Have you ever wondered why Jesus so often referred to Himself as the Son of Man? Of all the titles He could have chosen—Messiah, Son of David, Son of God—He most frequently called Himself the Son of Man. To understand why, we must journey into the depths of ancient Scripture, not just within the pages of the Bible, but also in the apocryphal text known as The Book of Enoch.
The Book of Enoch: A Mysterious and Ancient Text
The Book of Enoch is an ancient Jewish writing, attributed to Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah. Though it is not included in the canon of most Christian Bibles, it was widely known in Jewish thought during the time of Jesus. The book expands on themes found in Genesis 6, detailing the fallen Watchers, their rebellion, and God’s coming judgment. It also contains vivid descriptions of the Messiah, whom it refers to as the Son of Man.
One of the most striking passages comes from 1 Enoch 46:1-4, which describes a vision of heaven where Enoch sees a figure of divine glory:
“And there I saw One who had a head of days, and His head was white like wool; and with Him was another being whose countenance had the appearance of a man, and His face was full of graciousness, like one of the holy angels. And I asked the angel who went with me and showed me all the hidden things, concerning that Son of Man, who He was, and whence He was, and why He went with the Head of Days. And he answered and said unto me: This is the Son of Man who hath righteousness, with whom dwelleth righteousness, and who revealeth all the treasures of that which is hidden, because the Lord of Spirits hath chosen Him, and whose lot hath the preeminence before the Lord of Spirits in uprightness forever.”
This passage describes the Son of Man as a pre-existent, heavenly figure, chosen by God, and possessing divine authority. He is more than a mere mortal; He is righteous, glorious, and a revealer of divine mysteries.
Jesus and the Son of Man Title
The significance of Jesus calling Himself the Son of Man becomes clear when we consider the Jewish expectations of the time. When Jesus used this title, He was not simply speaking of His humanity. He was aligning Himself with the heavenly figure in 1 Enoch, the preordained ruler of righteousness who would judge the nations. This is why, in Matthew 26:64, when Jesus tells the high priest:
“From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
He was making a direct reference to His divine identity. The priest immediately understood the weight of this statement, accusing Jesus of blasphemy because He was equating Himself with the divine figure described in Daniel and 1 Enoch.
Other References to the Son of Man
Beyond The Book of Enoch, the title Son of Man appears prominently in the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Daniel.
Daniel 7:13-14 states:
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a Son of Man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And 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 one that shall not be destroyed.”
This passage directly correlates to Jesus' own words when speaking of His return in power and glory. He was revealing Himself as the Son of Man from Daniel’s prophecy—the divine ruler who would be given authority over all nations.
Why This Matters
By calling Himself the Son of Man, Jesus was affirming that He was the fulfillment of these ancient prophecies. He was both fully human and fully divine—the righteous one chosen by God to reign and to bring justice. Those who recognized the references from Enoch and Daniel would have understood that Jesus was not merely calling Himself a man, but rather, the very Son of Man whom God had promised would one day rule in glory.
The Sanhedrin understood exactly what Jesus was claiming when He called Himself the Son of Man. To them, it was not just a title—it was a direct challenge to their authority and a claim to divinity that they could not tolerate.
When Jesus stood before the high priest Caiaphas during His trial, the council sought any reason to condemn Him. Finally, Caiaphas demanded, “Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” (Matthew 26:63). Jesus’ response sealed His fate:
“You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:64)
The room erupted in outrage. Caiaphas tore his robes, declaring, “He has uttered blasphemy! What further witnesses do we need?” (Matthew 26:65). They understood that Jesus was identifying Himself as the Son of Man from Daniel’s vision—the divine ruler, the one who would stand in judgment over them. To the Sanhedrin, this was intolerable.
It was not simply that Jesus performed miracles or gathered followers; it was that He dared to claim divine authority. By calling Himself the Son of Man, Jesus made it clear that He was not just a prophet—He was the one whom God had appointed to reign over all creation. And for that, the religious leaders determined that He must die.
So the next time you read the words of Jesus calling Himself the Son of Man, remember: He was revealing the mystery hidden in ages past—the eternal, divine King who came not just to rule, but to redeem.