Son of Man
In the three synoptic gospels, 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.” According to Jesus, “All the tribes of the Earth” will mourn when “they see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven.” In each case, the Greek text reads “THE Son of Man,” and the definite article retains its demonstrative force (“this, that”). Rendered idiomatically, “THAT Son of Man.”
When using the term, Jesus does not refer to
humanity in general or to his human nature, but to a specific and known figure,
namely, the “Son of Man” described in the seventh chapter of the Book
of Daniel.
 |
| [Photo by Gerhard Kupfer on Unsplash] |
In his vision, Daniel saw a malevolent figure called the “Little Horn,” a creature with “a mouth speaking great things.” It waged “war” against the “saints.” His vision concluded with a judgment scene and the appearance of the “Son of Man” who received “dominion” and judgment on behalf of the “saints” - (Daniel 7:13-14).
In the interpretation, the
“Little Horn made war against the saints and prevailed against them.” Afterward,
“judgment was given for the saints” by the “Ancient of Days,” and
the saints then “possessed the kingdom.” By itself, “judgment”
does not mean punishment. And here, it points to a decision “for” the
saints - their vindication – (Daniel 7:15-27).
Features from the vision are
found in Christ’s references to the “Son of Man,” 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 AS SON THE OF MAN
Jesus is the “Son of
Man who sows the seed” of the Gospel, a process set in motion that will consummate
when the “Son of Man sends forth his angels to gather
out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity.”
At that time, 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).
But THAT same “Son
of Man” is also 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 will
not have the final word. “On the third day” after his execution, 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).
That judgment will
include his punitive sentence on the same members of Israel that condemned him
to death, and this understanding is
borne out by his response at his trial to the high priest - “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 the passage from Matthew, Jesus combines the phrase from Daniel with a clause found in the Psalms, leaving no doubt that he is the Davidic Messiah appointed by Yahweh to reign over the nations - “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).
The language employed by Daniel is
prominent in passages that describe the return of Jesus on the “Day of the
Lord.” 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).
The description of his “coming on the
clouds” appears in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians when he describes
how the saints will “meet” Jesus 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”
approaches the “Ancient of Days” and receives the Kingdom on behalf of
the “saints,” as well as the authority to reign over “all peoples,
nations and tongues.” But his vindication occurs only after the “Little Horn”
wages “war against the saints and prevails over them.” Likewise, the
receipt of “dominion” by Jesus comes only after his death and
resurrection, a sacrificial death on behalf of his people – (Matthew 20:28,
28:18-20).
Thus, the authors of the New Testament use several
Old Testament images to portray key aspects of the ministry of Jesus, including
the “Son of Man.” Whenever Jesus refers to himself as “THE Son of Man,”
he intends for his audience to link him to the figure in the Book of Daniel.
He employs the term when describing his
future return at the end of the age, and in reference 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.” He is “THAT Son of Man.”
Comments
Post a Comment