“The people answered Him, ‘We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, “The Son of Man must be lifted up”? Who is this Son of Man?’” (John 12:34).

“Son of Man” is the primary designation that Jesus used for Himself during His ministry. It appears 84 times in the Gospel accounts. What does this designation mean and why did the Son of God prefer to speak of Himself as the “Son of Man”?

“Son of man” is used 196 times in the Bible. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew term can literally mean “Son of Adam,” identifying one as a human. The first time it appears in the Bible it emphasizes the fact that God is not a man like us. “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Num. 23:19).

The term was also used by God to refer to a person He had set aside for a specific purpose or service. The prophet Daniel is referred to as “son of man” (Dan. 8:17). God refers to the prophet Ezekiel as “son of man” 93 times in the book bearing his name.

The answer to Jesus’ use of this designation is likely found in Daniel’s prophecy of the Messiah. “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then 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 the one which shall not be destroyed” (Dan. 7:13-14).

When Jesus used “Son of Man” he often connected it with things that separated Him from the Jewish leaders and teachers of His day and identified Him as the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy. Jesus said the Son of Man has come down from heaven (John 3:13; 6:62) to which He will ascend (according to Daniel’s vision). He also said the Son of Man “has power on earth to forgive sins” (Matt. 9:6), “is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Matt. 12:8), has power over His angels (Matt. 13:41), has the authority to judge mankind (Matt. 16:27), “has come to save that which was lost” (Matt. 18:11), and will sit upon a glorious throne (Matt. 19:28; 25:31). On the night He was betrayed, in His defense before the high priest, Jesus said, “Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven” (Matt. 26:64). This was a clear reference to Daniel’s prophecy.

Why did Jesus refer to Himself as “Son of Man”?

• To identify Himself with mankind in the most universal way.
• To identify Himself as a special servant of God performing a specific mission.
• To identify Himself as the anticipated Messiah of Daniel’s prophecy.

While it is important that we acknowledge Jesus as the Son of Man, it is more important that we, like Peter, confess Him as “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt 16:13-16).