You may have a good knowledge of the Bible, but are embarrassed when it comes to details you
think you should know because you have heard a certain story or passage many times. What Does
the Bible Say will refresh your memory about a story, or doctrine. Occasionally, this column will
review some tough questions and explain what the Bible says. If you have forgotten some answers
or details, don’t be too hard on yourself. Have fun refreshing your memory.
think you should know because you have heard a certain story or passage many times. What Does
the Bible Say will refresh your memory about a story, or doctrine. Occasionally, this column will
review some tough questions and explain what the Bible says. If you have forgotten some answers
or details, don’t be too hard on yourself. Have fun refreshing your memory.
What Does the
Bible Say?
Bible Say?
| A Touch of Comfort Cheer and Consolation from the Bible |
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| WHY DID JESUS CALL HIMSELF THE SON OF MAN? |
Have you ever wondered why Jesus never referred to himself
by his given name, Jesus, or as the Savior, or as the King of
Israel, or as the Messiah? Over 50 times in the New
Testament Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man? There
are good reasons for that.
To refer to himself as Jesus, (or Jeshua, the Aramaic name his
mother would use) would only call attention to his human
birth. Besides, the name Jesus was derived from Joshua,
which means "he will save his people." I believe there was a
conscious effort on Jesus' part not to refer to himself as the
Savior of one nation because his mission was to be the Savior
of the world. He did use "Son of Man" to refer to his humanity
when he said, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have
nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head”
(Matthew 8:20). Yet, there was so much more in that title—
divinity and power. At the healing of the paralytic, Jesus said,
"But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority
on earth to forgive sins....” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get
up, take your mat and go home” (Matthew 9:6).
Nor would Jesus use the term Messiah referring to himself.
The Messiah, or Christ, its Greek form, had a specific
connotation for the Jews of Jesus' day that he wished to
avoid. The Jews expected their Messiah to come hurtling into
history riding a white charger and leading an army with sword
in hand that would destroy all Israel's enemies. He would right
the wrongs done to Israel over the centuries and reign over an
idyllic era of worldly peace.
While Nathaniel called Jesus the "King of Israel" (John 1:49),
Jesus acknowledged the title on only one occasion. Before
Pilate, the Roman governor who sentenced him to death, Jesus
admitted his role as king of the Jews, but that only in answer
to the governor's direct question. Jesus preferred to be known
as the spiritual King of Israel, that is, a kingdom that had no
boundaries and encompassed all the peoples and nations of the
world.
Similarly, the term "Son of God" was used only occasionally in
reference to Jesus. When Gabriel came to Mary announcing
Jesus' birth, the angel said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon
you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So
the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:
35). Rarely, however, did Jesus refer to himself as the Son of
God. Instead, he emphasized his role as a human being who
came to earth not to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45). At
his trial before the Jewish High Council, however, Jesus
confessed that he was the Son of God, only because Caiaphas,
the High Priest, demanded that he testify to that title under
oath (Matthew 26:63-64).
by his given name, Jesus, or as the Savior, or as the King of
Israel, or as the Messiah? Over 50 times in the New
Testament Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man? There
are good reasons for that.
To refer to himself as Jesus, (or Jeshua, the Aramaic name his
mother would use) would only call attention to his human
birth. Besides, the name Jesus was derived from Joshua,
which means "he will save his people." I believe there was a
conscious effort on Jesus' part not to refer to himself as the
Savior of one nation because his mission was to be the Savior
of the world. He did use "Son of Man" to refer to his humanity
when he said, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have
nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head”
(Matthew 8:20). Yet, there was so much more in that title—
divinity and power. At the healing of the paralytic, Jesus said,
"But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority
on earth to forgive sins....” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get
up, take your mat and go home” (Matthew 9:6).
Nor would Jesus use the term Messiah referring to himself.
The Messiah, or Christ, its Greek form, had a specific
connotation for the Jews of Jesus' day that he wished to
avoid. The Jews expected their Messiah to come hurtling into
history riding a white charger and leading an army with sword
in hand that would destroy all Israel's enemies. He would right
the wrongs done to Israel over the centuries and reign over an
idyllic era of worldly peace.
While Nathaniel called Jesus the "King of Israel" (John 1:49),
Jesus acknowledged the title on only one occasion. Before
Pilate, the Roman governor who sentenced him to death, Jesus
admitted his role as king of the Jews, but that only in answer
to the governor's direct question. Jesus preferred to be known
as the spiritual King of Israel, that is, a kingdom that had no
boundaries and encompassed all the peoples and nations of the
world.
Similarly, the term "Son of God" was used only occasionally in
reference to Jesus. When Gabriel came to Mary announcing
Jesus' birth, the angel said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon
you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So
the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:
35). Rarely, however, did Jesus refer to himself as the Son of
God. Instead, he emphasized his role as a human being who
came to earth not to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45). At
his trial before the Jewish High Council, however, Jesus
confessed that he was the Son of God, only because Caiaphas,
the High Priest, demanded that he testify to that title under
oath (Matthew 26:63-64).
To avoid misleading ideas and concepts, as well as
offending Jewish sensibilities, Jesus used the term "Son of
Man" to refer to himself as a true man who could suffer
and die and thus pay the debt humankind owes to God. His
mission was to carry out the will of God, and in so doing,
save the world from its sin.
On the other hand, by using the term "Son of Man" as he
did in Mark 13:26 and 14;62, Jesus emphasized his divinity.
The term is taken from Daniel7 and refers to a figure Daniel
saw in a vision. That heavenly figure is granted the right to
come to earth to rule and judge on behalf of God. The
passage reads, “In my vision at night I looked, and there
before me was one like a son of man, coming with the
clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and
was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and
sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every
language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting
dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one
that will never be destroyed" (Daniel 7:13-14). Jesus applied
this passage to himself when he spoke of his return to earth
on the day of judgment. "Then they will see the Son of Man
coming in the clouds with great power and glory" (Mark 13:
26).
John Piper, in his book Desiring God, sums up the
discussion of Jesus' use of the title "Son of Man" in this
way: "Jesus was very subtle in that he was always opening
his identity to those with eyes to see, but he wasn't opening
it so blatantly that everybody would come and make him
king. He had to steer a very narrow course in disclosing his
identity, not just openly saying, ''I'm the Messiah, I'm the
King of the World. Come and acknowledge me as King.'"
Jesus was subtle. He was clever. He was careful. Only in
his last hours, when he was on trial for his life, did he
answer his accusers' question plainly, "Are you the Christ,
the son of the living God?" He answered, "I am, and you
will see the Son of Man coming with great power and
glory." With those few words, he confessed his humanity—
he could be crucified—and his divinity—he will return in
glory for judgement.
offending Jewish sensibilities, Jesus used the term "Son of
Man" to refer to himself as a true man who could suffer
and die and thus pay the debt humankind owes to God. His
mission was to carry out the will of God, and in so doing,
save the world from its sin.
On the other hand, by using the term "Son of Man" as he
did in Mark 13:26 and 14;62, Jesus emphasized his divinity.
The term is taken from Daniel7 and refers to a figure Daniel
saw in a vision. That heavenly figure is granted the right to
come to earth to rule and judge on behalf of God. The
passage reads, “In my vision at night I looked, and there
before me was one like a son of man, coming with the
clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and
was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and
sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every
language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting
dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one
that will never be destroyed" (Daniel 7:13-14). Jesus applied
this passage to himself when he spoke of his return to earth
on the day of judgment. "Then they will see the Son of Man
coming in the clouds with great power and glory" (Mark 13:
26).
John Piper, in his book Desiring God, sums up the
discussion of Jesus' use of the title "Son of Man" in this
way: "Jesus was very subtle in that he was always opening
his identity to those with eyes to see, but he wasn't opening
it so blatantly that everybody would come and make him
king. He had to steer a very narrow course in disclosing his
identity, not just openly saying, ''I'm the Messiah, I'm the
King of the World. Come and acknowledge me as King.'"
Jesus was subtle. He was clever. He was careful. Only in
his last hours, when he was on trial for his life, did he
answer his accusers' question plainly, "Are you the Christ,
the son of the living God?" He answered, "I am, and you
will see the Son of Man coming with great power and
glory." With those few words, he confessed his humanity—
he could be crucified—and his divinity—he will return in
glory for judgement.
