The Son of Man

The figure of the Son of Man from the Book of Daniel is the source of Christ’s self-designation - The Son of Man. The term “Son of Man” is the self-designation found most often on the lips of Jesus in the gospel accounts. It is derived from Daniel’s vision of the one “like a Son of Man” who received the “dominion and kingdom” from the “Ancient of Days.” All the tribes of the Earth will mourn when “they see the Son of man coming on the clouds of Heaven.”

In each instance of this phrase in the New Testament, the Greek text reads “the Son of Man.” The Greek definite article or “the” retains its demonstrative force (“this,” “that”). Translated idiomatically, Christ claimed to be “that Son of Man.” Jesus was not referring to humanity in general or to Christ's human nature, but instead to a specific figure known from the Hebrew Scriptures, “the Son of Man” found in the seventh chapter of the Book of Daniel.

[Clouds - Photo by Jason Blackeye on Unsplash]

Daniel saw a figure he called “the Little Horn” who had “a mouth speaking great things.” That malevolent man persecuted the people of God in the Prophet’s vision:

• “I continued looking in the visions of the night, when, behold, with the clouds of the heavens, one like a son of man was coming, and to the Ancient of Days he approached, and before him they brought him near. And to him were given dominion and dignity and kingship, that all peoples, races and tongues should pay homage to him. His dominion was an everlasting dominion, which should not pass away, and his kingdom that which should not be destroyed”- (Daniel 7:13-14).

Features from this vision are found in the references to “the Son of Man” by Jesus as well as in related passages elsewhere in the New Testament, including:

• The coming of Christ “on the clouds.”

• His approach to the “Ancient of Days” for judgment.

• His receipt of dominion over “peoples, races, and tongues.”

• The giving of judgment for the saints.

• The judgment of the Nations of the Earth.

Jesus is “the Son of Man who sows the seed” of the Gospel. This process will conclude only when:

• “The Son of Man will send his angels to gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those who do iniquity” – (Matthew 13:41).

This same “Son of Man” was destined by God to suffer for his people (“For the Son of Man will be delivered up into the hands of men, and they will kill him”), though death would not have the final word. His God and Father resurrected him, and in “the regeneration, the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel” - (Matthew 17:22, 19:28).

This judgment will include punitive sentences on the members of Israel who condemned Christ to death, and this understanding is confirmed by Christ’s response to the High Priest during his trial:

• “I am he. And you will see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven” – (Matthew 19:28, 26:64).

In his testimony before the High Priest, Jesus combined the phrase from the Book of Daniel with a clause found in the Psalms, leaving no doubt that he, “the Son of Man,” is the Davidic Messiah appointed by God:

• “Yahweh declared to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I make your foes your footstool” - (Psalm 110:1. See Mark 14:62, Matthew 26:64, Luke 22:69).

Jesus of Nazareth is also “the Son of Man” who will judge every nation upon his return at the end of the present age. The righteous will be separated from the wicked and receive “everlasting life,” but the wicked will be sentenced to “everlasting punishment”:

• “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then will he sit on the throne of his glory, and before him will be gathered all the nations. And he will separate them one from another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left” – (Matthew 25:31-33).

• “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then will he render unto every man according to his deeds” – (Matthew 16:27).

• “For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” – (Mark 8:38).

COMING ON THE CLOUDS

The language from Daniel is prominent in passages that describe the return of Jesus. He is the glorious figure who will appear “on the clouds of heaven”:

• “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then will all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” – (Matthew 24:30).

• “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, and such men as pierced him. And all the tribes of the land will smite themselves for him. Yea! Amen” – (Revelation 1:7).

The description of Christ’s arrival on clouds appears in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians when he describes the saints who “meet” Jesus when he arrives from Heaven, his ‘Parousia’ (παρουσια):

• “Then we that are alive, that are left, will together with them be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” – (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

In Daniel’s vision, “the Son of Man” approached the “Ancient of Days” and received the Kingdom on behalf of “the saints,” as well as the authority to reign over “all peoples, nations and tongues.”

The enthronement of the Son of Man occurred after the Little Horn waged “war against the saints and prevailed over them.” Likewise, the receipt of “dominion” by Jesus came only after his Death and Resurrection – (Matthew 20:28, 28:18-20).

Whenever Jesus referred to himself as “the Son of Man,” he intended for his audience to identify him with this figure from the Book of Daniel. He used this term to describe his future return and to refer to his suffering and death for others:

• “For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many” – (Mark 10:45).

• “He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death; indeed, the death of the cross. Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave him the name which is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” – (Philippians 2:9-11).

Jesus of Nazareth is “that Son of Man.” Both aspects are necessary when applying this term to Christ if we wish to understand his ministry and reign; that is, his sacrificial death for others and consequent exaltation.

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SEE ALSO:

• The Messiah Arrives - (The Kingdom of God arrived on the Earth in the ministry of Jesus, beginning with his baptism in the Jordan River – Mark 1:1-3)

• The Forerunner - (John the Baptist prepared the way for the Messiah, the Herald of the Good News of the Kingdom of God – Mark 1:4-8)

• Rend the Heavens Asunder! - (The Spirit of God and the voice from Heaven confirmed the calling and identity of Jesus – Son, Messiah, and the Servant of the Lord)

• Le Fils de l'Homme - (Celui qui ressemble au Fils de l'Homme dans Daniel est la source de l'auto-désignation du Christ comme Fils de l'Homme et de son autorité royale)