Jesus and the Title 'Son of Man'

Q: What is the explanation for calling Jesus the Son of Man when he is Son of God?


A: In both the Dictionary of the Bible by John McKenzie (Bruce) and Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Bible by Louis Hartman (McGraw-Hill), you will discover columns of material on the title "Son of Man."

The title appears to have its roots in Mideastern mythology, and the apocryphal books of Enoch and 4 Esdras.

According to McKenzie and Hartman, in mythology, Son of Man is the primordial man who becomes deified and returns in the final days to inaugurate the Kingdom of God.

In the apocryphal books of Enoch and 4 Esdras, the Son of Man appears before the Ancient of Days. He is the righteous one who reveals all hidden treasures. Chosen as judge, he overcomes kings, the powerful and sinners. He is the light and hope of peoples. People are saved in his name and the saved will eat and drink with him in eternity.

In speaking of himself as Son of Man, Jesus appears to have taken the title from the Book of Daniel 7:13. In Daniel, the prophet has a vision of four frightening beasts representing the Babylonian, Medean, Persian and Hellenistic empires. All come to destruction.

Daniel states that, as he watched, the Ancient One (Ancient of Days) took his throne with thousands upon thousands ministering to him. With judgment of the beasts the visions continue and Daniel sees "one like a Son of Man coming, on the clouds of heaven." From the Ancient One he receives dominion, glory and kingship. Nations and peoples of every language serve him. He receives an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away and a kingship that shall not be destroyed.

In the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) Jesus, and only Jesus, uses this title concerning himself some 70 times. In John, Jesus applies the title to himself 11 times. In general we can say that the term emphasizes Jesus' humanity. It makes him capable of suffering and as Son of Man he experiences his passion. He is indeed the Son of God, but as Son of Mary he is also a Son of "man."

At the same time the title evokes the image from Daniel and of Jesus as judge to come. His human experience and ability to identify with humankind make him a most appropriate judge for human beings.