I think the Son of Man refers to a righteous man. Jesus, being God in the flesh, uses this term for Himself as an example of what a righteous man does. He also uses this term to refer to anyone that follows in His footsteps. When we do so, we become the Sons(and Daughters) He taught us to be, and we become one with Him. God made the world for us, and we are to multiply and subdue it by following everything He said and did(His Word).
I wonder if Jesus didn’t have this in mind when He called Himself the “Son of Man”?
I think the Son of Man refers to a righteous man. Jesus, being God in the flesh, uses this term for Himself as an example of what a righteous man does.
Maybe, but my understanding is that it simply means a human being.
I agree, Steve.
Jesus may have anticipated the advent of gnosticism, and therefore emphasized his humanity. For while on earth, the Son of God was completely human. In becoming totally human, He “emptied Himself” of all his divine attributes (Phillipians 2:7).
When the gnostics came on the scene, they believed that the Son appeared as God. Some of them thought that He wasn’t actually born, but was but a spiritual apparition. For to have been born would have been fleshly, and they rejected all fleshly things and aimed to be totally spirit. Other gnostics thought that He still had his divine attributes, even from babyhood, and had stories of his standing up at 6 months old, giving sophisticated orations.
The Son of Man is the changed man. One who has become righteous by walking in God’s footsteps. John 5:16-30 says we must honor the Father and the Son(righteous man). The Son of Man has the power and authority to execute judgment here on Earth. If we give honor to and hand over power and judgment to anyone other than righteous men, we end up in chaos and destruction.
The disciples realized what Jesus was saying is that they were likewise the Son of Man if they followed Him. This was a huge eye-opener. With His words, they were able to judge for themselves the truth of things. They realized they were being led astray by false doctrines of men. They didn’t need an interpreter or any one to make intersession for them. God Himself was telling them who He is and what He requires. This was all known from the beginning of creation, but was lost.
If you are male human being, you are a son. You are not the son of God; you are not the son of dog; you are not the son of horse. You are the son of man.
With the words of Jesus (God) and His Holy Spirit in our hearts, we are each given the ability to make true and correct judgments. We won’t be led astray by false doctrines. We won’t be led astray by the ways of the world, and we won’t be led astray by our own hearts. We must also use His word to judge in disputes amongst ourselves. In all things we must ask ourselves," is this what God says?". This is what a Son of Man does( with capital letters).
Yes… or the epitome of who humanity in is in the eyes of God, as found in Christ.
Isaiah 40:5 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh,
John 6:55 For My flesh is TRUE food,
I reas through a bunch of verses that include sarx. It is definitely used in some places literally as body, and in some places generally as mankind, and in some places, metaphorically as life, and as spiritual food(in Christ).
Etymology clarifies but,
Context Rules! 
I like that, Paidion.
This attitude towards the material that the Gnostics had/have is what really bothers me about Gnosticism. It’s hard to get away from the idea they had that the god who created the material Universe was somehow evil or flawed…i just think that’s horrifying, and part of the reason much of the church seems to have adopted similar disgusted attitudes towards their own bodies. God made our flesh…God made humanity. And this is no bad thing. “Son of Man” as simply a denoting of Christ’s true humanity is both humbling and wonderful.
Is there not a difference between ‘a’ son of man, and THE Son of Man? I don’t know the original language, perhaps there is no difference, but I think Jesus, a devout Jew, is echoing ‘Son of Man’ ideas from the O.T. and especially in some of the inter-testamental books - those ideas specifically refer to the Messiah as ‘the’ Son of man.
I agree that the son of a human father is ‘a’ son of man. I also think that Jesus’ reluctance to speak of His divinity - until the time was right - was well=served by using coded language - yes, a son of man, but also The Son of man.
$.02
According to Ann Nyland’s notes in her the Source NT, “Son of Man” (ho huios tou anthropou) means a person associated with humanity. Looking at my Greek w/Strongs’ numbers, it looks like the literal translation would be something like the kinsman/son/relative of humans. She says that in this case huios shouldn’t be translated as “child/son of” (because it’s used with a noun? Not sure I understand what she means), but rather refers to a member of a class of people. She translates it as the Human Being, which sounds weird. It seems that her point here is that He is the representative of the race. Like “the O’Clary” would be the head of his/her clan.
For all I know, she may be right. Whatever the interpretation however, I do know that it must fit the narrative that Jesus was a real part of. 'Human being" - I just don’t understand that. Did He have to draw attention to his humanity? I think everyone took it for granted.
Because He was aware of his calling and vocation, it would make sense that he would use ‘loaded’ terms that would resonate in his audience -that and the outright annunciation of the Kingdom of God had the populace in a pretty fervor already - using “Son of Man” language would ring like a bell in that atmosphere, not to draw attention to his humanity, but to his Messiahship.
You may be right, Dave.
“and I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” But he was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which he was to die.
The crowd then answered him, “We have heard out of the law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can you say, ‘The son of man must be lifted up’? Who is this son of man?” (John 12:32-34 NASB)
If the people had understood Hin as saying only that He was human, they would not have asked Him the question, “Who is this son of man?”
Absolutely!
Ezekiel 2:1 Son of man, stand on your feet and I will speak to you.
Ezekiel 2:3 Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have rebelled against Me to this very day.
Ezekiel 20:4 Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then make known to them the abominations of their fathers.
Jeremiah 5:1 Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; see now and know, and seek in her open places if you can find a man, if there is anyone who executes judgment, who seeks the truth, and I will pardon her.
Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel, for the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: there is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land.
Habakkuk 1:4 Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore perverse judgment goes forth.
Matthew 17:12-13 But I say to you Elijah has come already and they did not know Him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands. Then the disciples understood that He spoke of John the Baptist.
John the Baptist was considered a Son of Man.
Mark 9:12 Elijah does come first and restores all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt.
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.
John 5:26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
The above verses show that the prophets were the ones who spoke the true word of God.They were being beaten and killed until there were none left. God came in the flesh to restore His own word. Not only did he teach the people how to be followers of the true way(Sons of Man), He commissioned the disciples as Sons of Man to rise up, go forth and preach His word to all.
Psalms 8:4-8 What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.
You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen-even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the sea.
Who is this son of man? They are the ones who have faith in God and follow Him.I agree Dave; just passing it on in case it’s of use to anyone. Her point is, I think, that Jesus was the prototypical human being; the one we’re all to be conformed to by the Father, the representative of the race who dies to save His brethren–that sort of thing. 
Ezekiel 2:1 Son of man, stand on your feet and I will speak to you.
Ezekiel 2:3 Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have rebelled against Me to this very day.
Ezekiel 20:4 Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then make known to them the abominations of their fathers.
Yes i was going to mention that Ezekial was called “Son of man” many times.