The Son of Man
Jesus referred to Himself as the “son of man” over 85 times in the New Testament. This was a direct quotation to the prophecy of Daniel that says, “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. 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” (Daniel 7:13-14).
By referring to Himself with this title, Jesus wanted the Jews to see Him as the One who was given dominion and glory and the kingdom, thus, fulfilling the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. The phrase “son of man” also means that Jesus was truly a human being. At the incarnation, the Son of God took upon Himself the form of humanity (John 1:1–4, 12, 14; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14) and became the Son of man (Mark 2:10).
Jesus united divinity with humanity by a tie which will never be broken. John the beloved tells us that Jesus came in the flesh as a human being. “By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God” (1 John 4:2). The second Person of the Godhead became a man in order to save men from the penalty of their sins (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:35).
At the same time, Jesus was the Son of God and the essence of God. “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being” (Hebrews 1:3). It is a most comforting thought to the repentant sinners to know that their representative before the Father is “One like” themselves, the One who was in all points tempted like as they are and who is touched with the feeling of their infirmities (Hebrews 4:15). For this reason, we can “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
