Jesus is referred to as the Son of Man 88 times in the Gospels, either by himself or other people. In the book of John, the first time that Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man is when Nicodemus comes to visit him:
I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven —the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
John 3:12-15
Why does Jesus use this moment to first call himself the Son of Man? I think it is because Jesus knows that Nicodemus will understand the reference. Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man, adopting the name from Daniel 7 where Daniel makes this prophetic statement:
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 nations and peoples 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
Why would Jesus adopt this name from this prophecy in Daniel? Let’s see what we can understand from Daniel’s prophecy:
The Son of Man was in heaven, coming to the Ancient of Days on the clouds of heaven, to the One that Jesus would call Father.
He would come and stand in the presence of the Ancient of Days.
The Son of Man would be given authority, glory, and sovereign power.
The Son of Man would rule over the nations and they would worship him.
His dominion – or another way to say it – his kingdom where he would be king and would reign forever would never pass away and would never be destroyed.
After calling himself the Son of Man many times, Jesus then authoritatively yet humbly said this to his disciples before returning to heaven:
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Matthew 28:18
Do you see what he is saying? Jesus called himself the Son of Man. He performed the signs that only God could perform. He forgave sins as only God could do. He fulfilled prophecies given throughout the entire Old Testament. He was resurrected from the dead.
Now he says that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. Just like the Son of Man in Daniel 7.
Of course, Jesus uses this form of speech precisely because Nicodemus would have understood these words. He would have understood who the Son of Man was to be.
Someone might object, though… But wasn’t Ezekiel also referred to as the son of man?
Well, almost.
Ezekiel was referred to as “son of man” or “a son of man”. One of many. He was a prophet, but he was a son of man. He was a human being. He spoke the words that God gave him to speak, but he was a human just like each of us. Calling Ezekiel a son of man was a term to remind him of the humility of his position, the humility of who he was as he stood before God, yet delivered the words of God.
Jesus, on the other hand was called, and referred to himself as, the Son of Man. It was a singular article. A unique article. Similar to how Jesus referred to himself as the way, the truth, and the life he also refers to himself as the Son of Man. He he unique. He is the one that Daniel was referring to in his prophecy. No one among many like Ezekiel. But one. And only one.
Jesus is the one who would come riding on the clouds, just as he himself prophecied that he would in Matthew 24:
Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.
Matthew 24:30
Jesus is the one who was in heaven and would return to heaven, just as I already quoted above from John 3:
No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven —the Son of Man.
John 3:13
And Jesus is the only one who will be worshiped by all nations, tribes, and languages along with all of the angels, elders, and creatures of heaven:
And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 5:9-14
Jesus is the Son of Man and it is important that we understand what he meant when he gave himself this name. Let’s not read too quickly, but instead follow Jesus’s words closely with a broader understanding of the references that he is making, and to whom he is making them so that we also can follow and worship him for who he truly is.