Why Does Jesus Refer To Himself As The Son Of Man

Why Did Jesus Call Himself the Son of Man?

It was “Son of Man,” when referring to himself, that was Jesus’ most popular designation. The Gospels record a total of seventy-eight instances in which Jesus refers to Himself by this title. For example, when He was asked about His identity by His disciples, He responded with the question, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” (Matthew 16:13). Despite the fact that the Bible does not define what the title “Son of Man” means, it is likely to refer to the fact that Jesus was the epitome of human perfection.

By doing so, He fulfilled the Law of Moses and accomplished something that no other human being had been able to accomplish.

It has something to do with his earthly existence.

Nevertheless, in order for you to be aware that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, he explained to the paralytic (Mark 2:10).

  • Jesus, too, had something to say.
  • Because the Son of Man has come to seek and to rescue that which has been lost, we should be thankful (Luke 19:10).
  • This Speaks of His Exaltation and Authority.
  • When the Son of Man appears in his glory, with all of the holy angels accompanying him, he will take his rightful place on the throne of his glory (Matthew 25:31).
  • The Son of Man does indeed go exactly as it is written about him, but woe betide the man who betrays the Son of Man!
  • That It Is a Messianic Term The title “Son of Man” was given to the Messiah in order to distinguish him from other people.
  • And behold, a figure resembling the Son of Man is approaching on the clouds of heaven!

When he received dominion and glory, he established a kingdom, and all peoples, nations, and languages were required to submit their lives to him.

During His Trial, Jesus made use of the designation.

However, I assure you that in the future, you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the power and appearing in the clouds of heaven (Matthew 26:64).

They accused Him of blasphemy because He claimed to be on an equal footing with God.

The title emphasizes the fact that he was a human being.

SynopsisThe title “Son of Man” is one that was exclusively used by Jesus; His disciples never referred to Him as such.

The title is derived from the Book of Daniel, which predicts that the Son of Man will be the heir to God’s everlasting kingdom.

As part of His trial, Jesus admitted that He was, in fact, the Son of Man – the one who would usher in God’s everlasting kingdom on the earth.

When the religious leaders learned of this, they accused Him of blasphemy, which is defined as declaring Himself to be on an equal footing with God. The title appears to be intended to draw attention to Jesus’ own emphasis on His humanity.

Why Is Jesus Called “Son of Man”?

What is the significance of Jesus being referred to as “Son of Man”? To begin, allow me to provide a basic knowledge, followed by a more in-depth historical understanding. “Son of God” suggests his divinity, which is correct; “Son of Man” implies his humanity, which is also correct; and “Son of Man” implies his humanity and deity, respectively. He was a son of man, which means that he was a human creature. And he is the Son of God in the sense that he has always existed as the Eternally Begotten One who emanates from the Father in all time and space.

  • He is the Second Person of the Trinity, and he has the entire divine nature in his person.
  • Despite the fact that he was born to a human father, he did not have sexual relations with this virgin until after Jesus was created.
  • As a result, he is human—completely human.
  • In other words, it is the mainstream understanding: he is both divine and human—two natures, one person—in one.
  • It is most likely derived from Daniel 7.
  • It was Jesus’ preferred method of identifying himself.
  • He stated things like, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many,” which is found in Mark 10:45.

His reasoning for doing so, I believe, is that Son of Man is a common term that means “human being” on the surface of the phrase.

In any case, there is no insult intended: after all, who isn’t a son of man?

And he had every intention of carrying it through.

He had to take a very limited path when it came to divulging his identity, rather than just declaring, “I’m not who I claim I’m.” “I am the Messiah, and I am the ruler of the entire world.

He was deafeningly quiet.

In addition, he would make statements that were clear in certain contexts and implicit in others, depending on the situation.

So I hope this has been of use. The phrase “Son of Man” has two meanings: it refers to a human individual as well as an elevated celestial entity, according to Daniel 7. And Jesus intends to impart both of these concepts to us.

Why Did Jesus Call Himself the Son of Man?

Jesus frequently referred to himself as “the Son of Man” throughout his teaching sessions. His favorite method to define himself was, in reality, one of the following: “You have stated as much,” Jesus responded. “But I say to you all: From now on, you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Mighty One, and he will descend from the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 26:64). “However, I want you to understand that the Son of Man has authority to pardon crimes on this planet.” So he told the guy, “I tell you, get up, take your mat, and go home,” according to Mark 2:10–11.

What was the significance of this phrase, and why was Jesus so fond of saying it?

The term “son” in Scripture

In the ancient Near East, the notion of sonship was extremely important. The legacies of their fathers were carried on by their sons. They inherited their father’s inheritance, took over their father’s business, and acted as agents for their father’s interests in the world of business. It is said to have come to signify those who have followed in the footsteps of a certain position, tradition, or individual throughout the course of time. For instance, Scripture regularly uses the word “sons of Israel” when Israelites would work perfectly (Genesis 46:8, Exodus 1:1, 1 Chronicles 2:1).

This, on the other hand, indicates that they are Israelites descended from the heritage and tradition of the Jewish people.

“The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha,” the party of prophets from Jericho, who were standing by, said.

This is a euphemism for “according to the order of the prophets.” It was used to designate those who have performed a specified function.

When it comes to “sons of men,” the English Standard Version (ESV) translates it as “children of man,” but the New International Version (NIV) translates it as “mankind.” In addition to Psalm 8:4, Ezekiel 31:14, and Micah 5:7, other texts that speak about the sons of man include verses such as When Jesus takes on the title of “Lord of the Universe,” “Son of Man” is a film about a man who becomes a son of God.

He is not only acknowledging His humanity, but He is also informing His audience that He is here as a representation of all of humanity. He is acting in the capacity of our representative and fulfilling a role.

The prophetic “Son of Man”

It was important to note that for those who were paying attention, Jesus’ title also had another important connotation. It is only by studying the prophet Daniel that we may have a better understanding of this phenomenon. The prophet Daniel was granted a prophecy-filled peek into the future in a spectacular vision: When I gazed in my vision at night, there before me was someone who appeared like a son of man, who was approaching with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted into the presence of the God of the Sun.

  • Daniel 7:13–14 says that his reign will be an everlasting dominion that will never be destroyed, and that his kingdom will be one that will never be destroyed.
  • And it’s clear to see that Jesus is shown in this image.
  • ‘Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world,’ Jesus said (John 17:24).
  • As soon as he had completed his work of atonement for sin, he ascended to sit at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (Hebrews 1:3).
  • I was speechless.
  • And His rule shall endure for all of time: When the seventh angel blew his trumpet, there were resounding voices in heaven proclaiming: “The kingdom of the world has been transformed into the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever” (Matthew 6:33).

Jesus’s true identity

For the majority of His ministry, Jesus remained mum regarding His true identity. Jesus acknowledged and congratulated Peter when he correctly recognized Jesus as the Messiah; yet, after that, He instructed the disciples to keep this information to themselves (Matthew 16:13–20). However, this does not rule out the possibility that the truth was obvious to those who paid close attention. According to the surface, Jesus’ constant use of the title “Son of Man” spoke toward His humanity as He associated with the people He came to redeem, but the evidence was already in place for alert Jews trying to identify Jesus as their Messiah.

That He frequently referred to Himself as the Son of Man was also a strong evidence that He was the Messiah. The Jesus Film Project can be of use to you. Find out how you may use our resources to discover more about Jesus and how to get started.

What does it mean that Jesus is the Son of Man?

QuestionAnswer In the New Testament, Jesus is referred to be the “Son of Man” a total of 88 times. As a matter of fact, the primary term Jesus used to refer to Himself was “Son of Man” (e.g., Matthew 12:32; 13:37; Luke 12:8; John 1:51). One of the only instances in which the term “Son of Man” was used in a direct reference to Jesus and by someone other than Jesus occurred during his execution as a martyr (Acts 7:56). The title “Son of Man” is one of mankind. Another set of names for Christ, such as “Son of God,” is more explicit in its emphasis on His divinity.

  • God referred to the prophet Ezekiel as “son of man” a total of 93 times.
  • The phrase “son of man” is just a periphrastic word that means “human.” Jesus Christ was a genuine human being in every sense of the word.
  • The title “Son of Manis” is one of humility.
  • “There was no place for the Son of Man to rest his head” (Luke 9:58).
  • The Son of Man was subjected to cruelty by human beings (Matthew 17:12).
  • He did this on purpose.
  • So Jesus is the greatest example of everything that God meant for people to be, the personification of truth and grace in the highest sense (John 1:14).
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As a result, the Son of Man was able to pardon sins on the cross (Matthew 9:6).

Specifically, the Son of Man came to rescue lives (Luke 9:56; 19:10), to rise from the dead (Mark 9:9), and to administer justice (Matthew 5:17).

“I say to all of you: From now on, you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Mighty One, and he will come on the clouds of sky,” Jesus stated during His trial before the high priest (Matthew 26:64).

The Son of Man is a fulfillment of prophesy, according to the Bible.

“In my vision at night, I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven,” Daniel had seen in a dream.

He was endowed with authority, grandeur, and sovereign power, and he was worshipped by all peoples, countries, and men of every language on the face of the earth.

Messiah, now referred to as the “Son of Man,” would be showered with glory, worship, and an everlasting dominion, as predicted by Daniel, and Jesus attributed this prophecy to Himself.

When the author of Hebrews used a passage from the Psalms, he was implying that Jesus, the genuine Son of Man, would be the ruler of all things (Hebrews 2:5–9; cf.

Hebrews 2:5–9).

Jesus was entirely God (according to John 1:1), yet He was also totally human (according to John 1:1).

(John 1:14). He is entitled of both names since He is both the Son of God and the Son of Man. Questions regarding Jesus Christ (return to top of page) When scripture says that Jesus is the Son of Man, what exactly does it mean?

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Why Is Jesus Called the “Son of Man”?

Please allow me to first provide a general knowledge, followed by a more in-depth historical understanding. “Son of God” suggests his divinity, which is correct; “Son of Man” implies his humanity, which is also correct; and “Son of Man” implies his humanity and deity, respectively. He was a son of man, which means that he was a human creature. And he is the Son of God in the sense that he has always existed as the Eternally Begotten One who emanates from the Father in all time and space. He has done so in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

  1. He is the child of a virgin.
  2. During the Virgin Mary’s pregnancy, Jesus was conceived via the power of the Holy Spirit.
  3. The Bible wishes to underline that he is a fully developed human being.
  4. The more subtle and significant historical understanding is that the phrase “Son of Man” does more than simply identify him as a representative of mankind.
  5. After reading that chapter, it will become clear that the Son of Man is a very elevated figure: not only a human figure, but an exalted one.
  6. Studying the word “Son of Man” in the Gospels will reveal that Jesus did not refer to himself as the Son of God on a regular basis, but rather as the Son of Man on a few occasions.
  7. As a result, he refers to himself as Son of Man on a regular basis.

In any case, there is no insult intended: after all, who isn’t a son of man?

And he had every intention of carrying it through.

He had to take a very limited path when it came to divulging his identity, rather than just declaring, “I’m not who I claim I’m.” “I am the Messiah, and I am the ruler of the entire world.

He was deafeningly quiet.

In addition, he would make statements that were clear in certain contexts and implicit in others, depending on the situation.

So I hope this has been of use.

And Jesus intends to impart both of these concepts to us.

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What Did Jesus Mean by “the Son of Man”?

The word “Son of Man” appears 32 times in Matthew, 15 times in Mark, 26 times in Luke, and 12 times in John’s gospel. In the first three Gospels, the term is always reported as having been used by Christ Himself, and never by an angel, a man, or a demon in any of the other gospels. Only twice was the statement uttered by men, and both times it was in the context of criticism or unbelief: “We have heard that the Christ lives eternally, and why do you claim that the Son of Man must be hoisted up?” “Who is this Son of Man?” you might wonder.

  • He used it to describe himself, and it is the phrase that connects Him to humanity and demonstrates His deep and beneficial relationship with the human race.
  • As a man, He was being tempted in the desert as a representative of the human race; and this is not just my opinion, but it was His own assertion as well.
  • I abide by the rule of God, which governs the course of humanity’s existence.
  • This allowed Him to announce himself as a human being who lived within the Divine limitations of all other human lives, and that He was doing so in accordance with the law that every other human must follow if he is to reach the fulfillment of his or her life’s purpose.
  • Consequently, the phrases used to describe His relationship with mankind are those that demonstrate His entire identity with the human race and His complete identification with the experience of human life.
  • Campbell Morgan’s The Teaching of Christ, Himself was the source for this adaptation.

A Question of Faith: What did Jesus mean when He called himself ‘Son of Man’?

A total of 32 times the expression “Son of Man” appears in Matthew, 15 times in Mark, 26 times in Luke, and once in John. The term is always reported as having been used by Christ Himself in the first three Gospels, and never by an angel, a man, or a demon. Only twice was the statement uttered by men, and both times it was in the context of criticism and unbelief: “We have heard from the law that the Christ lives forever: and why do you say, The Son of Man must be hoisted up?” “Can you tell me who this Son of Man is?”.

In fact, it is Christ’s own definition of himself, and it is this phrase that connects Him to humanity and demonstrates His deep and beneficial relationship with the human race.

As a man, He was being tempted in the desert as a representation of the human race; and this is not only my opinion; it is His own assertion.

Essentially, I am the Son of Man, and I am in this wilderness on a human level, taking the place of every other individual who has to go through the same experience as I am.

After being tempted a second time, He responded, “It is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him alone shall you serve.” This allowed Him to define himself as a human being who lived within the Divine limitations of all other human lives, and that He was doing so in accordance with the law that every other human must follow if he is to reach the fulfillment of his or her life’s goals.

He responded to the third of these temptations by saying, “It is written, You shalt not tempt the Lord your God.” His declaration that the law which regulated Him was identical to the law which ruled other people was therefore justified.

Written with permission from G. Campbell Morgan’s book “The Teaching of Christ, Himself.” ©GettyImages/KristiLinton

The Author

The Catholic Telegraph, which was established in 1831, is the official news source for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

Watch: Son of Man Biblical Theme Video

Since its founding in 1831, The Catholic Telegraph has served as the archdiocese of Cincinnati’s official news source.

Jesus Christ, the Son of Man

The Catholic Telegraph, which was established in 1831, is the official news source of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

Messianic Connections

The Catholic Telegraph, which was founded in 1831, is the official news source of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

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“The Son of Man” as Transcendent

The Catholic Telegraph, which was established in 1831, is the official news source for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

The Identity of the Son of Man

Any Bible reader will instantly see that all of this is part of a greater picture of Messianic expectancy that finds its fulfillment in Jesus the Messiah, the uniquely qualified divine-human king who reigns on the earth. In fact, Jesus himself confirms this for us in Matthew 26:63–64, when he directly associates himself with Daniel’s “son of man.” This is, in reality, his favorite self-designation, which appears about eighty times in the Gospels and which he uses as a Messianic title on his lips.

He is also referred to as the Son of Man.

Implications

New Testament scholars have seen three major links between Jesus’ usage of this self-designation and the events of the New Testament.

His Authority even in His Earthly Ministry

In Daniel 7:13–14, the authority of the Son of Man is obviously the focal point of emphasis—the Son of Man’s enthronement and universal, uncontested dominion are the focal points of attention. This authority is claimed by Jesus for himself as well. For example, in Matthew 12:8, Jesus declares that “the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” He does not elaborate on how he intends to exercise his dominion over the Sabbath at this point, but the assertion was clear, and it must have been shocking to those who heard it.

This infuriated the scribes who heard it (9:3), and Jesus responds by explaining that this was precisely the point: “‘so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ he said to the paralytic—’Rise, take up your bed and go home,'” he says.

Matthew himself confirms that this is, in fact, the argument that Jesus was trying to make (9:8).

His Humiliation, Rejection, Suffering, Death, and Resurrection

Jesus, in an ironic twist, also referred to himself as “Son of Man” in conjunction with his rejection, sufferings, death, and resurrection, as follows: However, whereas foxes have tunnels to dig and birds of the air have nests to build, the Son of Man has nowhere to call home (Matt. 8:20). And he started to tell them that the Son of Man would have to go through many trials, be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be murdered, only to rise from the dead three days later to reveal himself to them (Mark 8:31; Matt.

  1. “The Son of Man is going to be thrown into the hands of mankind, and they will murder him,” he was instructing his disciples.
  2. Allow the following words to soak into your ears: Human beings are going to receive the Son of Man, who will be crucified (Luke 9:44).
  3. That the phrase “Son of Man” and Messiah were associated with concepts such as rejection, sorrow, and defeat comes as no surprise to anyone who have studied Scripture.
  4. Throughout the Bible, this is a well-known and essential theme: that the Lord Jesus acquired his mediatorial monarchy via his own personal suffering, death, and resurrection.
  5. 28:18), and God “proclaimed him to be Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36), as well as “bestowing on him the name that is above every name” (Phil.
  6. Isa.
  7. 1:20–21).

Matt.

For this reason, some earlier theologians referred to Jesus as “reigning from the cross”—it was in the guise of his apparent weakness and defeat that he redeemed his people and brought them into God’s kingdom (Col.

According to this concept, the magnificent spectacle of Revelation 5 is shown.

Only the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the slaughtered lamb, is deemed worthy of receiving the scroll and breaking open the seals of the book of the covenant.

Why?

And it is not by chance that our Lord drew attention to this issue throughout his trial: When asked whether he was Jesus Christ, the high priest said, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.” “You have stated that you would do so,” Jesus responded.

26:63–64; notice that Jesus pulls together the Messianic enthronement predictions of both Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7:13–14 in one statement).

Our Lord obtains his kingdom right now, in the midst of his death—his apparent defeat—and his subsequent resurrection. In this place, he established his authority to reign (for more, see Jeremy Treat,The Crucified King).

A Rule Yet Realizsed?

We can’t, however, stop here. Despite the fact that he has gained his control and created his kingdom, it is clear that his monarchy has not yet been fully realized. His reign is still being challenged and fought. The world has not bowed in submission to him and has not accorded him the dominion that he has attained in the process. His reign is now, but there is little doubt that there will be more to come. As a matter of fact, the New Testament portrays Jesus’ kingdom as one that is accomplished in stages—both now and in the future.

  • 2:2, etc.).
  • 12:28).
  • John 12:31–32), his kingdom was established in his saving death, which was followed by a triumphant resurrection (Matt.
  • 1:20–21).
  • Simply said, his kingdom, though it is existing, has just been inaugurated; the king has not yet used all of the powers that come with his authority over his foes.

His Return in Eschatological Glory

When Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man, it was with overtones of his eschatological splendor, his coming to earth to wield the full privileges of his reign and bring God’s kingdom to a close. True to my word, when the Son of Man sits on his majestic throne in the new world, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, ruling the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt. 19:28). The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shattered immediately following the tribulation of those days.

  1. His angels will be summoned by the sound of a trumpet call, and they will collect his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other (Matt.
  2. When the Son of Man appears in all his glory, with all the angels accompanying him, he will ascend to the throne of his magnificent kingdom (Matt.
  3. Daniel’s prophesy foresees the coronation of the king (7:13–14), as well as the establishment of his reign, but it also foresees the kingdom in its climax form, with the Son of Man ruling with his saints across the world and all adversaries conquered (7:9–27).
  4. We are led to expect the same thing by the apostle John, who makes a clear allusion to Daniel 7: “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him” (Rev.
  5. It all comes to a head, of course, with the return of Christ, which is pictured in Revelation 19 as Jesus the conqueror riding down the mountain on a white horse to wage battle on all of his adversaries.

The “kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for all time and in all places” has finally arrived (Rev. 11:15). It is through the redeeming work of the Son of Man that God’s kingdom will be established in its entirety.

Concluding Reflection

Man, formed in God’s image, is intended to govern over God’s creation as his vice-regent, serving as God’s second in command. Mankind’s elevated position has been forfeited as a result of sin, but through Jesus, the True Man, humanity has been redeemed and restored. He is the Son of Man, the transcendent Messiah, who, through his redeeming deed, has won the right to wield universal kingship, which he is currently exercising by rescuing his people, one by one, from the domain of darkness and bringing them securely into the kingdom of light (Matthew 25:41-46).

  • 2:9–10, emphasis added).
  • crown Him!
  • crown Him!
  • Sinners crowned Him in mockery, mocking thereby the Savior’s claim; saints and angels gathered around Him, claiming His title and praising His name: Crown Him!
  • Crown Him!
  • Take note of those thunderous applause bursts!
  • Jesus ascends to the greatest rank; what delight it brings to behold him!
  • Crown Him!
  • Crown Him!
  • Crown Him!

If Jesus is God, Why Did He Call Himself the Son of Man?

I’ve come across a number of doubters and cultists who believe that Jesus never claimed to be God in the first place. It was rather his self-identification as the son of man, according to others. There are many people who are concerned about this topic, both skeptics and cults. Many Christians have asked me, “If Jesus is the Son of God, why did he refer to himself so consistently as the son of man?” I have met equally as many Christians who have asked, “If Jesus is the Son of God, why did he refer to himself so consistently as the son of man?” The most often asked follow-up question is, “How can I be confident that Jesus is truly God and that the theology of the Trinity is correct?” Answers to these questions have been the subject of whole books.

  1. My objective in this section is to give three succinct but acceptable responses that you may immediately share with others who are experiencing the same sorts of difficulties, anxieties, and uncertainties.
  2. It is in John 8:58 that Jesus says to the Jewish religious authorities, “Before Abraham was born, I AM!” This is the gospel text.
  3. Second, the righteous Branch, the King, who will come from the lineage of David is given the name YHWH (I AM) by the Old Testament in Jeremiah 23:6, according to the Hebrew Bible.
  4. Third, by referring to himself as the son of man in the gospels, Jesus is making a theological statement about his divinity that is unique to him.

It is always referred to as “the Son of God” in every New Testament verse that refers to Jesus Christ that takes place chronologically after the first day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1–41), and never as “the Son of Man.” In contrast, throughout the gospels, Jesus continually refers to himself as the son of man rather than the Son of God.

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Before the first day of Pentecost, Jesus’ disciples are always referred to as sons of men or children of men, and they are never referred to as sons of God.

According to theological reasoning, only after Jesus of Nazareth dies on the cross in order to atone for the sins of all humanity, is physically resurrected, and sends the Holy Spirit to indwell and spiritually baptize his followers, does he fully fulfill his role as the Son of God, the second person of God’s three-person triune Godhead.

Affirmation of this theological principle may be found in the fact that no human follower of God is ever referred to as a son of God anywhere in the Old Testament.

It was on the first day of Pentecost, as reported in Acts 2, that this prophesy was fulfilled. The solution to this question may be found in my bookNavigating Genesis, which is more in-depth and comprehensively researched. Chapter 14 and appendix c include the information.

Why Does Jesus Keep Calling Himself the Son of Man? — Hyde Park Baptist Church

There was no getting around that. The gospel writers were unable to avoid include Jesus’ favorite self-reference in their attempt to create an authentic account of his life. He may have simply addressed himself in the first person by referring to himself with the pronoun “I.” Jesus, on the other hand, had a more profound argument to convey. It was common for him to allude to himself in the third person by calling himself “Son of Man.” This allusion appears 80 times in the gospels, with 30 of those occurrences being in Matthew’s gospel alone.

Suddenly, a Jewish Scribe emerges from the crowd and expresses his willingness to accompany Jesus wherever he is going to go.

The Scribes’ reaction would have been expected, yet Matthew makes no note of their reaction, which is surprising given his character.

As one continues to read through Matthew’s Gospel, each instance of Christ’s self-reference takes us a bit closer to a broader understanding of what it means.

Furthermore, we learn that the Son of Man:has authority to forgive sins (9:6), eats and drinks with us (11:19), is the Lord of the Sabbath (12:8), will be buried in the earth for three days (16:27), will be raised from the dead (17:9), will be delivered over (19:28), came to serve and give his life as a ransom for many (20:28), will bring final judgment and appear in glory (21:1), and will bring final judgment and (12:40, 24:30).

  • After 30 occurrences of the phrase “Son of Man” in Matthew, Jesus is standing before Caiaphas and the council of Scribes and Elders, according to the Gospel of Matthew.
  • During their effort to capture Jesus, he stayed mute, but there was one question that Jesus was prepared to answer straight.
  • When asked whether he was Jesus Christ, the high priest said, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus responded to him by saying, “You’ve stated your case.
  • What additional witnesses do we require?

In Matthew 26:63-65, Jesus says, “I am the bread of life.” Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man by making a direct allusion to Daniel 7:13-14, which describes the Son of Man as coming in conquering victory to establish his eternal kingdom and as being in authority with God in the heavenly realm.

The exercise of that authority did not result in the overthrow of an empire, as had been anticipated by the council.

Caiaphas and the council were told that the Son of Man who had been explicitly announced to them was the same Son of Man who had previously been described to a Scribe as having “no place to lay his head.” The Scribe in Matthew 8 found no reason to accuse Jesus of blasphemy or to tear his clothes apart when he referred to himself as the Son of Man, and he did not tear his clothes apart.

  1. Readers of Matthew’s gospel get to read the entire book and get a bird’s eye view of everything that is associated with Jesus claiming to be the Son of Man.
  2. With a more comprehensive understanding, we are able to look back and read Jesus’ conversation with the Scribe at Lake Galilee with awe and appreciation.
  3. However, the Son of Man does not have a comfortable place to rest his head.
  4. He came as a suffering servant, and he did not come to establish a permanent residence in this world, but rather to save people from it.

The image above depicts our humble but victorious King. If he is willing to give up his home in this world in order to defeat death and sin on our behalf, we should be willing to give up anything we have in this world in order to follow him.

“Jesus – The Son Of Man?”

Despite the fact that Jesus claimed to be the divine Son of God, His preferred self-designation was by far the more common ‘Son of Man.’ What is the significance of Jesus referring to Himself as the Son of Man, and how do we know that he truly did? As I looked into the distance, I saw a figure who appeared to be the Son of Man, who was descending from the clouds of heaven.” Daniel 7:13 (NIV) Whenever we inquire as to how we know that Jesus claimed the title “Son of Man” for Himself (as opposed to a mythical title afterwards attributed to Him by the Gospel authors), we do it for the benefit of those who are skeptical of the claims of the Gospels.

  • A sceptic is someone who does not believe in the Bible and does not take it on faith.
  • Because of this individual, we pose the questions, “Can we determine if Jesus truly identified himself as the Son of Man?” and “Can we determine whether Jesus genuinely identified himself as the Son of Man?” ‘And what exactly does it mean?’ So let’s get started.
  • When it comes to Jesus’ preferred self-designation, he goes for the title “Son of Man.” However, it is never used in reference to Jesus in the epistles.
  • The question is this: how plausible is it that the Church invented the term Son of Man as Jesus’ favorite self-description, given that the Church itself did not refer to him in this fashion prior to his death?
  • Some believe that the title “Son of Man” lays a greater focus on Jesus’ humanity as opposed to the word “Son of God,” which sets a greater emphasis on His divinity.
  • It is critical to understand how Jesus interpreted the word ‘Son of Man,’ because He used it to refer to Himself more than any other expression.
  • When I gazed in my vision at night, there before me was someone who appeared like a son of man, who was approaching with the clouds of heaven.

He was endowed with authority, grandeur, and sovereign power, and he was worshipped by all peoples, countries, and men of every language on the face of the earth.

(Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 21:5) “The son of man, who came with the clouds of heaven.

Consider the following remarks made by Jesus in the New Testament Gospels in light of this perspective: For just as the Father possesses life in himself, he has provided the Son the ability to possess life in himself.

(See also John 5:27.) It will be at that time that a sign from the Son of Man will come in the sky, and every nation on the face of the globe will weep.

(Matthew 24:30; Mark 10:45) So be on the lookout; I’ve told you everything ahead of time, so be prepared.

Men will see the arrival of the Son of Man in the clouds, accompanied by great power and splendor.

(Matthew 13:24–27) At that point, people will witness the Son of Man appearing in a cloud, accompanied by tremendous power and glory. (See also Luke 21:27)

  • As a result of these scriptures, it appears that when Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of Man, He was alluding to Daniel 7
  • In addition, some first century Jews identified the Son of Man as also being the Christ or Messiah
  • And Jesus had just spoken of His death by crucifixion as having been ‘lifted up.’ ‘How can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be hoisted up,’ when we have heard from the Law that Christ will be with us forever?’ the throng questioned. Who is this ‘Son of Man?” you might wonder.
  • Additionally, Jesus thought that the Son of Man, the Son of God, and the Messiah (Christ) were all one and the same individual. However, in a fascinating passage, He answers affirmatively to the Jewish leadership’s linking both the Son of God and Christ, then adds Son of Man to his claim to be all three at the same time.

When the high priest confronted him, he said, “I charge you on oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” ‘Yes, that is exactly as you say,’ Jesus responded to the question. I say to you all, though: In the future, when God appears, you will see the Son of Man seated at His right hand, descending on the clouds of heaven,’ says the Lord Jesus Christ. As a result, the high priest tore his garments and exclaimed: “He has committed blasphemy!” What is the point of having any more witnesses?

‘What are your thoughts?’ They responded by saying that he was deserving of death.

Except for the one who comes directly from heaven, no one else has ever entered the kingdom of heaven.

(See also John 3:13) What if you witness the Son of Man ascend to the place where he was previously?

Furthermore, He believed the Son of Man to be the pre-existent Son of God and Messiah, as well as the Son of Man.

He was clearly under the impression that He was the divine Son of Man.

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