Jesus’ most used self-designation is “Son of Man.” The antecedent for this title comes from chapter 7 of Daniel, in which the prophet records a dream. Into the vision comes “one like a son of man,” entering with “the clouds of heaven.” This figure, depicted as possessing divinity and humanity, receives from the Ancient of Days “dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.” In fact, Daniel understands that, “his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” It is an extraordinary portrait. Jesus’ use of the title in Luke 9, however, directs us to the path he must tread to enter into his position of everlasting dominion. There he warns that, ‘‘The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’’ The writer of Hebrews appropriates language from Psalm 8 to explain the significance: “we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:6-9) Why must the Son of Man tread such a path? His obedience to the will of the Father brings salvation and results in him receiving “the name that is above every name,” the name at which “every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians 2:9-10). |
