Understanding why Jesus is called the Son of Man will give us invaluable knowledge in how to move in the power of God.
Jesus as the Son of God, we are learning the bible teaches that Holy Spirit conceived Jesus, and the Father was there for His birth.
Jesus was always the Word of God and the slain lamb of God. However, He became the Son of God at His birth and received full authority at His baptisms in water and Holy Spirit and fire.
Jesus was acknowledged as the son of God by the Father. In the same way, God acknowledges our adoption into the family of God as sons and daughters.
This knowledge teaches us how to grow from glory to glory because the original intention and desire of the Father is to have sons and daughters and a bride for Jesus Christ.
Jesus the Son of Man.
By following the genealogy of Jesus Christ, we see that He is the Son of Adam, and therefore the Son of Man.
LUKE 3:23 NOW JESUS HIMSELF BEGAN HIS MINISTRY AT ABOUT THIRTY YEARS OF AGE, BEING (AS WAS SUPPOSED) THE SON OF JOSEPH, THE SON OF HELI,
And continuing through to; LUKE 3:38 THE SON OF ENOSH, THE SON OF SETH, THE SON OF ADAM, THE SON OF GOD. See also Gen. 5:1–32; 11:10–26; Ruth 4:18–22; 1 Chr. 1:1–4, 24–27, 34; 2:1–15; Matt. 1:2–16
There is no doubt that He existed, being more historical data about His person than nearly any other historical figure.
Those who attest to His presence on earth include historians who were not among His followers.
Prophetic Fulfilment as the Son of Man
The Old Testament prophets prophesied that there would be a Son of Man; we find this confirmation in the New Testament, where Jesus describes himself as the Son of Man over 70 times.
Daniel’s Vision.
DANIEL 7:13-14 “I WAS WATCHING IN THE NIGHT VISIONS, AND BEHOLD, ONE LIKE THE SON OF MAN, COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN!
By Jesus referring to Himself as the Son of Man, it caused the Jews to remember the prophecy in Daniel.
DANIEL 7:13-14 “I WAS WATCHING IN THE NIGHT VISIONS, AND BEHOLD, ONE LIKE THE SON OF MAN, COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN! HE CAME TO THE ANCIENT OF DAYS, AND THEY BROUGHT HIM NEAR BEFORE HIM. THEN TO HIM WAS GIVEN DOMINION AND GLORY AND A KINGDOM, THAT ALL PEOPLES, NATIONS, AND LANGUAGES SHOULD SERVE HIM. HIS DOMINION IS AN EVERLASTING DOMINION, WHICH SHALL NOT PASS AWAY, AND HIS KINGDOM THE ONE WHICH SHALL NOT BE DESTROYED.
The Jews immediately knew the rest of that scripture and the fulfilment of it, like Jesus saying “I am the Messiah” because of the reference to dominion and glory and power. And this is also why the apostles were expecting Jesus to set His kingdom on earth.
Authority was Given to Jesus.
The establishment of Jesus’ kingdom and dominion came once He received all authority at His ascension.
MATTHEW 28:18 AND JESUS CAME AND SPOKE TO THEM, SAYING, “ALL AUTHORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH.
When Jesus ascended to His throne, the devil was no longer allowed access into heaven:
REVELATION 12:10 THEN I HEARD A LOUD VOICE SAYING IN HEAVEN, “NOW SALVATION, AND STRENGTH, AND THE KINGDOM OF OUR GOD, AND THE POWER OF HIS CHRIST HAVE COME, FOR THE ACCUSER OF OUR BRETHREN, WHO ACCUSED THEM BEFORE OUR GOD DAY AND NIGHT, HAS BEEN CAST DOWN.
Jesus then sat down at the right hand of the Father 40 days later after His ressurection:
EPHESIANS 1:20-21 WHICH HE WORKED IN CHRIST WHEN HE RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD AND SEATED HIM AT HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES, FAR ABOVE ALL PRINCIPALITY AND POWER AND MIGHT AND DOMINION, AND EVERY NAME THAT IS NAMED, NOT ONLY IN THIS AGE BUT ALSO IN THAT WHICH IS TO COME.
Ezekiel, is a Type of the Son of Man.
Ezekiel stands out above every other book in the Bible when God refers to someone as “the son of man”. No other book in the Old Testament has more than two references to the son of man, yet Ezekiel uses the term 94 times!
Therefore, Ezekiel can teach us what Jesus fulfilled as the true Son of Man.
Son of Man is a Major Prophet. Ezekiel is listed among the four major prophets in the Bible – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Jesus referred to Himself as a prophet:
LUKE 4:24 THEN HE SAID, “ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, NO PROPHET IS ACCEPTED IN HIS OWN COUNTRY.
Others also referred to Him as a prophet:
LUKE 7:16 THEN FEAR CAME UPON ALL, AND THEY GLORIFIED GOD, SAYING, “A GREAT PROPHET HAS RISEN UP AMONG US”; AND, “GOD HAS VISITED HIS PEOPLE.”
Jesus the Son of Man leads a Glorious Army. Ezekiel prophesied about a mighty army that would arise.
EZEKIEL 37:4-6 AGAIN HE SAID TO ME, “PROPHESY TO THESE BONES, AND SAY TO THEM, ‘O DRY BONES, HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD! THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD TO THESE BONES: “SURELY I WILL CAUSE BREATH TO ENTER INTO YOU, AND YOU SHALL LIVE. I WILL PUT SINEWS ON YOU AND BRING FLESH UPON YOU, COVER YOU WITH SKIN AND PUT BREATH IN YOU; AND YOU SHALL LIVE. THEN YOU SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.”’”
Breath entering the bones refers to the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit breathing resurrection life into our body! Together, we become a glorious army with Jesus, the Son of Man as our commander.
The River of God.
EZEKIEL 47:1-12 THEN HE BROUGHT ME BACK TO THE DOOR OF THE TEMPLE; AND THERE WAS WATER, FLOWING FROM UNDER THE THRESHOLD OF THE TEMPLE TOWARD THE EAST, FOR THE FRONT OF THE TEMPLE FACED EAST; WHEN I RETURNED, THERE, ALONG THE BANK OF THE RIVER, WERE VERY MANY TREES ON ONE SIDE AND THE OTHER. THEN HE SAID TO ME: “THIS WATER FLOWS TOWARD THE EASTERN REGION, GOES DOWN INTO THE VALLEY, AND ENTERS THE SEA. WHEN IT REACHES THE SEA, ITS WATERS ARE HEALED. AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERY LIVING THING THAT MOVES, WHEREVER THE RIVERS GO, WILL LIVE. THERE WILL BE A VERY GREAT MULTITUDE OF FISH, BECAUSE THESE WATERS GO THERE; FOR THEY WILL BE HEALED, AND EVERYTHING WILL LIVE WHEREVER THE RIVER GOES. ALONG THE BANK OF THE RIVER, ON THIS SIDE AND THAT, WILL GROW ALL KINDS OF TREES USED FOR FOOD; THEIR LEAVES WILL NOT WITHER, AND THEIR FRUIT WILL NOT FAIL. THEY WILL BEAR FRUIT EVERY MONTH, BECAUSE THEIR WATER FLOWS FROM THE SANCTUARY.
Jesus the Son of Man Prophesies a River Flowing out of the Believer. The ‘river of God’ refers to the effect of experiencing the Baptism in the Spirit. When baptized in the Spirit, a river flows out of the believer, filling them with the Holy Spirit, so that they speak words of spirit and life. Jesus has made way for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that we can walk in divine health. He wants us to release people from the camp of the enemy through the good news of Jesus Christ.
JOHN 7:37-39 ON THE LAST DAY, THAT GREAT DAY OF THE FEAST, JESUS STOOD AND CRIED OUT, SAYING, “IF ANYONE THIRSTS, LET HIM COME TO ME AND DRINK. HE WHO BELIEVES IN ME, AS THE SCRIPTURE HAS SAID, OUT OF HIS HEART WILL FLOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATER.” BUT THIS HE SPOKE CONCERNING THE SPIRIT, WHOM THOSE BELIEVING IN HIM WOULD RECEIVE; FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS NOT YET GIVEN, BECAUSE JESUS WAS NOT YET GLORIFIED.
The Old Testament Temples and Its Uncleanness.
A large part of Ezekiel’s teaching is about the destruction of Solomon’s Temple, destroyed in 586BC, and rebuilding a future temple. Solomon’s temple is called the First Temple.
EZEKIEL 24:1-2 AGAIN, IN THE NINTH YEAR, IN THE TENTH MONTH, ON THE TENTH DAY OF THE MONTH, THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ME, SAYING, “SON OF MAN, WRITE DOWN THE NAME OF THE DAY, THIS VERY DAY—THE KING OF BABYLON STARTED HIS SIEGE AGAINST JERUSALEM THIS VERY DAY.
The Destruction of the Second Temple.
The temple during Jesus’ time was called the Second Temple. Jesus also prophesied about the destruction of the Temple. Jesus proved Himself a prophet by correctly predicting the destruction of the Second Temple within 40 years:
MATTHEW 24:2 AND JESUS SAID TO THEM, “DO YOU NOT SEE ALL THESE THINGS? ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, NOT ONE STONE SHALL BE LEFT HERE UPON ANOTHER, THAT SHALL NOT BE THROWN DOWN.”
He also showed His zeal against the uncleanness in the Second Temple:
MATTHEW 21:12 THEN JESUS WENT INTO THE TEMPLE OF GOD AND DROVE OUT ALL THOSE WHO BOUGHT AND SOLD IN THE TEMPLE, AND OVERTURNED THE TABLES OF THE MONEY CHANGERS AND THE SEATS OF THOSE WHO SOLD DOVES.
The Building of a Future Temple. Starting in chapter 40, Ezekiel describes in great detail a future temple. It is logical to think that this temple is a natural temple, as it seems very large and made of solid materials.
Herod’s Temple did not fulfil this prophecy as it differed in both size and structure. Ezekiel prophesies the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the temple of God happening through the New Covenant:
EZEKIEL 36:26-27 I WILL GIVE YOU A NEW HEART AND PUT A NEW SPIRIT WITHIN YOU; AND I WILL TAKE THE HEART OF STONE OUT OF YOUR FLESH AND GIVE YOU A HEART OF FLESH. I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU AND CAUSE YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES, AND YOU WILL KEEP MY JUDGMENTS AND DO THEM.
This is a New Covenant of the Heart, New Temple in the Heart. Covenantal Atonement teaches us the righteousness that comes through the New Covenant;
Which opens the way for the Holy Spirit to come in,
Breathe new life into the brand new believer,
And set up the Temple of the Holy Spirit within a person.
We looked at how Jesus interpreted the destruction of the Temple and judged the people in the temple.
Now we need to see how He interpreted the building of the next Temple. Here is what Jesus said immediately after passing judgement on the temple of the time in John 2:14-16.
JOHN 2:19 JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID TO THEM, “DESTROY THIS TEMPLE, AND IN THREE DAYS I WILL RAISE IT UP.”
He was referring to the temple He was about to build. He was not referring to the temple in the future place where we will live with Him for eternity, because there is no temple there:
REVELATION 21:22-23 BUT I SAW NO TEMPLE IN IT, FOR THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY AND THE LAMB ARE ITS TEMPLE. THE CITY HAD NO NEED OF THE SUN OR OF THE MOON TO SHINE IN IT, FOR THE GLORY OF GOD ILLUMINATED IT. THE LAMB IS ITS LIGHT.
Nor is He referring to the Temple that Futurist’s mention in their Millennium prediction.
He is saying the Temple will take three days. Three days is an apparent referral to the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus, the Son of Man took His Blood into the Heavenly Temple of God. There are two realms of the Temple of God in the current age. Firstly, there is a temple in heaven. When Jesus took His blood within His resurrected body, He purified it.
HEBREWS 9:23-24 THEREFORE IT WAS NECESSARY THAT THE COPIES OF THE THINGS IN THE HEAVENS SHOULD BE PURIFIED WITH THESE, BUT THE HEAVENLY THINGS THEMSELVES WITH BETTER SACRIFICES THAN THESE. FOR CHRIST HAS NOT ENTERED THE HOLY PLACES MADE WITH HANDS, WHICH ARE COPIES OF THE TRUE, BUT INTO HEAVEN ITSELF, NOW TO APPEAR IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD FOR US;
Jesus Seated us in the Heavenly Temple of God. Jesus prophesied it as so:
JOHN 14:2-3 IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS; IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU. I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN AND RECEIVE YOU TO MYSELF; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YOU MAY BE ALSO.
Where is this place where He will receive us to Himself?
EPHESIANS 2:4-6 BUT GOD, WHO IS RICH IN MERCY, BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE WITH WHICH HE LOVED US, EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN TRESPASSES, MADE US ALIVE TOGETHER WITH CHRIST (BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED), AND RAISED US UP TOGETHER, AND MADE US SIT TOGETHER IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS,
We are accepted by Him and seated in heavenly places in Him – now!
Jesus, the Son of Man made us a Temple of God. But not only are we seated in heaven in Him, He is in us, here on earth:
JOHN 14:17-18 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, WHOM THE WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE, BECAUSE IT NEITHER SEES HIM NOR KNOWS HIM; BUT YOU KNOW HIM, FOR HE DWELLS WITH YOU AND WILL BE IN YOU. I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ORPHANS; I WILL COME TO YOU.
The bible teaches us that our body is the temple of God.
1 CORINTHIANS 6:19 OR DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS IN YOU, WHOM YOU HAVE FROM GOD, AND YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN?
A Corporate Temple.
2 CORINTHIANS 6:16 AND WHAT AGREEMENT HAS THE TEMPLE OF GOD WITH IDOLS? FOR YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD. AS GOD HAS SAID: “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM. I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”
Jesus is the way for the temple of God both in heaven and on earth. There is no need for a future natural temple in Jerusalem.
Why Did Jesus Come as the Son of Man?
We have seen that Jesus came to make way for the Temple of God to be inside human-kind.
We are also part of the corporate Temple of God – the Bride of Christ. Now we need to look at HOW Jesus made this possible.
Jesus came To Save the Lost.
MATTHEW 18:11 FOR THE SON OF MAN HAS COME TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST.
And He still does it now:
Jesus came To Perfect Righteousness and Obedience. And by doing so, He can give His righteousness in exchange for our sins.
HEBREWS 5:8 THOUGH HE WAS A SON, YET HE LEARNED OBEDIENCE BY THE THINGS WHICH HE SUFFERED.
Jesus came To Overcome Sin. By being an overcomer, Jesus can show that a born-again believer can also overcome sin.
HEBREWS 4:15 FOR WE DO NOT HAVE A HIGH PRIEST WHO IS UNABLE TO EMPATHIZE WITH OUR WEAKNESSES, BUT WE HAVE ONE WHO HAS BEEN TEMPTED IN EVERY WAY, JUST AS WE ARE —YET HE DID NOT SIN.
Jesus came Healing Sickness and Infirmity. To overcome sickness through the cross. Jesus never allowed disease in His body but healed everyone who came to Him.
MATTHEW 12:15 AWARE OF THIS, JESUS WITHDREW FROM THAT PLACE. A LARGE CROWD FOLLOWED HIM, AND HE HEALED ALL WHO WERE ILL.
JOHN 1:51 AND HE SAID TO HIM, “MOST ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, HEREAFTER YOU SHALL SEE HEAVEN OPEN, AND THE ANGELS OF GOD ASCENDING AND DESCENDING UPON THE SON OF MAN.”
Here Jesus is telling Nathanael that He will see evidence of angelic visitation, and healings and miracles done as the Son of Man, not the Son of God.
Jesus came To Overcome Death.
ACTS 2:24 BUT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, FREEING HIM FROM THE AGONY OF DEATH, BECAUSE IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR DEATH TO KEEP ITS HOLD ON HIM.
Because Jesus overcame death as the Son of Man, we also have eternal life and will not suffer separation from God following the Great White Throne of Judgement.
MATTHEW 12:40 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.
Jesus came To Fulfil the Law by Bringing in a Superior Covenant and Nailing the Old Covenant to the Cross. Jesus fulfilled the law by bringing in a superior covenant:
HEBREWS 8:6-7 BUT NOW HE HAS OBTAINED A MORE EXCELLENT MINISTRY, INASMUCH AS HE IS ALSO MEDIATOR OF A BETTER COVENANT, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED ON BETTER PROMISES. FOR IF THAT FIRST COVENANT HAD BEEN FAULTLESS, THEN NO PLACE WOULD HAVE BEEN SOUGHT FOR A SECOND.
And nailing the Old Covenant to the cross.
COLOSSIANS 2:14 HAVING WIPED OUT THE HANDWRITING OF REQUIREMENTS THAT WAS AGAINST US, WHICH WAS CONTRARY TO US. AND HE HAS TAKEN IT OUT OF THE WAY, HAVING NAILED IT TO THE CROSS.
Jesus came To Bring Many Sons to Glory.
HEBREWS 2:10 IN BRINGING MANY SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO GLORY, IT WAS FITTING THAT GOD, FOR WHOM AND THROUGH WHOM EVERYTHING EXISTS, SHOULD MAKE THE PIONEER OF THEIR SALVATION PERFECT THROUGH WHAT HE SUFFERED.
As the Perfect Example. Jesus examples how we can as both a son of man and son of God, move in God’s power, glory, and dominion.
JOHN 14:12 “MOST ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, HE WHO BELIEVES IN ME, THE WORKS THAT I DO HE WILL DO ALSO; AND GREATER WORKS THAN THESE HE WILL DO, BECAUSE I GO TO MY FATHER.
Just like Jesus, the believer is a son of man and a son of God. He Bought Mankind into the Godhead.
There is Now a Son of Man in the Godhead!
1 TIMOTHY 2:5 FOR THERE IS ONE GOD AND ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS,
As a direct fulfilment of the prophecy in Daniel, Jesus said the Son of man would sit at the right hand of the Father:
MARK 14:62 JESUS SAID, “I AM. AND YOU WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE POWER, AND COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”
Jesus was Both God and Man. Because He is now both man and God, it enables us as both sons and daughters of man, and sons and daughters of God, to be in Christ.
EPHESIANS 2:6 AND RAISED US UP TOGETHER AND MADE US SIT TOGETHER IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS,
JOHN 14:20 AT THAT DAY YOU WILL KNOW THAT I AM IN MY FATHER, AND YOU IN ME, AND I IN YOU.
He made it possible for us to be in the Father and the Father to be in us.
Jesus was a son of Adam.
Jesus was THE Son of Man prophesied by Daniel.
Jesus saves as the Son of Man
Ezekiel teaches often about Jesus the Son of Man – the river of God, the bones coming to life and the temple.
As the Son of Man, Jesus makes it possible for humankind to be the Temple of God – individually and corporately.
Jesus, the Son of Man, perfected righteousness so that we might recieve the gift of righteousness.
There is a man in the Godhead.
As the Son of Man, Jesus overcame sin, sickness and death.
As Jesus the Son of Man, brought many sons to glory.
Jesus is also the Son of God.