SON OF MAN
(A) Term that designates the human being, to differentiate him from both the Deity and the animals (Num. 23:19; Jb. 25:6; Ps. 8:5; Is. 51:12). (See (a) (G)).
Gabriel, addressing the frightened Daniel, says: “Son of man” (Dan. 8:17).
Ezekiel, overcome by a vision, heard the words, “Son of man, stand up” (Ez. 2:1). From then on, this expression is constantly repeated (92 times) to address the prophet.
Daniel predicted (Dan. 7:13, 14) that the hostile world power, symbolized by the ferocious beasts, will succumb to the Ancient of Days.
“One like the son of man,” coming with the clouds of heaven, will then receive universal dominion. All people will serve him; His dominion will be an eternal dominion, which will never end, and his kingdom will never be destroyed.
In this vision, the human being contrasted with the beasts (types of the kingdoms of this world) represents the man par excellence, the Messiah, destined to receive with all the saints the universal and eternal kingdom (Dan. 7:14, 27). .
(B) Jesus, the Son of man. In the Gospels, the Lord gives Himself this title 78 times, deliberately evoking Dn. 7:13-14 (cf. Mt. 24:30; Mr. 14:62, etc.). Stephen also designates Jesus with this title (Acts 7:56; cf. Heb. 2:6; Rev. 1:13; 14:14).
In choosing such a title, the Christ does not simply want to affirm his brotherhood with men or insist on his human condition, for at the same time he constantly claims the attributes of the Deity (Lk. 5:24).
He thus opts for a term that defines him as a typical representative of humanity, the “last Adam”, the “second man” who came from heaven, while the first was from the earth (1 Cor. 15:45, 47 ), the head of the new race saved by his sacrifice (Rom. 5:12-19).
The Christ is called the Son of Man in relation to the whole race, while the Son of David is his name in relation to Israel, and the Son of God is his divine name.
Jesus constantly used the title Son of Man in connection with his mission. He identifies himself with lost men, he comes to seek them and save them (Lk. 19:10); He gives his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
As such, he is delivered, crucified, buried, and resurrected (Mt. 12:40; 20:18; 26:2); He will also return in his glorified body to judge and reign (Mt. 24:30, 39; 25:31; Rev. 1: 13-16). It is clear from passages such as Mt. 26:63-64 and 16:13, 16-17 that the Son of God and the Son of Man are the same person.
According to Jn. 5:22, 27, God himself judges no one, but has given all judgment to Christ, because he is the Son of man. Instead of punishing us as he could have done, the Father sent his Son to save us.
By this act of God, man is lost not because he is a sinner, but because he refuses divine forgiveness (John 3:16-19). Thus, it is the Savior himself who becomes the Judge.
It is a terrible thing to despise the Son of man, who has been sovereignly exalted after his humiliation, and who will soon appear in his glory (Heb. 2:6-9).