The Son of Man
"You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."
—Matthew 26:64, referring to Daniel 7:13–14
Wind-shaped juniper growing from weathered sandstone beneath a bright blue sky with scattered white clouds.
Names matter. Some tell us where a person came from, while others honor a beloved family member or carry a story that has been passed from one generation to the next. Sometimes a nickname reveals something about a person's character that a formal title never could. Jesus often referred to Himself by a name that puzzled many people. More than "Messiah," "King," or even "Son of God," He most often called Himself the Son of Man. Have you ever wondered why that was His favorite title?
One evening, while standing before the high priest after His arrest, Jesus was asked a direct question.
"Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"
Jesus answered,
"I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven."
—Mark 14:61–62, referring to Psalm 110:1 and quoting Daniel 7:13
Throughout this book we have been asking one question.
Why did Jesus choose this Scripture?
To understand Jesus' answer, we have to travel back more than five hundred years to a remarkable vision God gave the prophet Daniel. It was a vision filled with kingdoms, authority, and hope, pointing far beyond Daniel's own lifetime.
"I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a Son of Man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before Him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed."
—Daniel 7:13–14
For generations, God's people wondered who this mysterious figure might be. Then Jesus quietly answered the question. He wasn't merely saying that He was human; He was identifying Himself as the very One Daniel had seen approaching the Ancient of Days. That explains why the high priest reacted so strongly. He understood that Jesus was claiming far more than the role of a teacher or prophet. Jesus was declaring Himself to be the King whose authority came directly from the Father.
There is something beautiful about the way Jesus revealed that truth. He rarely announced His identity with dramatic speeches or demanded that people simply believe Him. Instead, He opened the Scriptures they already knew and patiently invited His listeners to connect the pieces for themselves. I have always admired that about Jesus because it tells us something about the kind of Teacher He was.
A good teacher does more than provide answers. He helps people discover the truth with their own eyes. Long after the lesson is over, people remember not only what they learned but also the joy of discovering it for themselves. Jesus taught exactly that way.
Daniel's vision also reveals something that has encouraged believers for centuries. The kingdom given to the Son of Man is everlasting. Earthly kingdoms rise and fall. Every generation watches nations change, leaders come and go, and events reshape history. What seems permanent today often disappears tomorrow. Jesus offered something entirely different—a Kingdom that cannot be shaken because it rests not upon human strength but upon the Father's eternal purpose.
As I have grown older, I have found that truth deeply reassuring. Every generation has faced uncertainty. One worries about wars, another about economic hardship, another about the future of their children. The details change, but the anxiety remains remarkably similar. Jesus gently lifts our eyes above those changing circumstances and reminds us that the Father's Kingdom has never depended on the stability of earthly kingdoms. It was established long before we were born, and it will remain long after every human empire has faded into history.
There is another detail in Daniel's vision that I find especially moving. The Son of Man receives authority over every people, nation, and language. From the very beginning, God's plan was larger than one nation or one generation. The promise made to Abraham, the words of the prophets, and finally the ministry of Jesus all reveal the same gracious purpose: the Father is calling people from every corner of the earth into His Kingdom. The invitation is wonderfully wide, yet it comes through one King.
Looking back over the journey we've taken together, I find it remarkable how naturally these chapters fit together. Jesus has revealed the Father's heart, welcomed the weary, sought the wandering, satisfied the hungry, and offered living water to the thirsty. Now He reveals Himself as the Son of Man whom Daniel saw centuries before—the eternal King whose Kingdom will never end. These are not separate lessons but different windows through which we see the same Savior more clearly.
The Good Shepherd.
The Bread of Life.
The Living Water.
The Son of Man.
Each title reveals another facet of the same beautiful Person. The farther we travel through the Scriptures Jesus taught, the more clearly His character comes into focus. We begin to see not only the promised King but also the compassionate Shepherd, the faithful Provider, the Giver of life, and the beloved Son who perfectly reveals His Father.
As we come to the final pages of this journey, we will stand at the foot of the cross and listen once more as Jesus opens the Scriptures. Even in His greatest suffering, His final words will once again direct our attention to the Word of God and the faithful love of His Father.
