God is Manlike in a spiritual sense, therefore in Genesis 1:26-27; Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Later God stepped into time as the Son of Man, Jesus Christ to save mankind.
In the 21st century a simple approach has been made: “Adam means ‘man.’ So when Christ is called the Son of Man the entire generating line all the way from Adam down to Jesus is being recalled.”
Jesus’ title “the Second Adam” [or the Original Adam, while the first Adam is a copy] is explained in two chapters: in Romans 5, and in 1 Corinthians 15. Romans 5 teaches us that Adam was “a pattern of the one to come” (Romans 5:14). This means that Adam’s life set a pattern, and then, when Jesus came, Jesus followed that same pattern. However, whereas Adam disobeyed God and brought sin and death into the world, Jesus obeyed God so that the world could receive God’s free gift of righteousness and eternal life.
1 Corinthians 15 focuses on, in the light of Jesus’ resurrection, the contrasts between “death through Adam” and “life through Christ”, explaining that, “since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).
Then, to teach us about the Christian’s future resurrection body, 1 Corinthians 15:44-54 compares and contrasts Adam and Jesus once again. Adam came from “the dust of the earth”, but Jesus comes “from heaven”. Since we are descended from Adam, we currently live in the same kind of “natural” and “earthly” body that Adam had; but, when Jesus returns, we “will be changed”, as our current “perishable” and “mortal” bodies transform instantly into new “imperishable” and “immortal”, “spiritual” and “heavenly” bodies. For, “just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:49). All of these theological truths are summed up in Jesus’ title: “the Second Adam.”
In Judaism, “son of man” denotes mankind generally in contrast to deity or godhead, with special reference to their weakness and frailty (Job 25:6; Psalms 8:4; Psalms 144:3; Psalms 146:3; Isaiah 51:12, etc.) or the term “ben adam” is but a formal substitute for the personal pronoun.
Sixty-nine times in the Synoptic Gospels Jesus calls himself (the) “Son of man”, a Greek expression which in its Aramaic (and Hebrew) background could be an oblique way for indicating the speaker’s own self (e.g., Matt 8:20), or else simply mean “someone” or “a human being” (as in Ps 8:4, where it is a poetic variant for “man”). In Daniel 7:13-14 the “Son of man” seems to symbolize the angels (perhaps the archangel Michael) and/or the righteous and persecuted Jews who will be vindicated and given authority by God (Dan 7:18,21-22,27; 10:13,21; 12:1) rather than function as one individual, heavenly figure who represents the people.[19] What is clear from the evidence is that “Son of man” did not function in pre-Christian messianic expectations as a title for a deliverer expected to come in the last times. It was not even a sharply defined concept, with a specific content and reference. It could simply denote a member of the human race (Ps. 8:4) or be a way of pointing to a prophet’s insignificance and finite dependence in the face of God’s glory and infinite power. Therefore, God addresses Ezekiel ninety-three times as “son of man”.
There was some Jewish background to Jesus’ Son of man sayings, but there was scarcely any follow-up in the emerging Church. Later on the Church Fathers would use the term as a way of referring to Christ’s humanity as opposed to his divinity or to his being the Son of God. However, in the first century the designation does not seem to have been useful in preaching the good news. It does not appear in credal and liturgical formulas. It was too flexible and even vague: it ranges from the mysterious heavenly being of Daniel 7 to simply serving as a circumlocution for “I”. Linguistically, it was a particularly odd expression for Greek-speaking people. The fact that the designation was strange and unsuitable for the early Church’s life and ministry suggests that the Son of man sayings did not derive from groups in the Church, but from another source, which could only really be Jesus himself.
The sayings about the coming Son of man sometimes imply a certain differentiation between this figure and Jesus. Therefore, Luke reports Jesus as declaring: “Everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of man also will acknowledge before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8. Matthew modifies this Q saying to read: “Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32). Apparently, Luke has preserved the original form of the saying, which indicates a certain unity of function between Jesus himself and the Son of man, but at the same time introduces some differentiation between the two figures. The differentiation makes sense once it is recognised that it recalls a turn of phrase actually used by Jesus to distinguish his present preaching from his future judging. The distinction had its point in the historical context of his ministry, but not later in the post-Easter situation where believers acknowledged the personal unity between the risen Jesus and the Son of man who would come in glory. Matthew’s modification reflects precisely that shift.
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The common understanding is that “Son of God” implies his deity—which it does—and that “Son of Man” implies his humanity, which it does too.
He was a son of man, that is, a human being. And he is the Son of God, in that he has always existed as the Eternally Begotten One who comes forth from the Father forever. He always has, and he always will. He is the Second Person of the Trinity with all of the divine nature fully in him.
He is born of a virgin. He had a human father but he didn’t have sex with this virgin until Jesus was conceived. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary. Thus he is human—fully human. The Bible wants to emphasize that he is fully human.
So that’s the common understanding: he is both divine and he is human—two natures, one person.
The more sophisticated and important historical insight is that the term “Son of Man” doesn’t merely align him with humanity. It is probably taken from Daniel 7. And if you read that chapter you’ll see that the Son of Man is a very exalted figure: not just a human figure but an exalted figure. It was Jesus’ favorite self-designation.
If you do a study of the term “Son of Man” in the Gospels you’ll see that he didn’t refer to himself most often as Son of God but as Son of Man. He said things like, in Mark 10:45, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” So he calls himself Son of Man very often.
I think the reason he did so is because, on the face of it, Son of Man is an ordinary phrase for “human being.” He was born of a man. And there’s no offense there: who isn’t a son of man? But those with ears to hear could hear Daniel 7, in which he was claiming a very exalted role in the history of redemption. And he meant to do it.
Jesus was very subtle in that he was always opening his identity to those with eyes to see, but he wasn’t opening it so blatantly that everybody would come and make him king. He had to steer a very narrow course in disclosing his identity, not just openly saying, “I’m the Messiah, I’m the King of the World. Come and acknowledge me as King.” He didn’t talk like that.
He was quiet. He was subtle. And he would make claims that were explicit in certain settings and implicit in others. And only when the time was right—mainly when he was on trial for his life, and they said, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the living God?”—did he say, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man coming with great power and glory.” So he confessed his open deity right at the point where he knew he would be crucified for it.
Reference: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/why-is-jesus-called-son-of-man
We read that Jesus was called many names throughout the Bible, but Son of Man stands apart for several reasons. The number of times we see this name alone separates it from some of the others. Just as with a name like Lamb of God, this name has a distinct meaning that is easily defined and tied back to Scripture. What is the significance and the implications of Christ being the Son of Man? Just like other names of God, this name has rich meaning. Let’s explore this powerful name.
1. Psalms: “Return to us, God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see! Watch over this vine, the root your right hand has planted, the son you have raised up for yourself. Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire; at your rebuke your people perish. Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself. Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name. Restore us, LORD God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved” (Psalm 80:14-19).
2. Ezekiel: In the book of Ezekiel alone, God calls the prophet “son of man” 93 times. In this context, he was referring to Ezekiel as a human being. It’s not until we get to the book of Daniel that we see “son of man” take on greater significance.
3. Daniel: “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).
In the New Testament, the phrase is found over 80 times. Here is just a sampling of those verses, usually when Jesus is referring to himself.
Matthew 8:20: Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Matthew 9:6: But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”
Matthew 11:19: 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 12:40: For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Matthew 17:12: But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”
Matthew 17:22: When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.”
Matthew 19:28: Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 20:28: Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Matthew 25:31: When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.
Matthew 26:2: As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.
Matthew 26:24: The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.
Matthew 26:45: Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.”
Mark 8:31: He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
Luke 22:48: … but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Revelation 14:14: I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.
Jesus often called himself the Son of Man as part of his interactions with people. On the one hand, saying he was the Son of Man would have been a very ordinary thing to say. Like it’s use in Ezekiel, ‘son of man’ can simply mean, ‘human being.’ But of course, Jesus also was speaking to his identity as the Messiah. He was alluding to Daniel 7, claiming his Messiahship and his role in the redemption of the world.
Jesus’ humanity mattered. Jesus was conceived by the Spirit and full of the Spirit of God, but he was birthed by Mary and born as a man. His ability to sympathize in all of our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15) and not sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), means he was and is the only one who could redeem us.
Similarly, his sonship can teach us a lot about himself. In Matthew 3:17 we read, “And a voice from Heaven said, ‘This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.’” In Judaism, the firstborn son is viewed as significant in “the redemption of the first-born son.” This is a commandment in Jewish culture where the firstborn son is “redeemed” and predestined to serve as a priest. The firstborn son was also given a double portion of the inheritance. Sons were viewed in this time as being chosen, prepared with purpose, and to carry on the vision of the father. This helps shape the significance of Jesus being called the Son of Man.
It is said that Jesus’ favourite self-designation is the Son of Man. One example is in Mark 10:45 where Jesus says, “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to service and to give his life as a ransom for many.” As you’ll notice in many of these references, Jesus use of the Son of Man is used in conjunction with his prophetic words about his own suffering. He deeply related to the suffering of his fellow humans.
Jesus was also a humble man and was not associated with a lavish lifestyle or personality. He was a carpenter and his teaching was consistently connected with humility and love for others above himself. He served men, much like a son serves his family. Overall, Jesus was here to follow the will of the Father, and that will was for Jesus to serve people in order to be the bridge to the Father.
To those that were more spiritually inclined, when Jesus called himself the Son of Man they would have recognized the implications was also quietly interpreted as the Messiah. Had Jesus gone around claiming himself as the Messiah alone, He may have been crucified much earlier than He had. In Matthew 16:20, Jesus warned the disciples “… not to tell anyone he was the Messiah.” Claiming himself as the Son of Man gave him the best platform to connect with people in all walks of life.
If we think back to the firstborn definition above, the first son is held high and given significant authority. He is viewed as loved and as worthy from the father to carry on his vision. His authority is for the purpose of leading others. Jesus being the son of man means that he is the leader of mankind. Since he is for us, and he is now seated at the right hand of the power of God, this means we have a way to connect with God the Father, and we can also make a difference here in this world we live in. It matters because he directly influenced our purpose in life.
Just as Jesus was the Lamb of God, that perfect sacrifice that made a way for us, the Son of Man is our leader. When we look at Jesus in this light, we can truly get to the root of pure worship, and that is to see Jesus through gratitude. We cannot earn our righteousness with God, so pure worship is acknowledging his goodness. The more we learn about Jesus, the more equipped we are to get closer to Him through worship.
Jesus’ subtle personality affirmed his teaching from Matthew 7:7-8, which says, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” By claiming himself as the Son of Man, it had just enough mystery to it to get people to ask, to seek, and to knock.
We can worship Jesus as our leader because He thought about us in such a way that He understood what we needed. He knew what we would respond to, and He didn’t just think about it, He went out and made a way.
