Dictionary.

Let us consider the following Gospel references.  We will note that Jesus often used this particular self-designation in close association with the necessity of His suffering, sacrificial death, final triumph and glorification.

But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come (Matt. 10: 23)

The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.  But wisdom is justified of her children (Matt. 11: 19).

He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man (Matt. 13: 37).

The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity (Matt. 13: 41).

Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom (Matt. 16: 28).

And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead (Matt. 17: 9).

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many (Matt. 20: 28).
Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath (Mk. 2: 28).

Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day (Lk. 9: 22).

And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head (Lk. 9: 58).

Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God (Lk. 12: 8).

And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven (Lk. 12: 10).

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost (Lk. 19: 10).

And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom He is betrayed! (Lk. 22: 22).

And He saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man (Jn. 1: 51).

And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified (Jn. 12: 23).

Outside the Gospels, the term occurs only once in Acts, in Stephen’s speech : “And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7: 56), and twice in the Book of Revelation : “And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle”  “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle” (Rev. 1: 13; 14: 14).

In the OT Book of Ezekiel, the “son of man” occurs no fewer than 90 times.  This is always applied to the prophet himself and designates his prophetic mission.  One commentator says:  “It expresses the contrast between what Ezekiel is in himself and what God will make out of him, and to make his mission appear to him not as his own, but as the work of God, and thus to lift him up, whenever the flesh threatens to faint and fail.  Thus there was one before Jesus of Nazareth who bore the title, at least in certain moments of his life.”

The term was used on another occasion of the prophet Daniel: “So He came near where I stood: and when He came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but He said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision” (Dan. 8: 17).  It is possible that the Lord used this expression to cheer and encourage His trembling prophet with firm assurance of what was to occur in future times.
(… to be continued)

- Pastor