Jesus never used the title Messiah publicly and, instead, referred to Himself as the Son of Man 78 times. Why?
The New Testament Gospels, as they are written, depend on Jesus' use of Daniel 7. Jesus referenced this chapter far more than any other to reveal Himself as the divine Human and to declare His gospel.
Jesus' first-century audience understood His message, but we have lost sight of the way Jesus presented His gospel. Our understanding of Jesus, our grasp of the biblical story, and our ability to clearly communicate the gospel have been hindered by not fully understanding how Jesus used this one particular chapter. Based on Jesus' words, Daniel 7 is not simple an "end time" vision, it is the most concise and complete summary of the gospel and, perhaps, the premier summary of His identity. And if we do not know this chapter, we cannot fully grasp the gospel Jesus proclaimed and commissioned His people to carry.
Let Daniel open your eyes to the gospel as Jesus proclaimed it.