Discussion Questions with Drafted Responses
Part A: Understanding the Core Principles
- Before this reading, what did the title “Son of Man” mean to you? How does Bishop Barron’s explanation, rooted in the Book of Daniel, change or deepen that understanding?
- Draft Response: Many people today commonly misunderstand the title “Son of Man” as a simple reference to Jesus’s humanity, humility, or weakness. Barron argues this is the opposite of its intended meaning. The title is a direct and startling claim to divine, kingly authority, rooted in the apocalyptic visions of the Old Testament Book of Daniel.2 It is not a title of humility but of supreme power and judgment.
- Describe the vision from Daniel, Chapter 7. What do the four “beasts from the sea” represent, and what does the “one like a Son of man coming on the clouds” represent? Why is the contrast between them so important?
- Draft Response: In Daniel’s vision, four monstrous beasts (a lion, bear, leopard, and a terrifying fourth beast) rise from the sea. These represent a succession of corrupt, violent, and idolatrous earthly kingdoms (Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome) that arise from chaos and evil (the “sea”).3 In stark contrast, a figure “like a Son of man” appears, coming from “the clouds of heaven”—God’s domain of order and truth. This human-like figure is given everlasting dominion and glory from God, establishing a divine kingdom that will supersede all the violent, earthly ones.3 The contrast shows that God’s kingdom is not just another worldly power but something of a completely different and higher order.
- According to Barron, what was Jesus claiming when he used the title “Son of Man” for himself, especially during his trial before the high priest? Why was this seen as blasphemy?
- Draft Response: When Jesus was on trial and asked if he was the Messiah, he responded by directly quoting Daniel 7: “you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven”.3 In this moment, he was claiming to be the divine, eschatological judge from Daniel’s prophecy. This was seen as blasphemy because he was not just claiming to be a prophet, but to have the divine prerogative to judge the world and overthrow the established orders, effectively casting his accusers in the role of the corrupt, beastly kingdoms.3
- How does the title “Son of Man” help us understand the “hypostatic union” (Jesus being fully God and fully man)? Is it a title of weakness or of authority?
- Draft Response: The title “Son of Man” is a title of supreme divine authority that is exercised through his assumed humanity.7 It is not a reference to his “human side” as opposed to his “divine side.” Rather, it shows how the one divine person of the Son of God executes his mission. The eternal “Son of God”
is the eschatological “Son of Man” who enters history. This perfectly expresses the hypostatic union: the one person of the Son unites a divine nature and a human nature to accomplish the salvation of the world.7
- If Jesus is the kingly “Son of Man,” where is his kingdom? How does Barron identify this kingdom in the world today, and how is it different from the “beastly” kingdoms of the world?
- Draft Response: Barron explains that this kingdom is, first and foremost, Jesus Christ himself. It is then extended through time and space in his Mystical Body, the Church.3 The Church is the “kingdom not made by human hands” that Daniel foresaw. Unlike worldly kingdoms that are competitive and rise through violence and conquest, the kingdom of the Son of Man is non-competitive. Its purpose is not to seize worldly power but to be the soul of the world, ordering all things to God through a life of love and worship.3
Part B: Growing in Intimacy with Jesus
- Barron presents a “dangerous” Jesus who is a divine warrior, judge, and king. How does this image of Jesus challenge or comfort you? Does it differ from the way you typically picture or pray to him?
- Guided Reflection: This question is for personal reflection. Many of us are more comfortable with Jesus as a gentle teacher or compassionate friend. This “Son of Man” image challenges us to see him also as a figure of immense power and authority who confronts evil directly. Does it comfort you to know that Jesus has ultimate authority over the chaos of the world? Does it challenge you to give him more complete allegiance in your life?
- The “beastly kingdoms” in Daniel’s vision represent corrupt, violent, and idolatrous world systems. Where do you see the dynamics of these “beastly kingdoms” at play in the world, in our culture, or even in your own life (e.g., the drive for power, wealth, honor, or pleasure apart from God)?
- Guided Reflection: This is an opportunity to connect biblical prophecy to our lived experience. A “beastly kingdom” is any system or personal desire that organizes itself apart from God, often leading to competition, violence, and treating created things as ultimate goods. We can see this in political corruption, unjust economic systems, and the cultural obsession with fame or material success. We can also see it in our own hearts when we prioritize our own ambitions or desires over God’s will.
- What does it mean for you, personally, to be a citizen of the Son of Man’s kingdom (the Church)? How does this primary allegiance shape your identity and your interactions with the worldly systems around you?
- Guided Reflection: To be a citizen of this kingdom means our ultimate loyalty is not to a nation, a political party, a career, or a personal ideology, but to Christ the King. This identity should transform how we engage with the world. We are called to be “in the world but not of it,” acting as agents of God’s love and justice rather than adopting the world’s competitive and often merciless values. How does this play out in your workplace, your family, or your political engagement?
- When Jesus asked, “When the Son of man returns, will he find faith on the earth?” 1, he was issuing a challenge. How does understanding him as the kingly Son of Man from Daniel’s prophecy change your sense of mission and urgency in sharing the faith?
- Guided Reflection: If Jesus is simply a nice teacher, sharing the faith can feel like offering helpful advice. But if he is the true King who has come to establish God’s eternal kingdom and judge the corrupt powers of the world, then sharing the faith becomes an urgent invitation to join the winning side. It is an act of liberation, inviting people out of the failing, beastly kingdoms and into the lasting, life-giving kingdom of God. This understanding can transform evangelization from a suggestion into a rescue mission.
- Reflect on a current struggle or decision you are facing. How might viewing Jesus as the sovereign “Son of Man” who has authority over all earthly powers change your perspective or approach to that situation?
Guided Reflection: This question brings the theology directly into our personal lives. The “Son of Man” has been given “dominion, power and glory” over all the nations and all of history.3 This means that no problem—be it financial, relational, professional, or personal—is outside of his authority. Praying to Jesus as the powerful “Son of Man” can shift our perspective from fear and anxiety to trust and confidence, knowing that the ultimate ruler of the cosmos is with us and for us.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post