“Son of Man” is Jesus’ nickname for himself. There are lots of reasons that get floated. Typically the story goes something like this. “Christ” or “Messiah” was too loaded a term. It had come to mean expected earthly conquest and revenge leader. This is the thing that even the recent Dune movies pick up on most. Oppressed people looking for a promised leader that will lead them to victory and revenge. Jesus did not want to give any credence to that idea, so he chose a relatively obscure yet still messianic title. “Son of Man” was used by the prophet Daniel. “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. (Dan. 7:13 ESV).” That is the single verse the messianic claims for the title rest upon.
The phrase itself – “son of man” – is used 189 times in the Bible. The New Testament appearances are mostly in the Gospels and Jesus’ self-reference. The others are clearly referencing Jesus. The Old Testament uses the phrase 107 times. That Daniel verse being one. Many of the others are like it’s first use in Numbers, “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. (Num. 23:19 ESV)” – a poetic sobriquet for a human that often makes a great distinction between God and man. But what really sent me down this rabbit hole is that out of those 107 Old Testament uses of “son of man” Ezekiel uses is 93 times. And it is almost always a direct address. It is God speaking to his prophet. Like his first use of it. “And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” (Ezek. 2:1 ESV).”
And I wish I could reproduce the effect for you of reading through the list. If you want, ask me for a print of all the verses in order. The effect is a building sense that God is not just talking to the prophet Ezekiel, but he is talking to The Prophet.
“Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. (Ezek. 2:3 ESV)”
“You, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words (Ezek. 2:6 ESV)”
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. (Ezek. 3:17 ESV)”
“And you, O son of man, behold, cords will be placed upon you, (Ezek. 3:25 ESV)”
The drumbeat continues through the chapters. Until you get to our Old Testament lesson today.
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” (Ezek. 37:1-3 ESV)
Son of Man, can these bones live?
That’s the question, isn’t it? Death has had free reign, like US Air Power over Iran. Death can strafe where it wants to. It can drop bombs that make huge craters anywhere. It could even go nuclear if it so desired. And the bones of a thousand generations lie in the dust they came from. There were very many and they were very dry.
Son of Man, can these bones live?
The prophet Ezekiel answers the question in the only way he could – “LORD GOD, you know.” But what about The Prophet? Has The Prophet made up his mind? Can these bones live? Or is this all a grand but failed experiment?
God tells Ezekiel to prophesy – to preach – to the bones. “Hear the word of the LORD.” And the final word of the LORD in the vision is the promise. “You shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people…I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.”
Can these bones live?
Absolutely.