Why Jesus Called Himself "Son of Man"

Have you ever been in a situation where someone used a title that seemed to diminish themselves, only to realize later it was actually a profound declaration of authority? Perhaps you've met a CEO who introduces themselves simply as "someone who works at" their company, or a renowned surgeon who describes themselves as "just a doctor." There's something powerful about those who possess great authority choosing titles that seem, at first glance, surprisingly humble. Yet sometimes, these seemingly modest titles carry weight that only becomes apparent when you understand the full story.

This paradox lies at the heart of one of the most puzzling aspects of Jesus' self-identification: His persistent use of the title "Son of Man." To modern ears, it sounds like He's emphasizing His humanity, perhaps even downplaying His divine nature. After all, aren't we all sons and daughters of humanity? But what if this title, used over 80 times in the Gospels, was actually one of the most audacious claims to divine authority ever made? What if, in calling Himself the Son of Man, Jesus was making a declaration so bold that it contributed directly to His execution?

At the very least, given how frequently this title appears in the Bible, it's important we don't just "read past" it scratching our heads. It's important to understand what the title "Son of Man" when applied to Jesus really means - what it meant to his original audience and likewise what it means for us today.

 

The Prophet's Vision: Daniel 7

To understand the explosive nature of this title, we must travel back approximately 600 years before Christ to the prophet Daniel, a Jewish exile in Babylon. In the seventh chapter of his book, Daniel receives a vision that would shape Jewish messianic expectation for centuries. He sees four terrible beasts rising from the sea—a lion with eagle's wings, a bear, a leopard with four heads, and finally, a fourth beast "terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong" with iron teeth and ten horns (Daniel 7:7, ESV).

These beasts represent successive world empires that oppress God's people. But then the vision shifts dramatically:

"I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed" (Daniel 7:13-14, ESV).

Notice the stark contrast. The beasts emerge from below, from the chaotic sea—a biblical symbol of evil and disorder. But the "one like a son of man" descends from above, from heaven itself. The beasts are bestial, representing kingdoms built on violence and oppression. The son of man figure appears human, yet arrives on divine clouds, a mode of transportation reserved in Hebrew scripture for deity alone (Psalm 104:3, Isaiah 19:1).

 

A Dangerous Claim to Cosmic Authority

When Jesus appropriated this title for Himself, He wasn't primarily making a statement about His humanity—He was claiming to be the cosmic figure from Daniel's vision who would receive universal and eternal dominion. As New Testament scholar N.T. Wright observes, "When Jesus spoke of himself as 'son of man', therefore, he knew that many would hear him speaking of the figure in Daniel 7, and would understand him to be claiming that he was the one in and through whom the living God would defeat evil and establish his kingdom" (Jesus and the Victory of God, p. 513).

This interpretation becomes crystal clear at Jesus' trial before the Sanhedrin. When the high priest demands to know if Jesus is the Christ, Jesus responds: "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven" (Mark 14:62, ESV). The reaction is immediate and violent—the high priest tears his clothes and declares this blasphemy worthy of death.

Why such an extreme response?

Because Jesus wasn't just claiming to be the Messiah—many had done that before. He was claiming to be the divine figure who would judge the very court that was trying Him. In the context of Daniel 7, the fourth beast specifically represents the final oppressive empire. By identifying Himself as the Son of Man while on trial before the religious authorities who had collaborated with Rome, Jesus was essentially identifying them with the beast—the enemy of God's people that the Son of Man would overthrow.

As biblical scholar Kenneth Bailey notes, "Jesus was not on trial—they were. He was not being judged—He was the judge" (Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, p. 260). The religious leaders understood this perfectly, which is why they reacted with such fury.

 

The Veil of Humility and Dual Meaning

Yet there's another layer to this title that we must not miss. The phrase "Son of Man" in Aramaic (bar enash) could also simply mean "human being." Jesus deliberately chose a title that operated on multiple levels.

To the crowds, He might have seemed to be emphasizing His humanity and solidarity with them.

To those familiar with Daniel, He was making a messianic and divine claim.

To the religious authorities, especially in the context of His trial, He was pronouncing judgment.

This multivalence wasn't accidental. As church father John Chrysostom observed, "He calls Himself Son of Man to indicate His incarnation, His nearness to us, and to show that His coming in the flesh was real and not a mere appearance" (Homilies on Matthew, 16.1). Jesus veiled His glory in apparent humility, allowing people to come to their own conclusions about His identity.

 

Victory Through Suffering: The New Paradigm

Perhaps most remarkably, Jesus redefined what the Son of Man's victory would look like. In Daniel's vision, the Son of Man receives dominion after the beasts are destroyed. But Jesus taught that "the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised" (Luke 9:22, ESV). He combined the triumphant Son of Man with Isaiah's Suffering Servant, creating a new paradigm: victory through apparent defeat, exaltation through humiliation.

This wasn't a deviation from Daniel's vision but its deepest fulfillment. The fourth beast's power wasn't ultimately military but spiritual—the power of sin, death, and accusation. Jesus defeated these powers not by destroying His enemies but by absorbing their violence and hatred, then rising victorious. As theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar writes, "The Son of Man had to descend into the abyss of human godforsakenness in order to establish God's lordship even there" (The Glory of the Lord, Vol. 7, p. 231).

 

Living as People of the Son of Man

What does this mean for us today? How do we apply this profound truth to our daily lives?

Recognize God's Strategy: Jesus' choice of this title reveals God's strategy for victory: not through domination but through sacrificial love. When we face our own "beasts"—whether systemic injustice, personal oppression, or spiritual darkness—we're called to overcome not through the beast's methods but through the Son of Man's way.

Take Comfort in His Identity: We should take comfort that Jesus identifies with our humanity while maintaining His divine authority. The Son of Man understands our weaknesses because He shares our nature, yet He has the power to deliver us because He transcends it. As Hebrews reminds us, "We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15, ESV).

Hold Fast to Certainty: We must remember that we live between the times—between the Son of Man's first coming in humility and His second coming in glory. The beasts still rage, but their defeat is certain. When we see injustice flourishing, we can hold fast to Daniel's vision: the Son of Man has received all authority, and His kingdom will have no end.

Bear Witness: We're called to bear witness to the Son of Man's true identity. We do this not through coercion or argument alone, but by living lives that reflect His victory—showing that the way of the Son of Man, the way of sacrificial love, is more powerful than all the beasts' fury.

The next time you read the Gospels and encounter Jesus referring to Himself as the Son of Man, pause and remember: you're not hearing a statement of mere humanity but a declaration of cosmic authority. You're witnessing the moment when heaven's Champion identifies Himself, even as He walks toward the cross. In this title, humility and exaltation meet, suffering and glory converge, and the promise is made that all the beasts of history—all the powers that oppose God and oppress His people—will ultimately be crushed under His feet.