Son of Man!

Commission and Premiere

"Son of Man!" was the eighth musical penned by the celebrated duo John Gowans and John Larsson. It was specially commissioned for the USA Western Territory Centenary Congress and saw its premiere on Sunday, 5 June 1983, in Los Angeles. This event also marked the first time a Gowans/Larsson musical was launched in the United States. Lt-Col John Larsson, present at the Congress, expressed his hope that "Son of Man!" would find its place in many churches across the Salvation Army world and beyond.

Theme and Message

The musical takes its title from the name Christ preferred to call himself and symbolically presents his life and teachings. It avoids a literalistic depiction of biblical scenes, focusing instead on the universal experiences of those who choose to follow the Son of Man.

"Son of Man!" explores profound theological questions: Why was this seemingly ordinary man so extraordinary? What made the Son of Man the Son of God? Can one person perfectly embody both the human and the divine? How can ordinary human beings resemble Jesus Christ?

The work emphasises the essential humanity of Jesus, who experienced the same needs and sensitivities as other men, including tiredness, thirst, frustration, and temptation. This shared experience, the musical suggests, is what makes him an understanding Saviour. Simultaneously, it underlines the undeniable divine quality and supernatural dimension of Jesus' personality.

A core message of "Son of Man!" is the transformative possibility for believers: that ordinary people, by receiving the Spirit of Jesus, can grow to be like him. When the Spirit directs their lives, influences their decisions, and transforms their ambitions, they begin to reflect his patience, his purity, and his compassion. The musical aims to lead witnesses to pray:

Spirit of Jesus, guest of the soul,
Transforming Spirit, making men whole,
Come to his servant, so men may see
Something of Jesus, Jesus in me!

Wider Context and Publication

John Larsson noted in May 2013 that "Son of Man", while containing some of their best songs, was not as widely known as their first six musicals, partly because it was initially published in the USA. It was later published by Salvationist Publishing and Supplies (SP&S) in London. The musical is featured on the "Four More Musicals" CD (John Larsson Plays: Volume 4).

The premiere in Los Angeles was attended by Lt-Cols Freda and John Larsson, along with Lt-Cols Gisèle and John Gowans, who were serving in the USA Western Territory at the time.

The musical sets out to communicate in a modern way the ageless gospel of the Son of God who, for our sakes, became the Son of Man. It has a message with the widest possible application, similar to their earlier works "Jesus Folk!" and "Spirit!".