“Son Of Man”

His personal name was Jesus, a name revealed from heaven (Matt. 1:21). In the scriptures—the prophecies, the gospel and epistles—He has more than 150 names, titles and descriptions.

The title that Jesus Himself used most was “son of Man.” Because  the fact that Jesus is both God and man is such an important teaching ( l Jn.4;2; 2 Jn. 7), many think that the title “Son of God” refers to His deity and “Son of Man” to His humanity. But it’s a bit more complicated than that.

The phrase “Son of man” is used in the Old Testament to refer to humanity a few times (Isa. 51:12; 56:2; Jer. 50:40; 51:43). But it takes its special significance with Ezekiel, where “son of man” is his prophetic title (Ezek. 2:1,3,6,8 and about 90 more times). Daniel is also once called by this prophetic title (Dan. 8:17). 

The most important text for understanding the significance of Jesus' use of this title is Dan. 7:13,14 where “one like a son of man” comes in the clouds to the thrown of God and is given authority over the nations. This “one like the son of man” acts with the authority of God Himself. 

Jesus, “the son of man,” can forgive sins (Matt. 9:6), is Lord of the Sabbath (Matt. 12:8), commands angels and rules His Kingdom (Matt 16:27,28), and will sit on His glorious throne (Matt: 19:28). This is the “son of man” who came to seek and saved us (Lk. 19:10) serve and redeem us (Matt. 20:28) who was lifted up from our sins (Jn. 3:14).