Son of Man

by Joey Davis

Of all of the titles by which Jesus described himself, the title "Son of Man" was the one He used most frequently. As a matter of fact, of all of the titles that were used to describe Him, only two other people in the New Testament called Jesus the "Son of Man."

Why did Jesus use the title "Son of Man" as His most frequent self description? He could have called himself Son, Son of God, Prophet, Christ, Messiah, Priest, King, I Am. Lord, Lion of Judah, and the list goes on. I think the answer is found in a conversation with Caiaphas the high priest in Matthew 26:

...the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "you have said it yourself, never theless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven." v63-64.

You see, in a very nice way, Jesus tells Caiaphas that he is asking the wrong question. At this time, it is just as important that the Jews know that Jesus is the Son of Man as it is for them to realize that He is the Christ.

Why? Because the title Son of Man is a prominent theme of the prophets Ezekiel and Daniel. Ezekiel's "Son of Man" is a description of a Prophet who did/would speak on Jehovah's behalf. Daniel's "Son of Man" describes a righteous judge who would bring vengeance upon all who did not obey God. Caiaphas was very familiar with this title!

Jesus is saying in this passage, "you call me Christ and Son of God, but don't forget that I am also the Son of Man. Today you will judge me. In eternity. I will judge you. After all, I am the Son of Man; the righteous judge."

A telling question is asked in Matthew 16:13. Jesus asks Peter, "who do people say the Son of Man is?" In other words, "who do people judge the Judge to be?" When Peter answered, he claimed his own belief that Jesus was the Son of God. This faith is the rock that the church is built upon even to this day ( Matthew 16:18).

Everyday, we tell the world through our actions and deeds who we judge the Son of Man to be. Someday, the Son of Man will recall those deeds to judge where we will spend eternity. Will He be just, or will He be gracious?

That depends. . . who do you say the Son of Man is?