Jesus' Favorite Title
Son of Man is a relatively uncommon messianic title used in parts of the Old Testament which Jesus adopted as his favorite title for himself. In general, it means "man", but some of its uses in the Old Testament and apocryphal works apply greater significance to it. Jesus took this significance and applied it to himself and his mission.
Son of Man comes from "ben 'adam", Hebrew meaning "man" or "a human individual." This phrase is sometimes used as a poetic form of "man" in the Old Testament.
Book of Daniel
In Daniel 7, the prophet Daniel recounts a vision of four beasts. Each came out of the sea. Biblical scholars have determined that each beast represents a worldly empire at the time of Daniel. However, the beasts are judged by "the Ancient One" (Daniel 7:9). The fourth beast, the most terrifying, is killed. The others lose their power but are spared temporarily.
Then Daniel speaks of the coming of the Messiah and describes him as "one like a son of man."
"As the visions during the night continued, I saw one like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; when he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, he received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed."
Daniel 7:13-14
The "son of man" in this passage is most likely a representation of either the Messiah or the kingdom God promised to establish through the Messiah. Through the "son of man", God establishes His Kingdom. Unlike the earthly kingdoms, God's kingdom is represented by man, not beast. It is a holy kingdom of holy people-- God's chosen people, Israel.
Not only is the "son of man" given dominion, glory, and kingship, but he also comes on the "clouds of heaven", an entrance suggesting divinity, since clouds are God's vehicles. The "son of man", though he appears in human likeness, also carries divine connotations, which make it more applicable to Jesus.
Below are links to sites about Daniel.
Book of Ezekiel
In Ezekiel, God addresses the prophet as "son of man" several times. In this case, the phrase is intended to highlight the distinction between God's divinity and the human weakness of Ezekiel.
Click on any of these links to learn more about Ezekiel.
Enoch
In the Book of Enoch, the Son of Man is used as more than simply poetical imagery. The title clearly defines an individual, to whom Enoch assigns many divine qualities which are traditionally applied to Jesus in Chrisitanity. According to Enoch, the Son of Man existed before creation and will appear at the end of time to sit on the throne of God and judge people. In Enoch, "son of man" is a distinct title for God's chosen one, the Messiah.
4 Ezra
Ezra also applies divine imagery to the title. In this book, the Son of Man performs messianic deeds. He rises from the sea and, like in Daniel, comes on clouds. He delivers judgment by destroying the wicked with his breath, and, like a true king, reunites Israel, including the ten lost tribes. As in Enoch's suggestion of pre-existence, the Son of Man is remains with God for a long time before saving man. The Son of Man is clearly a messianic figure in 4 Ezra as in Enoch. In 4 Ezra, the Son of Man is even given the title of God's Son.
Gospels
At the time of Jesus, "Son of Man" was known to be a messianic title by some Jews. Though it was certainly applied to the Messiah, its use was not popular or widespread.
"Son of Man" is a common title for Jesus in the Gospels. However, it does not seem to be the title of choice for the evangelists, but for Jesus himself. Jesus is the only one who uses "Son of Man". Perhaps the disciples preferred to call Jesus by a more well-known and glorified title. The principal reason for Jesus' choice was that, while Messiah was a popular, widespread, and obvious title, Son of Man was low-key but still conveyed that he was the Messiah. In this way Jesus was able to preach his message to his followers without revealing the messianic secret and inciting Jewish leaders against him.
Jesus used Son of Man in three main ways:
- To speak of his own veiled glory and power which would be revealed later
- To convey the humble, lowly state that he took on for his earthly ministry
- To speak of his suffering and death
The first message recalls the powerful symbolism of Daniel's vision and of Enoch and Ezra. To Jews who recognized the title, this usage would communicate Jesus' great power and importance. Although they would not know about his divinity, Christians today can interpret this use of "Son of Man" as a testament to Jesus' divine nature as God the Son. The Gospel according to John especially emphasizes Jesus' divine characteristics, similar to Enoch's use of "Son of Man" with divine implications. Below are some examples of "Son of Man" as a divine title.
"'But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth'--he said to the paralytic, 'I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.'"
Mark 2:10-11
"'When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.'"
Matthew 25:31-32
"'No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.'"
John 3:13
The second use, which emphasizes the human weakness that Jesus entered into, is used in a way similar to its use in Ezekiel. It highlights the Incarnation and Jesus' humble choice to become a man to save mankind.
"Jesus answered him, 'Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.'"
Matthew 8:20
The third use, which deals with suffering, gives "Son of Man" a meaning similar to the title of the Suffering Servant. The combination of the two titles adds new meaning and complements both titles. The New Catholic Encyclopedia gives this definition for the new, complete meaning of the titles: "The Servant of the Lord, who by His obedient suffering and death would redeem Israel and all the world, was also the Son of Man who would one day be revealed in glory as God's Son and judge of all men." To learn more about Suffering Servant, go to Addison Jacobs' Website or Max Margherio's Website. In John's Gospel, "Son of Man" is used in conjunction with Passion and Resurrection. John implies that Christ's glorification began with his Passion.
"He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days."
Mark 8:31
"'And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.'"
John 3:14-15
While Jesus was generally the one to use Son of Man during his lifetime on Earth, the early Church may have taken the title and applied in ways similar to the ways that Jesus used it. Paul, though he does not use "Son of Man" itself, used words with similar meanings: "the Man" or the "last Adam".
- Which Old Testament prophets used "son of man", and what meaning did each use have?
- What are the names of the two books that weren't put in the Bible that use "Son of Man" as a divine messianic title?
- In the New Testament, who uses "Son of Man" and why?
- What are the three ways in which "Son of Man" is used in the New Testament?
Answers
This website was created by a freshman at St. Louis University High School as a theology project. If you have any questions or comments, email me at mjlumetta@socket.net.
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