'Son of Man' was Jesus' favorite title for Himself. It comes from Daniel 7, where 'one like a son of man' receives an everlasting kingdom from God. By using it, Jesus claimed to be that divine, reigning figure while also owning His full humanity and His calling to suffer and serve.
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
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It comes from Daniel's vision of the One who rules
Daniel saw 'one like a son of man' come with the clouds of heaven and receive dominion, glory, and a kingdom that will never be destroyed, words the Bible uses for God's own rule. Jesus took this title as His own, especially when speaking of His glory and return.
I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Jesus said to him, “You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.”
It is a claim to divine authority and to be the Messiah
When the scribes asked who could forgive sins but God alone, Jesus answered by asserting that 'the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,' claiming the divine prerogative. And the Father 'gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a Son of Man.'
Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” But there were some of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
The Son of God did not merely appear human; He became human. He 'shared in flesh and blood' so that He could be 'made like his brothers' in every way, and become a merciful High Priest. Calling Himself the Son of Man declares He is the true Man, our representative.
Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For most certainly, he doesn’t give help to angels, but he gives help to the seed of Abraham. Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.
The same title reaches two directions: a glorious reigning figure in Daniel, and 'the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many' in the Gospels. Jesus is the Suffering Servant who becomes the reigning King.
For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.”
As the Son of God He is fully God; as the Son of Man He is fully man, able to stand in our place, represent us, suffer for us, and one day judge us. He is the bridge our humanity needed: the divine Son who became man so that man could be reconciled to God.
Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.