With regard to the question as to the sense in which Jesus used the title ' Son of Man,' the answer is suggested by the connexion in which at various times He so des^cribed Himself. It may be briefly stated in this way : God manifesting Him- self to mau in a foim which man as man can understand. Comimring the passages in which the title is used by Christ, the first thing that strikes us is that He uses it in connexion both with His hmniliation and with His exaltation. We find it associated with thoughts of the privations and sutt'erings of Jesus, — as where He says : • Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests ; but the Son of ^lan hath not where to lay his head' (Mt S-"^' , Lk 9^). It occurs repeatedly in connexion Avith His suflerings and death, as where He teUs His disciples that as John was slain by Herod, so shall it be done to the Son of Man (^It 17^- Mk 9''-). Again, that the Son of Man must ' be de- livered into the hands of men ' (Lk 9"" Mt 17-, cf. Mt 201^ Mk 10=» Lk IS^i--, Mt 26« Mk U*^), ' and surter many things' (Mk 8»i , Lk 9-). Thus also Jesus states this as the mission of the Son of Man, that He 'came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many ' (Mt 2(f^ Mk 10^). A^ain. the title is used where the thought expressed is that of the sym- pathy of Jesus with human joys as with human sorrows, in the contrast drawn between the asceti- cism of John and the sociable disposition of our Lord (Mt lF»-i», Lk 7^**); whUe the same thought appears in another form, where Jesus, justifying His acceptance of the hospitality of Zaccha?us, says : ' The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost' (Lk ig^"'). In other passages the use of the name suggests the coexistence of Messianic authority with the low li- ness of Christ's human nature, as in the narrative of the healing of the paralytic, in connexion with which Jesus says that • the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins' (Mt 9^ Mk 2^'* Lk5-^) ; and St. Matthew notes the impression produced upon tlie multitude, as that ' they marvelled, and glorified God which had given such power unto men.' To this class of passages may l)e referred also oar Lord's saying concerning blasphemy against the Son of Man and that against tlie Holy Gliost (Mt 12^-). The Son of Man, in His humilia- tion, veiling His Divine nature, ap])earing to men like one of themselves, may not be recognized for what He is. Blasphemy against Him, therefore, as resulting only from ignorance and unbelief, admits of forgiveness ; whereas blasphemy against the Spirit of God, a presumptuous ofl'euce against the Deity, cannot be forgiven. Again, the title is used of Jesus in respect of His representative character, where He asserts His right as Son of Man to interpret the Sabbath law (Mt 12- iNIk 027. 28 1 'Je.<us regarded the institution from a philanthropic point of view, and He clainied lord- ship over it for the Son of Man on the ground of His sjTupathy with mankind, w Inch He deemed a far more reliable interpreter of the Divine pur- pose and guide in observance, than the merciless rigour of the Rabbis' (Bruce, Kingdom of God, p. 174). A connecting link between these uses of the title and those which speciallj* refer to Christ's
224 NAMES AXD TITLES OF CHRIST
NAMES AND TITLES OF CHRIST
Exaltation is found in those passages in which Jesus so calls Himself -with reference to His mission as Founder of the Kingdom of God. So in the parable of the Tares. ' He that soweth tlie good .seed is tiie Son of Man' (Mt 13»'). 'The Son of Man shall send forth his angels' (v.-*i). Here Jesus identifies the Founder of the Kingdom of God in the world with the Judge of the world, u.sing the same title in both connexions. He Svho as Son of ]\Ian seeks with all patience and forbearance to establish His Kingdom by manifes- tation of the grace of God, is He who must judge mankind according as they have accepted or re- jected His message of salvation.
But undoubtedly the most remarkable use of the name Son of Man is that which is directly and specially connected with the thought of Jesus in His Exaltation. We see this in all His predictions of His Second Coming. Thus, .speaking of tlie suddenness and unexpectedness of His appearing. He says : ' At an hour when ye think not the Son of Man Cometh' (Mt •24« || Lk 12*'). The Son of Man is to appear with the suddenness of lightning (Mt 242' II Lk 17^^), and the circunistances of His appearing are compared to those of the world in the days of Noah and of Lot (Mt 24^^ || Lk 17^""-). He is to come after tlie great tribulation (Mt 24^" II Mk 13-6 II Li^ 212'). His advent is to be announced by ' the sign of the Son of Man appearing in the heavens' (Mt 24^"). He is to sit as a King upon the throne of His glory (Mt 25^i), when His Apostles shall be associated with Him, judging the tribes of Israel (Mt 19^8, cf. Lk 2229- ^o).