Have you ever wondered why Jesus refers to Himself as the “Son of Man” so many times? In the gospels, He uses this title more than 80 times. That’s a lot of times! Why do you suppose Jesus is so fond of this title? It isn’t explained in the Bible, but let’s explore a few of the possible reasons. 

He’s in love

In some cultures, parents will fondly refer to their young daughter as ‘mummy’ and their son as ‘daddy’. It doesn’t seem strange at all because it’s commonly understood as a term of endearment, an expression of deep love. “Mummy,” the child will call. “Yes mummy,” the mother responds, quite naturally, as though saying to the child, ‘I am yours just as you are mine.’

There’s no doubt God wants us to belong to Him; and we do. “But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name; you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1).

But He also wants to belong to us. So, God becomes man. What a wonderful love story! We belong to our Jesus and our Jesus belongs to us. As a parent has authority over a child, God gives us authority to do as we wish with Him; to love Him back or reject Him. Because true love is never forced.

He is proud to be associated with us. 

When a couple falls in love and marries, they can hardly believe that the love of their life is now theirs. ‘This is my wife,’ the husband proudly says to everyone. And the wife does the same, even taking on her husband’s name. They are proud to be associated with each other. 

Jesus, by repeatedly using the title ‘the Son of Man’ is affirming that He’s proud to be associated with us. Even though mankind has had a huge fall, all the way from paradise, God is here to restore us to our lost dignity. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).

Anyone who feels alone and rejected by family or friends can rest assured that Jesus is proud to have you in His life.

He is restoring our dignity

Our families often reflect our broken nature. Addiction, domestic violence, poverty, illness; so much can and does take a toll on us and rob us of joy and dignity. Sometimes in a family, there’s that one child who redeems the family name. Perhaps one of the children becomes remarkably successful, and suddenly the family’s dignity is restored. Now everyone wants to be associated with them. 

The whole of mankind is that family that has fallen into disrepute; from Adam to Cain to me to you. Then…then comes that one child in the human family. That one Son of Man; and through Him the family is totally redeemed. 

“Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matt. 19:28).

Isn’t it amazing that He would choose to be the son of such a broken family! 

He’s bringing us into God’s family

Do you have an in-law that fits right into your family? Maybe it’s your daughter-in-law that’s just like a daughter to you, or a father-in-law that treats you like his very own. Remember the first time you ever met this person? It’s interesting to think that someone who is family now was once a total stranger. Now it feels like they’ve always been family. 

That’s how it is with us and God. We were outsiders until Jesus made us family through this ‘Son of Man’ relationship. 

“There is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human” (1Tim 2:5).

He’s the one who brought us in. He’s God’s son and He became the Son of Man too. Now we’re related to the Father through Him. It’s only through Jesus that we can even call God ‘Our Father’. 

He is fulfilling the scriptures

The passage describing the coming Messiah in Daniel 7:13–14 uses the phrase ‘one like a son of man’. “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.”

When Jesus is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, He is taken before the high priest, who asks Him if He is the Messiah. Jesus’ answer is straight to the point, confirming Daniel’s prophesy, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62).

In this short but profound statement, Jesus tells us that He is both God (I am) and human (the Son of Man). 

It’s impossible to wrap our minds around this mystery. But what we can know without a doubt is that we can count on the unfailing love of our Jesus. 

Have you ever wondered why Jesus refers to Himself as the “Son of Man” so many times? In the gospels He uses this title more than 80 times. That’s a lot of times! Why do you suppose Jesus is so fond of this title? It isn’t explained in the Bible, but let’s explore a few of the possible reasons. 

He’s in love

In some cultures, parents will fondly refer to their young daughter as ‘mummy’ and their son as ‘daddy’. It doesn’t seem strange at all because it’s commonly understood as a term of endearment; an expression of deep love. “Mummy,” the child will call. “Yes mummy,” the mother responds, quite naturally, as though saying to the child, ‘I am yours just as you are mine.’

There’s no doubt God wants us to belong to Him; and we do. “But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name; you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1).

But He also wants to belong to us. So God becomes man. What a wonderful love story! We belong to our Jesus and our Jesus belongs to us. As a parent has authority over a child, God gives us authority to do as we wish with Him; to love Him back or reject Him. Because true love is never forced.

He is proud to be associated with us 

When a couple falls in love and marries, they can hardly believe that the love of their life is now theirs. ‘This is my wife,’ the husband proudly says to everyone. And the wife does the same, even taking on her husband’s name. They are proud to be associated with each other. 

Jesus, by repeatedly using the title ‘the Son of Man’ is affirming that He’s proud to be associated with us. Even though mankind has had a huge fall, all the way from paradise, God is here to restore us to our lost dignity. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).

Anyone who feels alone and rejected by family or friends can rest assured that Jesus is proud to have you in His life.

He is restoring our dignity

Our families often reflect our broken nature. Addiction, domestic violence, poverty, illness; so much can and does take a toll on us and rob us of joy and dignity. Sometimes in a family, there’s that one child who redeems the family name. Perhaps one of the children becomes remarkably successful, and suddenly the families dignity is restored. Now everyone wants to be associated with them. 

The whole of mankind is that family that has fallen into disrpute; from Adam to Cain to me to you.

Then…then comes that one child in the human family. That one Son of Man; and through Him the family is totally redeemed. 

Verse: Matthew 19:28 

“Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matt. 19:28).

Isn’t it amazing that He would choose to be the son of such a broken family! 

He’s bringing us into God’s family

Do you have an in-law that fits right into your family? Maybe it’s your daughter-in-law that’s just like a daughter to you, or a father-in-law that treats you like his very own. Remember the first time you ever met this person? It’s interesting to think that someone who is family now was once a total stranger. Now it feels like they’ve always been family. 

That’s how it is with us and God. We were outsiders until Jesus made us family through this ‘Son of Man’ relationship. 

“There is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human” (1Tim 2:5).

He’s the one who brought us in. He’s God’s son and He became the Son of Man too. Now we’re related to the Father through Him. It’s only through Jesus that we can even call God ‘Our Father’. 

He is fulfilling the scriptures

The passage describing the coming Messiah in Daniel 7:13–14 uses the phrase ‘one like a son of man’. “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.“

When Jesus is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, He is taken before the high priest, who asks Him if He is the Messiah. Jesus answer is straight to the point, confirming Daniel’s prophesy, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62).

In this short but profound statement, Jesus tells us that He is both God (I am) and human (the Son of Man). 

It’s impossible to wrap our minds around this mystery. But what we can know without a doubt is that we can count on the unfailing love of our Jesus.