The Son of Man

The figure of the Son of Man in the Book of Daniel is the source of Christ’s self-designation, the Son of Man.

The term “Son of Man” is the self-designation found most often on the lips of Jesus. It is derived from Daniel’s vision of the one “like a Son of Man” who received the “dominion and kingdom” from the “Ancient of Days.” All the tribes of the Earth will mourn when “they see the Son of man coming on the clouds of Heaven.”

In each instance of this phrase in the New Testament, the Greek text reads “the Son of Man.” The Greek definite article or “the” retains its demonstrative force (“this, that”). Translated idiomatically, Christ claimed to be “that Son of Man.” Jesus was not referring to humanity in general or his human nature but to a specific and known figure, the “Son of Man” described in the seventh chapter of the Book of Daniel.

[Under the stars - Photo by Mindaugas Vitkus (Vilnius) on Unsplash]

Daniel saw a figure he called the “Little Horn” with “a mouth speaking great things” who persecutes the people of God:

• “I continued looking in the visions of the night, when, behold, with the clouds of the heavens, one like a son of man was coming, and to the Ancient of Days he approached, and before him they brought him near. And to him were given dominion and dignity and kingship, that all peoples, races and tongues should render homage to him. His dominion was an everlasting dominion, which should not pass away, and his kingdom that which should not be destroyed”- (Daniel 7:13-14).

Features from this vision are found in the references to the “Son of Man” by Jesus as well as in related passages elsewhere in the New Testament, including:

• His “coming on clouds.”

• His approach to the “Ancient of Days” for judgment.

• His receipt of dominion over “peoples, races, and tongues.”

• The rendering of judgment for the saints.

Jesus is the “Son of Man who sows the seed” of the Gospel, a process that will conclude when the “Son of Man sends forth his angels to gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those who do iniquity.” Then, the “Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father to render to every man according to his deeds” – (Matthew 13:41, 16:27).

That same “Son of Man” was destined to suffer for his people (“For the Son of Man shall be delivered up into the hands of men, and they shall kill him”), though death would not have the final word. God resurrected him, and in the “regeneration, the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel” - (Matthew 17:22, 19:28).

His judgment will include punitive sentences on the members of Israel who condemned him to death. This understanding is borne out by Christ’s response to the High Priest during his trial:

• “I am he. And you will see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven” – (Matthew 19:28, 26:64).

In his testimony before the High Priest, Jesus combined the phrase from the Book of Daniel with a clause found in the Psalms, leaving no doubt that he is the Davidic Messiah appointed by God:

• “Yahweh declared to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I make your foes your footstool” - (Psalm 110:1. See Mark 14:62, Matthew 26:64, Luke 22:69).

COMING ON THE CLOUDS

The language from Daniel is prominent in passages that describe the return of Jesus. He is the glorious figure who will appear “on the clouds of heaven”:

• “Then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” – (Matthew 24:30).

• “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye shall see him, such, also, as pierced him. And all the tribes of the land shall smite themselves for him. Yea! Amen” – (Revelation 1:7).

The description of Christ’s arrival on the clouds of heaven appears in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians when he describes the saints “meeting” Jesus at his ‘Parousia’ (παρουσια) as he descends from heaven:

• “Then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” – (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

In Daniel’s vision, the “Son of Man” approached the “Ancient of Days” and received the Kingdom on behalf of the “saints,” as well as the authority to reign over “all peoples, nations and tongues.”

The enthronement of the Son of Man occurred after the “Little Horn” waged “war against the saints and prevailed over them.” Likewise, the receipt of “dominion” by Jesus came only after his Death and Resurrection – (Matthew 20:28, 28:18-20).

Whenever Jesus referred to himself as “the Son of Man,” he intended for his audience to link him to this figure from Daniel. He employed this term to describe his future return, and when referring to his suffering and death:

• “For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The Nazarene is “that Son of Man.” Both aspects are necessary when applying this term to Jesus and for understanding his Messianic ministry and reign.

[PDF Copy]

SEE ALSO:

• Coming on the Clouds - (The whole earth will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of Heaven, and he will send his angels to gather his elect –Mark 13:21-27)

• His Return - (The arrival of Jesus will mean the resurrection of the dead, the commencement of the New Creation, and the final judgment)

• The Day of the Lord - (Jesus will arrive to gather his people on the Day of the Lord. In the New Testament, this event becomes the Day of Christ)

• Gathering the Elect - (The saints will be assembled before Jesus on the Last Day, and the wicked will be collected for judgment and cast from his presence)