The term, ‘son of man’ is used frequently in the Bible.  In the Old Testament, it is used 108 times, such as in Psalm 146:3, “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.”  This, of course, refers to one who is the natural product of a man.  Ezekiel 2:1 says, “And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.”  Here, Son of man refers to Ezekiel.  Ezekiel is called ‘Son of man’ 93 times in the book of Ezekiel.  (Daniel is called ‘son of man’ in Daniel 8:17). 

Only once in the Old Testament does ‘Son of man’ refer directly to the Lord Jesus.  Daniel 7:13, “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.”  (Psalm 8:4 refers to a man, but the writer of the book of Hebrews uses that verse in reference to the Lord Jesus in Hebrews 2:6).  In fact, in the New Testament, every time the ‘Son of man’ is mentioned, it is in reference to the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Lord refers to Himself as the ‘Son of man’ 82 times and is called the ‘Son of man’ 5 times. 

With this term used so many times, exactly what does it mean?  The Lord Jesus uses this term in order to connect Himself universally with man…the people He had come to save.  Although the Lord Jesus is truly God, He became a man (John 1:1 and 14).  As a man He hungered, He thirsted, He got tired and needed rest, He prayed, etc.  Although, He was a man, He was also God.  In becoming man, He became something He had never been, but He did not cease being what He has always been…God. 

The Lord Jesus is the very Son spoken of in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  He is called the ‘Son of God’ 48 times in the Bible.  He is called the Son of God by:

• His disciples in Matthew 14:33, “Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.”
• A Roman centurion in Matthew 27:54, “Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.”
• Demons in Matthew 8:29, “And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?”
• John the Baptist in John 1:34, “And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”
• Martha in John 11:27, “I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God.”
• The Lord Jesus called Himself the Son of God in John 10:36, “Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?” 

The Lord Jesus is God made known to us in a human body as we read in 1 Timothy 3:16, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

It has been rightly said that the Son of God became the Son of man so that the sons of man might become the sons of God.  Do you know this One?  Do you know His love and of His sacrificial death for you that through faith you might be saved and become a child of God? Acts 16:31 tells us clearly and plainly, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…” (CC)  (491.6)