JESUS - The Son of Man

Approximately 80 times in the Gospels Jesus refers to himself as the "Son of Man" and no times do others call Him the Son of Man.

Approximately 25 times in the Gospels, Jesus is referred to as the Son of God, four of the times, He does it himself. One time He answers "yes" to the question as to if He is the Son of God. The other 20 times, someone else is calling Jesus the Son of God.

Why does Jesus emphasize his humanity?
What does his humanity mean to us?
What was he trying to get across to us?

Jesus came to Earth as the "God-Man". He was God, walking around in human form. He took on the form of man, with all its limitations. He lived and functioned as a man. He felt emotions and pain. He suffered, hungered, grew tired, learned, etc. just like any other man. He wanted to make sure we realized He is a man, not just God on Earth. As a man, without sin, He was able to pay the penalty for our sin. His sacrifice satisfied Justice.

(Php 2:3-8) Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

The Incarnation reveals the character of God clearer than anything else. He was not selfish or conceited. He was humble and put others first. He emptied Himself and became a servant. He humbled Himself through His obedience.

(Joh 1:14) And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The nature of Christ is the nature of God. He, as a man, was equal to God.

Jesus came to earth as a man to be the perfect sacrifice (a man without sin who would give himself for the sins of the rest of mankind), to reveal the nature of God to us, and to be an example for us to follow.

(Joh 13:15) "For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

(1Ti 1:16) Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

(1Pe 2:21-24) For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.