Jesus the Son of Man: Humility, Authority, and Eternal Kingship
- Jack Selcher
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Summary
The title “Son of Man” reveals Jesus as both fully human and fully divine. Rooted in Daniel’s vision, it points to His humility, suffering, and ultimate authority. Jesus fulfilled prophecy by living as the perfect man, dying for sinners, rising from the dead, and reigning eternally as King.
The Meaning of Son of Man in Scripture
In the Old Testament, God addresses Ezekiel as the “son of man” 93 times and Daniel once. This title is a poetic expression of their humanity.
By contrast, the reference to “son of man” in Daniel 7:13-14 is to the Messiah. In a vision, Daniel sees an exalted person, one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven, symbolizing divine authority. In Psalm 104:3, the LORD makes the clouds His chariot, and in Isaiah 19:1, He rides on a swift cloud.
Daniel’s Vision of Divine Authority
In Daniel’s vision, the Ancient of Days confers authority, glory, and sovereign power on the Son of Man. All people worship Him. His rule and kingdom are eternal.
Foreshadowing Jesus the Messiah
This son of man has both human and divine characteristics, foreshadowing Jesus’ application of the term “Son of Man” to Himself in the New Testament. Jesus was fully human, the Word made flesh (John 1:14), who came to earth in the flesh (1 John 4:2). He used Son of Man more than any other title as a self-description.
Witness to the Son of Man
Other than Jesus, only Stephen used it to describe Jesus. As the stones began to fly at Stephen, he saw the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand (Acts 7:56).
The Humility of the Son of Man
The Son of Man describes Jesus’ humility. The King of England volunteering to become a homeless person wouldn’t be lowering himself nearly as much as the King of Glory lowering himself to become an emperor.
But Jesus didn’t do even that. He was born in the humblest of circumstances. His own people mostly rejected Him (John 1:11). During His ministry, He had no home (Luke 9:58). Though holy, He rubbed elbows with sinners (Matthew 11:19). He suffered (Matthew 17:12). His life was the ultimate demonstration of humility (Philippians 2:6-8).
His life exemplified love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control as no other human. As the Son of Man, He demonstrated how humanity was to live from the beginning. As He was, believers one day will also be.
The Exalted Eternal King
At the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus identified Himself with the aforementioned son of man in Daniel’s vision. After He did, his opponents accused Him of blasphemy, understanding exactly what He was claiming.
To them, He was a mere man claiming to be God after He said, “From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 26:64 NIV).
Jesus also spoke of His coming kingdom on other occasions (Matthew 13:41; 16:28). The author of Hebrews used a reference to the “son of man” in the Psalms to teach that Jesus, the true Son of Man, will be the ruler of all things (Hebrews 2:5–9; cf. Psalm 8:4–6). The Son of Man, the eternal King, fulfilled Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 7:13-14).
Jesus is fully God (John 1:1) and fully human, with both a divine and a human nature. He is both a human being and an exalted heavenly being, God Himself. He is the unique God-Man. He became like us so that we could one day become like Him. He is the perfect man without peer. His human nature remained uniquely untarnished by sin (2 Corinthians 5:21).
He is all of God in a human body (Colossians 2:9), able to forgive sins as only God can (Matthew 9:6). He is Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28). He became flesh to seek and save the lost, suffer crucifixion, and rise from the dead (Mark 9:9), and rule as judge (John 5:27).
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