Saturday, August 30, 2008

Biblical Basis - Jesus' Humanity


One of the most important doctrines of Christianity is the fact that Jesus has duel natures. He is 100% man and 100% God. Again, like in the post about Jesus' deity, I will not discuss the Trinity in this post but next week. I'm also skipping the question of Jesus' race. The truth is the color of his skin, while an interesting discussion, has no bearing on a person's identity in a first century context, which is the time Jesus was on earth. It has no bearing on his identity as the Savior of this, his creation.

Instead, I'd like to discuss what the Bible says about Jesus' humanity. One of the gripes some people express about the Gospels is that they do not emphasize the same things. They do not tell all the same stories and when the stories parallel they contain varying degrees of detail and aimed at different audiences. Some folks even try to use these differences to say that the Gospels conflict with one another. I disagree. I can find no contradiction and no conflict. It's important to recognize that each of the four Gospels emphasizes different aspects of Jesus. Matthew was written to Jews and emphasis his kingship and messiah status, focusing on how He fulfills Old Testament prophecies. You can see much about Jewish culture. Mark was written to the Romans and more action oriented. It moves at a more rapid pace and covers nothing of his background before his public ministry and talks more about His deeds. Mark emphasizes Jesus' identity as a Servant. Luke was written to the Greeks. It reads more like what we think of today when we talk about biographies. We see Jesus as a baby, at age 12, and during his public ministry. Luke emphasizes Jesus' humanity. He really was born and had many of the same experiences that we all have to face. In John's Gospel we see Jesus as God. No other Gospel is more blatant on that point. You will notice the John's Gospel contains some of the strongest languages on that point.

Turning attention to Jesus' claim to be fully human, it's important to recognize that his humanity is fundamentally different than ours. Jesus had no taint of sin that permeates the rest of us. He is what God had intended us to be. It is through Jesus and only through Jesus that our humanity can be purely and truly expressed. He always did the right thing and never ever sin. None of the rest of us can say the same thing. Jesus is the second Adam. Paul wrote in Romans 5: 12-19

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobediencee of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

It was only as a man that we could be redeemed from sin and death because it was by a man that we all feel into slavery. In Philippians 2:5-11, Paul also wrote:
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
We see that Paul taught that Jesus is God and voluntarily became a man and then died for us in humble obedience to save us all. It is important to embrace all things that the Bible teaches about Jesus. A whole book could be written about the Humanity of Christ but I will make one last point based on Hebrews 10:1-10 which says:

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
Then I said, 'Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, O God.' " First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

The entire book of Hebrews is apologetic in nature - it brilliantly defends the faith in light of Judaism. By Chapter 10 the author explains why Jesus' sacrifice was necessary and uses a couple of scriptures from the Old Testament to show the Jesus really did have a human body - a life to be laid down only to be picked back up again. The scriptures quoted were Psalm 40: 6-8 in verse 7. The author makes the point that Christ's incarnation is nothing strange to Judaism. Jesus fulfilled this and many other scriptures from the Old Testament and those that are yet to be fulfilled He will fulfill in His second advent.

2 comments:

  1. Greetings MMcelhaney

    I found this post & The Deity of Christ
    most interesting.

    Clearly the Scriptures present Jesus the Messiah as "a man";
    nicely summarized in
    (1 Tim 2:5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

    Jesus Christ isn't just any man;
    he is GOD's only-begotten Son, who died for our sins, who was raised by Almighty GOD;
    the man whom Almighty GOD made both Lord & Christ, and set him at His own right hand;
    making Jesus of Nazareth,
    the most exalted human being,
    second only to GOD Himself!

    [Acts 2.32-36]

    John, a monotheistic Jew does not present Jesus as "God" in his Gospel at all.
    Not only does he call Jesus "a man" more than the other Gospel writers; John must be allowed to state exactly why he wrote his Gospel, which he indeed does:
    (John 20:31) But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

    Yep! John presents Jesus as the ONE GOD's Son!
    That is who Jesus claimed to be, time and time again, in John's Gospel.
    Jesus himself identified the Father (in John's Gospel)
    as the only true GOD.
    [John 17.3]
    And nowhere does Jesus ever claim to be Almighty GOD!
    No rather, Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of the Living GOD.


    MMcelhaney, you rightly show the importance of Christ's death & sacrifice using Romans 5: 12-19 & Philippians 2:5-11.
    Hence, yet another proof that Jesus cannot possibly be Almighty GOD;
    because GOD ALMIGHTY CANNOT DIE!!

    The man Christ Jesus died for our sins!

    Hence Paul compares the two men, Adam and Jesus, in Romans & Philippians.
    (Think about it, would Paul compare Adam with GOD?!?)

    GOD Almighty alone has immortality.
    [1 Tim 6.16]
    Hence GOD cannot die!
    GOD gave His human Son, Jesus of Nazareth as "a Lamb" for our sins.

    Paul taught solely ONE GOD:
    e.g. 1 Tim 2:5 &

    (1 Cor 8:4) ... that there is none other God but one.
    (1 Cor 8:6) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in
    him;
    and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

    Jesus therefore is the "one man" whom the ONE GOD made "Lord".
    So, Paul and the early church believed in ONE GOD, the Father.
    And believed in ONE Lord, Jesus the Messiah, whom the ONE GOD, made Lord & Christ.
    Hence:
    ONE GOD, the Father
    ONE Lord, the man Christ Jesus.


    Concerning your post:
    The Deity of Christ;

    I recommend this video:
    The Human Jesus

    It deals with quite a few of the verses commonly used to present
    "Jesus as Almighty GOD"
    including John 8:58, Exo 3.14.

    Take a couple of hours to watch it; and prayerfully it will aid you in your quest for truth.

    Yours In Messiah
    Adam Pastor

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  2. Hello, Brother Adam Pastor. I want to thank you for taking the time to read my blog. Your comments are well-thought out, courteous, and welcomed. I am grateful that we agree on two major essential points: First Jesus is Lord and savior and in Him alone is our salvation. However, I believe scripture teaches Jesus' dual natures as God and man. I intend to write a more formal post concerning the Trinity but I get the feeling that you do not accept the Trinity. Your comments have inspired me to write additional material on Jesus' divinity expounding on the points you raise and on the video you so graciously have provided. Thanks again.

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