Titles for Jesus In the Gospels – Son of Man

In the Gospels, there are many titles for Jesus. However, there are three main titles – Son of God, Christ (Messiah), and Son of Man. I have already looked at “Son of God” and “Christ” so this week we will finish by looking at the title “Son of Man.”

The most popular title for Jesus in the Gospels is actually “Son of Man.” The title of “Son of Man” is used 82 times in the Gospels – one more time than the total of Christ and Son of God combined! It is the most popular designation for Jesus in the synoptic Gospels, occurring 30 times in Matthew, 14 in Mark, 25 in Luke, and 13 in John (thus a few less than ‘Christ’ in John.)

The phrase Son of Man was used in a variety of ways in the Old Testament, including as a designation for humanity, especially in its role as the vice-regent of God (Psalm 8), and also as a favorite designation for the prophet Ezekiel. The use of the term in the Gospels would certainly include the idea of Jesus as the True Man/Second Adam, and also as the Prophet of God.

However, the most important Old Testament background in Jesus’ self-designation as the “Son of Man” is the Apocalyptic figure in Daniel 7. In Daniel 7:13-14 we read   “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” This is the main background in Jesus’ use of the term.

In Daniel 7, the Son of man arrives during the time of the 4th Kingdom of Daniel’s vision in Daniel 7 (and also the 4th Kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2). This 4th Kingdom was Rome. It was during this time that the Son of Man would come and set up the Kingdom of God, which would grow until it supplanted all other kingdoms.

In calling Himself the Son of Man, Jesus is claiming that the time of fulfillment of the visions in Daniel has arrived. The Kingdom of God is being established through Him, and He has been given authority, glory, and sovereign power by the Ancient of Days to rule over everything and call people from every nation to worship Him. Thus, the Son of Man means Jesus is more than a son of Adam; He is Divine and to be worshipped.

It is as the Son of Man that Jesus proclaims He has authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:10) and to determine what is lawful on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). Further, it is as the Son of Man that He will be rejected and put to death (Mark 8:31; Mark 14:62-63), but will be raised and ultimately execute judgment on unfaithful Jerusalem and Israel, destroying the city and the Temple (Matthew 24/Mark 13).

Furthermore, Jesus often united the title “Son of Man” with other key figures in the Old Testament prophecies – the Messiah/Christ, the Son of God, and also the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. Because the phrase “Son of Man” was not as popular as “Christ” it did not have the same misconceptions surrounding it, and it gave Jesus freedom to teach the true nature of the One to come, and to highlight all the aspects of His work of salvation. This was so great that it took four Gospels to even summarize it!

In Christ,

Bret