Many might presuppose that “Son of God” was Jesus’s most utilized designation,…but it wasn’t!
Instead, all four gospels demonstrate that Jesus’ favorite title for Himself was the “Son of Man — utilizing it more than 80 times!
“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
Son of Man references Daniel 7, written approximately 500 years before Jesus’s earthly ministry. This prophetic scripture pointed forward to the Messiah, someone “like a son of man,” sitting next to the Ancient of Days and coming on the clouds (deity). After Jesus’s bodily resurrection and ascension, Stephen was seized (and stoned) for preaching the gospel. As he was dying, he looked up and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” He saw Jesus.
“But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Manstanding at the right hand of God.’” Acts 7:55-56
Jesus, having preexisted as God (the 2nd Person of the Trinity), remained God when he came down to save humanity (around 3BC). Jesus put on a fully human nature to live the life that we are unable to live – a perfect life. He not only fulfilled God’s Law perfectly, but he was also the first and only sinless person able to pay humanity’s debt (upon the cross in AD 30 or 33). He is also the first and only (firstborn) human able to make a way back to God through His bodily resurrection (1 Cor 15). The Son of Man was the first fruit.
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
Colossians 1:15-20
The Creator of our skin was willing to put on our skin. The Judge of our souls was willing to be judged on our behalf. All for the sake of reconciling us back to Himself. Only God could do this for us. Think upon these things (Is 53; 1 John 4).
Hold Fast Apologetics 