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why is jesus called the son of man

Jesus is called the “Son of Man” because it highlights both his real humanity and his role as the promised, heavenly Messiah who would suffer, rule, and save God’s people.

Quick Scoop: Core Idea

  • “Son of Man” in the Bible can simply mean “human being,” stressing that Jesus fully shared our human condition—birth, weakness, temptation, suffering, and death (yet without sin).
  • At the same time, Jesus uses “Son of Man” as a title drawn from Daniel 7, where a glorious figure comes with the clouds of heaven, receives authority, glory, and an everlasting kingdom.
  • So the title holds both : Jesus is truly human and also the exalted, divine Messiah with authority to forgive sins, judge, and reign forever.

In short: “Son of Man” is Jesus’ way of saying, “I am one of you, and I am also the promised ruler from heaven who rescues and reigns.”

Where the Title Comes From

Old Testament background

  • In books like Ezekiel, “son of man” is used as a way of saying “mere human” or “mortal.”
  • But in Daniel 7:13–14, “one like a son of man” comes with the clouds of heaven and is given authority, glory, and an eternal kingdom over all nations—this figure is more than just an ordinary human.

Christians see this Daniel figure as a prophetic picture of the Messiah: human in appearance, yet sharing in God’s rule and glory.

Why Jesus Loved This Title

1. It emphasizes his real humanity

Jesus wasn’t just appearing human; he actually lived the full human experience.

  • Born of a woman, grew up, got tired, hungry, and sorrowful.
  • Faced temptation and suffering, but did not sin, which made him able to be a perfect representative and savior.
  • Because he is truly human, he can sympathize with our weakness and stand in our place as our representative.

Christians often connect this to verses like Hebrews 4:15—Jesus as a high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses.

2. It quietly claims divine authority

Paradoxically, “Son of Man” is also a title of exalted authority.

  • In the Gospels, Jesus says things like:
    • “The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
    • “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
    • “You will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.”
  • These sayings echo the Daniel 7 vision, where the “son of man” figure shares God’s rule and receives worship-like honor.

For many first‑century Jewish hearers, this was not a “low” title; it was a veiled way of claiming a divine, Messianic role.

3. It balanced revealing and hiding

Writers note that Jesus used “Son of Man” as a subtle way to reveal who he was without forcing a political revolt.

  • If he had constantly shouted “I am the Messiah King!” the crowds might have rushed to make him a political ruler.
  • “Son of Man” allowed him to speak truth about himself—human and heavenly ruler—while letting people with “eyes to see” understand gradually.

Son of Man and His Mission

Christians often summarize the title around three big themes:

  1. Human representative
    • Jesus stands as the true human, the “second Adam,” everything humanity was meant to be—faithful, obedient, and reflecting God’s character.
  1. Suffering servant
    • Jesus links the “Son of Man” to his suffering, death, and resurrection:
      • The Son of Man must suffer, be rejected, be killed, and rise again.
    • This ties the Daniel 7 figure to the suffering servant imagery in Isaiah—reigning through sacrificial love.
  1. Exalted king and judge
    • After suffering, the Son of Man is raised and exalted, given “all authority,” and will come again to judge and renew the world.
 * This combines the cross and the crown: the same Son of Man who dies for many will also rule over all.

Different Christian Emphases (Mini Multiview)

Across Christian teaching and discussion, you’ll see a few angles on “why is Jesus called the Son of Man”:

  • Evangelical and conservative theologians
    • Stress two natures in one person: fully God, fully man.
    • “Son of God” highlights deity; “Son of Man” highlights humanity, but both titles also overlap in showing his divine authority.
  • Biblical‑theology focus
    • Emphasize the Daniel 7 background, the story of the kingdom of God, and how Jesus fulfills Israel’s hopes as the true king and representative.
  • Apologetic / faith‑explainer sites
    • Often answer questions like “If he’s God, why ‘Son of Man’?” by explaining that the title actually supports, not denies, his deity and his qualification to be Savior and Judge.

While wording differs, the central idea stays consistent: the title holds together Jesus’ full humanity and his heavenly, Messianic authority.

Today’s Discussion and “Trending” Angle

Even now, “Why is Jesus called the Son of Man?” remains a common search and forum topic, especially when people wrestle with Jesus’ identity or compare Christian beliefs with other faiths.

  • Some threads focus on whether the title suggests he is “only human.”
  • Others explore how Daniel 7 connects to New Testament claims that Jesus is both truly human and truly divine.
  • Many modern articles and sermons unpack the phrase to help people see that Christianity doesn’t downplay either side—Jesus is not a half‑God, half‑man figure but fully both.

Simple Wrap‑Up

  • Jesus is called the Son of Man to show he is truly human, able to stand with and for us.
  • The same title alludes to Daniel 7’s heavenly figure, showing he is also the exalted Messiah with divine authority to rule, forgive, and judge.
  • By choosing this as his favorite self‑description, Jesus held together humility and glory, suffering and kingship, humanity and deity in one powerful name.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.