Son of Man

What title would you use to describe what you do? Maybe you could think of several titles for yourself. I know one mom whose license plate reads “Gym Taxi” because she is regularly driving her daughters and others for gymnastic practice or meets. We may worry whether or not a title sounds too prideful or too ordinary.

There’s much that could be said about man’s use of titles and our motivations behind titles, but when we consider the names and titles of Jesus, we can be assured that each one perfectly expresses His character, His identity. Jesus’ titles communicate the truth of who He is and what He came to do. That is why we are taking time through the month of December to meditate on Jesus’ different names and titles.

This week we are looking at Jesus’ title Son of Man. This is the title Jesus most often used to refer to Himself not what others called Him (which should be a flashing light for us to slow down and study it). Son of Man was used around eighty times throughout the Gospels, so today’s reference in Luke 19:10 is only one of many and from various contexts. In speaking to Zacchaeus,”

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.[1]

There are some varying opinions on the title Son of Man. C.H. Spurgeon and others believe that Jesus used this title for Himself to express His humanity. This belief is relatable especially during the Christmas season since Jesus the second Person in the Trinity took on the flesh of a baby. God incarnate.

I’m not going to pretend to know the mind of Jesus, and I don’t think Spurgeon would claim that either. We can identify with Jesus’ humanity that is reflected in the title Son of Man, but we can learn more from this title when we look where it originated.

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.

14 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. [2]

Daniel 7:13-14

The above was one part of Daniel’s dream – a scene in heaven. We won’t get into the details of the dream and prophecy, but we can still discover truths about Jesus from these verses.

First, when Daniel sees the Son of Man, he is beholding the Messiah, who would be both fully God and fully man. So, when Jesus uses the title Son of Man, He is declaring that He is the Messiah from Daniel’s dream. He is the Messiah of prophecy. Those Jesus ministered to could witness His humanity, but in referring to Himself as the Son of Man, Jesus also revealed His deity.

Second, Daniel describes the Son of Man, Jesus, as coming from heaven. Christmas is an intentional time of remembering that Jesus left the glory of heaven to take on flesh here on earth, but there is more. The Son of Man is given all dominion and glory and a kingdom. All peoples, nations, and languages will serve Him. His reign is eternal (Revelation 11:15). His kingdom shall never be destroyed.

Now that we understand the title of Son of Man a little better, how does it impact us?

• Jesus is the Messiah – He is fully God and fully man. He took on flesh to live a life of perfect obedience that we never could. He suffered and died in our place, taking all our sin on Himself, and bearing the full wrath of God to redeem us. Those in Jesus are clothed with His righteousness.

• Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy – This reminds us of God’s faithfulness. He always does what He promises, and since God is immutable (unchanging), we are assured that He is faithful to us today.

• Jesus will be given all dominion – God is sovereign now. Nothing happens apart from Him, but one day Satan’s limited reign on earth will be destroyed. Jesus will have the final victory. He will have all dominion. To be sovereign and to have all dominion, God must be omnipotent. We can be comforted that nothing in our lives occurs randomly or outside of God’s sovereignty. In His wisdom and goodness, God purposes every circumstance for our good and His glory, and He has all power to carry out His purposes.

• Jesus will be given all glory – That one day every knee will bow on heaven and earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord blows my mind. It’s difficult to fathom such a day when everywhere so many are living as enemies of Jesus. The good news is that those in Christ do not need to wait for that day, and in fact, should not wait for that day to glorify Jesus. We can glorify Him now in our thoughts, words, and actions that others may see our good deeds and also glorify Him.

• Jesus’ reign is eternal, and His kingdom will never be destroyed – What a comfort that we know the ending! Too often it seems like Satan is winning. There is wickedness everywhere, and it seems only to be increasing. No matter how our world appears, God is still on His throne. This world will pass away, but God is eternal. Jesus’ reign is eternal. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and for those in Christ, God has already delivered us from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of Jesus (Colossians 1:13).

Son of Man was not a random title Jesus picked for Himself. I pray you have begun to see how this title was and is infused with meaning. May knowing even this brief bit of meaning encourage you as you meditate on Jesus this Christmas season.

Reflection

1. What from our study of Jesus as the Son of Man encouraged you most and why?

2. What about Jesus as the Son of Man gives you hope? Be specific in relation to your circumstances.

3. In light of Jesus as the Son of Man, spend time praising God.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 19:10. [2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Da 7:13–14.