One of Jesus’s favorite ways to refer to himself is as the Son of Man. It was a way of saying, yet not overtly saying, he’s Messiah.
Y’see, people of Jesus’s day who knew their bible would immediately catch the meaning. And people who don’t know the bible—didn’t then, don’t now—would simply assume it’s an odd choice of words, and ignore it as irrelevant. Same as they do Jesus’s parables.
The meaning comes from Daniel. In his book, Daniel described various apocalyptic visions of the then-distant future. (Most of it is most definitely in our past, ’cause the angels explicitly stated it had to do with the Persian and Greek empires—though you’ll still get a few End Times loons who insist it has to do with the future of Iran and the European Union. Anyway.) Daniel was informed about Messiah’s first coming, as well as his second.
In one of his visions, where the Ancient of Days judged the world, Daniel saw what he identified as a Son of Man. And the reason the folks of Jesus’s day were quite familiar with this passage, was ’cause Daniel actually wrote it in their language, Aramaic. Not Hebrew, like most of the Old Testament.
Daniel 7.13-14 KWL - 13 I dreamt a prophetic vision that night: Look, someone like a Son of Man!
- Coming in the heavens’ clouds, approaching the Ancient of Days, coming near to him.
- 14 The Ancient gave the Son authority, honor, and the kingdom,
- and every people, nation, and language, who’ll bow to his authority.
- His authority is permanent: It never passes away.
- His kingdom can never be destroyed.
This is a future kingdom, one God sets up, with his chosen king running the show. By the time Daniel wrote this, the kings of Israel were gone; had been for years. So clearly this vision is about Messiah—but a future Messiah, who’d not just rule Israel and the Jews, but the entire planet.
Yep, this is the very bible reference Jesus had in mind whenever he called himself the Son of Man. We know this ’cause he quoted it. During his trial before the Judean Senate, the head priest demanded to know whether Jesus considered himself Messiah, and Jesus broke his typical silence and gave a definitive answer.
Mark 14.61-62 KWL - 61 For Jesus was silent, and answered no one.
- Again, the head priest questioned Jesus, and said to him,
- “You’re Messiah, the son of the blessed one?”
- 62 Jesus said, “I am.
- And you’ll see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power,
- coming with the heavenly clouds.”
True, the Senate were outraged by this answer and condemned him to death for it.