Jesus referred to Himself as
the Son of Man.
He deliberately chose this
title to conceal and reveal eternal truths about
Himself. No other title used by Jesus of Himself so
clearly testifies to His messianic
self-consciousness.
In Ezekiel the expression "Son
of Man" is used more than ninety times by God
addressing the prophet (Ezek. 2:1; 3:1, etc.). In
this most basic usage it simply means an indefinite
expression for "a man." The phrase brings out the
humanity, weakness, and frailty of the prophet in
contrast to the infinite glory, strength, and
knowledge of the LORD God.
However, Jesus used this title
when He made many of His strongest statements
revealing His deity.
"Son of Man" was a Messianic
title. Jesus took a well-known title and filled it
with rich new meanings that revealed the work of the
Messiah and His superhuman claims.
There is no doubt Jesus had in
mind Daniel 7:13-14 when He referred to Himself as
the son of Man. "I kept looking in the night
visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One
like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the
Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to
Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that
all the peoples, nations and men of every language
might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting
dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom
is one which will not be destroyed" (Daniel
7:13-14).
Jesus used the expression "Son
of Man" as the first person singular pronoun "I"
when referring to Himself (Mk. 2:10, 28; Lk. 9:58;
7:34; Matt. 11:19; 16:13). In these and other
passages Jesus tells His listeners that He has
extraordinary authority over men, authority to
forgive sins, authority over the Sabbath, and
equality with God.
"The Son of Man did not come to
be served, but to serve, and to give His life a
ransom for many" reveals the central purpose of His
becoming man (Mark 10:45; cf. Matt. 20:28).
"The Son of Man has come to
seek and save that which was lost" (Lk. 19:10)
foretells in considerable detail His coming
betrayal, condemnation, death and resurrection (Mk.
8:31; 9:12, 31; 10:33-34; 14:21, 44, 41; Matt. 26:2;
17:12, 22; 16:21; Lk. 22:48; 24:7).
The resurrection from the dead
vindicated Jesus as the Son of Man. It proved all of
the claims Jesus made as the Son of Man. His death
without the resurrection from the dead three days
later would have put an end to the whole idea of
Jesus being anything more than a mere human being.
Jesus said, "For just as Jonah was three days and
three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so
will the Son of Man be three days and three nights
in the heart of the earth" (Matthew 12:40).
The ultimate triumph and glory
of the Messiah must first be fulfilled by the
Suffering Servant of the LORD. "The Son of Man is
going as it has been determined" (Luke 22:22; cf.
Acts 2:22-24; Mk. 9:9). The shadow of the cross was
always before Him.
Jesus used the title Son of Man
to reveal Himself as glorified deity. It declares
His own prophetic vision of His vindication and
glorification. Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to
you, that you who have followed Me, in the
regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His
glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel"
(Matthew 19:28). "And then the sign of the Son of
Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes
of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son
of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power
and great glory" (Matthew 24:30; cf. Mk. 13:20;
14:62).
Judgment will come upon all who
reject the Son of Man. "For whoever is ashamed of Me
and My words in this adulterous and sinful
generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of
him when He comes in the glory of His Father with
the holy angels" (Mark 8:38).
Jesus is coming to this earth
again (Matt. 16:27-28; 24:27, 30, 44; Lk. 12:40;
17:29; 18:8).
The Son of Man and the Kingdom
of God have come. There is the now and the yet to be
as we look forward to the full manifestation of His
glory in the consummation.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Come!
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author's written consent.
Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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