The title “Son of Man” is used several times in the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, it is used most prominently by the prophet Ezekiel. In the New Testament, it is used by Jesus to refer to Himself.
The use of this title by both Ezekiel and Jesus has caused some confusion among Bible readers. Why would a title for the Messiah be used for the Old Testament prophet as well? To understand this, we need to explore the meaning and significance of the title “Son of Man” in both the Old and New Testaments.
1. Usage in Ezekiel
The title “Son of Man” is used around 93 times in the book of Ezekiel to refer to the prophet himself. For example:
“He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.”” (Ezekiel 2:1)
“He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day.” (Ezekiel 2:3)
From these verses, we see that God consistently addressed Ezekiel as “Son of Man”. This was a way for God to highlight Ezekiel’s humanity. As a prophet speaking God’s words, Ezekiel could have become prideful. The title “Son of Man” reminded Ezekiel that he was only human, a messenger sent to deliver God’s words.
The Hebrew phrase translated “Son of Man” in Ezekiel is “ben adam”. This emphasizes Ezekiel’s mortal nature as a son born of human parents. God used this title to humble Ezekiel and clarify that the words he spoke came from God, not himself.
2. Usage by Jesus
In the New Testament Gospels, Jesus frequently uses the title “Son of Man” in reference to Himself. For example:
“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” (Matthew 11:19)
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
The title connects Jesus with the “Son of Man” prophecy in Daniel 7:13-14, which describes a heavenly figure given authority and sovereign power. By using this title, Jesus identified Himself as the fulfillment of this prophecy – the Messiah sent by God.
The title “Son of Man” affirmed Jesus’ humanity, while also emphasizing His divine authority. As the Son of Man, Jesus was sent to be a humble servant and sacrifice Himself for humanity. Unlike Ezekiel, the title for Jesus reinforces His identity as the long-awaited Messiah and Savior.
3. Difference in Meaning
While the same title is used, the meaning behind “Son of Man” is vastly different when referring to Ezekiel versus Jesus. For Ezekiel, it highlighted his mortal human nature. For Jesus, it underscored His divine nature and messianic role.
Ezekiel was “son of man” as a reminder that he was only a human messenger. Jesus was “Son of Man” as a proclamation of His deity – the eternal Divine Son who took on human flesh.
The title humbled Ezekiel while exalting Jesus. Ezekiel was simply a prophet, but Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy and the long-promised Messiah.
4. Fulfillment of Prophecy
Isaiah 9:6 prophesies that the Messiah would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” So when Jesus applied the title “Son of Man” to Himself, He was proclaiming fulfillment of prophecy.
As the Son of Man, Jesus was the embodied fulfillment of Daniel’s vision – the everlasting ruler and sovereign king. Whereas for Ezekiel, the title was a reminder of his humanity, for Jesus it affirmed His deity.
By using the shared title in these distinct ways, God establishes continuity between the Old and New Testaments. The prophecies about the Son of Man find their completion in the coming of Jesus Christ.
5. Representing Humanity
There is also important significance in Jesus choosing the title “Son of Man” to refer to Himself instead of simply “Son of God.” As the Son of Man, Jesus identified with humankind and embodied God’s love for the world:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17)
Jesus as the Son of Man came to represent humanity through His life, death, and resurrection. The Apostle Paul explains this in Philippians 2:5-8:
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!”
As the Son of Man, Jesus fully identified with the human experience in order to redeem and restore humanity. His use of the title emphasized how His coming was to save – not condemn – the world.
6. Human Mediator Between God and Man
The duality of Jesus’ nature as both divine and human allowed Him to serve as the perfect mediator between God and human beings. As the Son of Man, Jesus could fully empathize with human weakness and temptation:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)
Because He experienced the full human condition while maintaining His divine nature, Jesus is uniquely able to act as humanity’s merciful and faithful mediator before God the Father:
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6a)
In calling Himself the Son of Man, Jesus highlighted how He could fully understand the human experience and thus intercede for people before God’s throne with true empathy and compassion.
7. Earthly Ministry
An important reason why Jesus frequently used the title Son of Man was because it communicated His mission as the Messiah to fulfill God’s promises and minister among God’s people on earth.
The title connected Him directly with Daniel’s prophecy of the Son of Man establishing an eternal kingdom (Daniel 7:13-14). But it also affirmed Jesus’ earthly ministry to teach, serve, heal, and sacrifice Himself for the sins of the world.
As Emmanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), Jesus ministered on earth as both fully God and fully human. The title Son of Man reminded people that while He was the promised Messiah, He had come first and foremost as a servant:
“the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)
8. Suffering and Sacrifice
Another key reason Jesus adopted the title Son of Man was to communicate the suffering and sacrifice that He would endure on behalf of humanity:
“And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.” (Mark 8:31)
As the Son of Man, Jesus’ earthly ministry would culminate in giving His life as an atoning sacrifice for human sin. Only the God-man Jesus Christ could offer His perfect life in exchange for ours. The title Son of Man reinforced this unique aspect of His messianic mission.
Even while affirming His deity, Jesus used the title Son of Man to highlight how He came first as a suffering servant to secure humanity’s redemption. As the Son of Man, Jesus fulfilled His mission as the spotless Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.
9. Future Return
In addition to His earthly ministry as the Son of Man, Jesus also used the title to point towards His future return in full glory:
“Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory.” (Mark 13:26)
As Jesus ascended into heaven after His death and resurrection, two angels promised the disciples He would return “in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)
The title Son of Man connects Christ’s future return with Daniel’s vision of the Son of Man approaching the “Ancient of Days” and receiving everlasting dominion over all nations.
While Jesus fulfilled part of this prophecy during His earthly ministry, His second coming as the Son of Man will complete its fulfillment when He returns to fully establish His eternal Kingdom and judge the world.
10. Daniel’s Vision
It is important to understand Daniel’s vision in more depth in order to grasp the significance of Jesus claiming the title Son of Man:
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 nations and peoples 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)
This prophecy describes a heavenly figure in human form (“one like a son of man”) approaching God’s throne (“Ancient of Days”) and receiving everlasting dominion over all nations. By taking this title, Jesus claimed to be this prophesied ruler sent from heaven to establish God’s eternal Kingdom.
While Jesus fulfilled the initial phase of this prophecy through His first coming, He will complete its fulfillment when He returns to fully manifest His sovereign reign over heaven and earth.
11. Climax of Jesus’ Teachings
In summary, Jesus’ use of the title Son of Man represents the climax of His teachings about His identity and mission. By adopting this prophetic title, Jesus emphasized several key truths:
- As Son of Man, He fulfills the messianic prophecies of the Old Testament
- He identifies fully with human nature and frailty
- He has divine authority as the eternal King and heavenly Judge
- He came first as a suffering servant to sacrifice Himself for humanity’s sins
- He will one day return as a glorious conquering King to establish God’s Kingdom forever
No other title encapsulates Christ’s two-stage work as both humble Suffering Servant and exalted King of kings. The title Son of Man points unequivocally to His unique identity as the God-man prophesied throughout Scripture.
12. Contrast with Adam
Some Bible scholars also highlight how Jesus as the “Son of Man” contrasts with Adam, the first “son of man” who brought sin and death by his disobedience. By His obedience, Jesus the Son of Man brings righteousness and life:
“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19)
This Adam-Christ typology reinforces why the term Son of Man is uniquely fitting for the Messiah. God’s plan was always to provide a new Adam through whom humanity could be redeemed and restored. Jesus as the obedient Son of Man fulfilled this plan completely.
13. Uniqueness of the God-Man
In the end, the shared title Son of Man points to the uniqueness of Jesus’ identity. He is the bridge between two worlds – fully Divine yet became fully human so that He could save, represent, and ultimately deify humanity through His incarnation, death and resurrection.
No one else could fulfill the meaning embedded in the title Son of Man. This title elucidates the magnificent truth that God Himself took on human flesh so that sinful humanity could be reconciled to Him forever.
Through His co-opting this title, Jesus boldly proclaimed His singular status as the Word-made-flesh, the only Mediator between the Holy God and His fallen creation. The title Son of Man belongs to Jesus and Jesus alone.