Core 52 Week 17 - Son of Man

Names

Nicknames

Self-identity wrapped up in our name.

bible times names were descriptive:

Sons of Thunder. - Mk 3:17

Barnabas - Acts 4:36

No accident that Jesus uses a specific name (or title) for himself almost exclusively.

Son of Man:

OT used 107x - most often in Ezekiel.

Usually not a completely benevolent usage.

Son of = lower Man (in other words, not God).

Term of humility. Designed to remind us of place in God’s perspective.

One exception to this usage is in Dan 7.

Daniel 7:13–14 NLT

13 As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.

In this passage, the humble son of man is ushered into the presence of God and crowned with godly attributes.

This is the context of the primary use of “son of man” in the NT.

85x in total. 82 times in the gospels and nearly all uttered by Jesus about himself.

Why so important?

In the common Jewish understanding of the term, it’s about humility. The sharp students among them would catch the reference to Dan. 7, but not necessarily all of them.

Why would Jesus accept a title or name that conveyed humility, subservience and yet also such strength and power?

He uses this name for himself in both contexts:

Humility

Luke 9:21–22 NLT

21 Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. 22 “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”

Luke 9:44 NLT

44 “Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.”

Luke 9:58 NLT

58 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

Exalted

Luke 5:24 NLT

24 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

Luke 19:10 NLT

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Luke 21:27 NLT

27 Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory.

Luke 22:69 NLT

69 But from now on the Son of Man will be seated in the place of power at God’s right hand.”

Why This Matters

The name, Son of Man, encompasses Jesus’ entire mission:

to walk the same walk we have:

Hebrews 4:15 NLT

15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

to be God for us:

Revelation 1:13–15 NLT

13 And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. 14 His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. 15 His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves.

Revelation 14:14 NLT

14 Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was someone like the Son of Man. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.

Luke 19:10 NLT

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”