The Son of Man
In the manual: Come, Follow Me lesson 46, “There Is No Other God That Can Deliver,” on Gospel Library
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Jesus often called himself “the Son of man.” In his day, many Jews connected that title to a vision Daniel had one night in Babylon (Daniel 7:13).
Read Together
In the vision, Daniel saw four beasts rise out of the sea, pictures of kingdoms of the world (Daniel 7:3; 7:17). Then he saw the Ancient of days take his throne, and “the judgment was set” (Daniel 7:9–10).
13I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
What It Teaches
The Ancient of days is Adam, the father of all (Doctrine and Covenants 27:11; 116:1). In Daniel’s vision, one like the Son of man comes to him “with the clouds of heaven” and receives a kingdom “which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13–14).
Heavenly Father has a name, Man of Holiness, and his Only Begotten is called the Son of Man (Moses 6:57). When Jesus called himself the Son of man, he was telling people whose Son he is.
On the last night of his mortal life, the high priest asked Jesus whether he was the Christ, “the Son of the Blessed.” Jesus answered, “I am,” and said they would see “the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:61–62). The council knew he was claiming Daniel’s vision for himself, and they condemned him (Mark 14:63–64).
The kingdom in Daniel 2 and the kingdom in Daniel 7 belong to the same King. In the end it will be given to “the saints of the most High” (Daniel 7:27), and the Savior invites every one of us into it.
Talk About It
Jesus chose the title Son of Man for himself. Which of his names or titles means the most to you, and why?
Take to Church
Daniel saw one like the Son of Man come with the clouds of heaven and receive a kingdom that will never end. That is Jesus Christ, the Son of our Father in Heaven.