Jesus called Himself ‘Son of Man,’ not ‘Son of God’

The Christian faith teaches that Jesus is the “Son of God,” yet Jesus frequently and consistently called Himself the “Son of Man” — a total of 81 times in scripture. 

By referring to Himself as the “Son of Man,” Jesus identified with the human race that He came to redeem. The “Son of Man” appellation was certainly not as politically and emotionally charged as titles such as “Son of God,” “Christ,” and “Messiah.” 

Although “Son of Man” points to Jesus’ humanity, it doesn’t deny His divinity, for the scriptures declare that Jesus was both fully God (John 1:1) and fully man (John 1:14). 

“Son of Man” occurs 30 times in Matthew, 14 times in Mark, 25 times in Luke and 12 times in John, all of which are statements made by Jesus—such as “foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the ‘Son of Man’ has nowhere to lay His head”… and “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the ‘Son of Man’ be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Even though Jesus referred to himself as the “Son of Man,” no one in recorded scripture called Him by that name.  Instead, they called him “Rabbi”; they called him “Lord”; they called him “Master.” Some even said, “You are the Son of God.” The disciple Thomas declared, “My Lord and my God.” 

During His ministry, Jesus claimed to be the ‘Son of God’ only in the presence of His disciples. When Jesus asked His disciples who people said that He was, Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus did not correct or reprimand Peter for his response; in fact, He blessed Peter, saying: “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

Jesus was not denying His deity by referring to Himself as the “Son of Man.” As a case in point, the Bible says that only God can forgive sins; yet, after Jesus healed the paralytic, He stated, “The ‘Son of Man’ has authority on earth to forgive sin.” Also, when Jesus forgave the adulteress, He said, “Neither do I condemn you; Go, and sin no more.” 

Additionally, Jesus prophesied His ‘second coming,’ saying that He would return to Earth as “the ‘Son of Man’ coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” 

Further, when asked by the high priest whether He was the “Son of God,” Jesus replied, “I am, and you will see the ‘Son of Man’ seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”    

Though Jesus left behind the full power and glory of His divinity, He never ceased being the “Son of God.” The apostle Paul explained the mystery of Jesus’ incarnation: “He being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”