THE HUMANITY OF JESUS
INTENTION:
I think it’s easier
to view Christ Jesus as God, than it is to see Him as Human.
But right now, a
human sits in the Throne Room next to God the Father on Humanity’s behalf.
And as a human, He knows
exactly what you are facing in your life in this world—He is more than
empathetic, He lived it and experience it, and showed us how to overcome it!
I.
TOPIC:
We want to look at The Humanity of Jesus.
Too often we can view Jesus the Christ as God (and only
God). Yet, He came as a human being in likeness of us to accomplish the
Father’s Will. He lived on this earth as a human, experiencing everything that
each and every one of us humans experience.
Jesus had to overcome His own childhood upbringing
(abandonment by his dad); had to resist the flesh; never shied away from
emotions (feeling, acknowledging, and expressing them all); got hungry and
thirsty; got exhausted; had sleepless nights; had to pee and poop and wipe His
own butt; had to wash His clothes; take care of His house; planned things in
advance (like the “last supper”); and all the things humans had to do then.
And what about the times He would have gotten scratches,
itches, bug bites, dusty, bumped his toe, cut His finger, sneezed, coughed,
blew His nose, cleaned His ears, got splinters, had smelly armpits, caught His
robe on something, burned Himself on a fire, farted, had an erection, and
anything else you can think of as being a “normal human” like yourself.
When Jesus came to earth, He discovered Himself as in the
condition of a human (Philippians
2:8)—being G4976: the
external condition; the habitus, as comprising everything in a person which
strikes the senses, the figure, bearing, discourse, actions, manner of life etc.
Is not all this part of Him experiencing humanity just like
we do?!
Not only did He face the same challenges we face during His
entire life (from womb into the flesh), but then took upon a death like no
other.
With His self-sacrifice for all humanity, He personally experienced
any and all sins we may have committed or had happen to us—He bore on Himself
on the Cross every single sin of every single person that has ever been / will
be committed. As such, He knows the hurt it can cause, the struggle to bear the
weight of it, the impact it has on a person, the shame, guilt, condemnation,
and temptation; yet with the knowing of how to overcome it in you and against
you.
And just as He shared in our humanity, we can also share in
His Godhood—knowing that when we are Born-Again by believing in Him, we become
exactly as He is (1
John 4:17b). This includes His Godhood and His overcoming ability as a
human being.
So, let us relate to Him in both fashions… both as a human,
and as a Born-Again believer: Holy and overcoming! He is our sibling (our older
Brother) and we share the same kind of Loving Father that Loved Him. God Loves
us in the same exact way He loves Jesus as a human. This is why God sent Him,
to destroy the hindrance of a sin-conscience that deceives us into thinking (falsely
believing) we cannot have an intimate relationship with Him (Colossians 1:21).
We will look at the humanity of Jesus and how He relates to
us in some everyday situations. But first we will read about how He actually is
a human in Hebrews (see also Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15).
II.
READING: Hebrews 2:1-18
(TPT)
This is why it is so crucial that we be all the more engaged
and attentive to the truths that we have heard so that we do not drift off
course. 2 For if the message of the law spoken and confirmed by angels brought
a just penalty to every disobedient violation; 3 then how would we expect to
escape punishment if we despise the very truths that give us life? The Lord himself was the first to announce
these things, and those who heard him firsthand confirmed their accuracy. 4 Then
God added his witness to theirs. He validated their ministry with signs,
astonishing wonders, all kinds of powerful miracles, and by the gifts of the
Holy Spirit, which he distributed as he desired.
5 For God will not place
the coming world, of which we speak, under the government of angels. 6 But the
Scriptures affirm:
What is man that you would even think about him, or care
about Adam’s race.
7 You made him lower than the angels for a little while.
You placed your glory and honour upon his head as a crown.
And you have given him dominion over the works of your
hands,
8 For you have placed everything
under his authority.
This means that God has left nothing outside the control of
his Son, even if presently we have yet to see this accomplished. 9 But we see
Jesus, who as a man, lived for a short time lower than the angels and has now
been crowned with glorious honour because of what he suffered in his death. For
it was by God’s grace that he experienced death’s bitterness on behalf of
everyone!
10 For now he towers above all creation, for all things
exist through him and for him. And that God made him, pioneer of our salvation,
perfect through his sufferings, for this is how he brings many sons and
daughters to share in his glory. 11 Jesus, the Holy One, makes us holy. And as
sons and daughters, we now belong to his same Father, so he is not ashamed or
embarrassed to introduce us as his brothers and sisters! 12 For he has said,
“I will reveal who you really are to my brothers and
sisters, and I will glorify you with praises in the midst of the congregation.”
13 And, “My confidence rests in God!”
And again he says, “Here I am,
one with the children Yahweh has given me.”
14 Since all his “children” have flesh and blood, so Jesus
became human to fully identify with us. He did this, so that he could
experience death and annihilate the effects of the intimidating accuser who
holds against us the power of death. 15 By embracing death Jesus sets free
those who live their entire lives in bondage to the tormenting dread of death.
16 For it is clear that he didn’t do this for the angels, but for all the sons
and daughters of Abraham. 17 This is why he had to be a man and take hold of
our humanity in every way. He made us his brothers and sisters and became our
merciful and faithful King-Priest before God; as the One who removed our sins
to make us one with him. 18 He suffered and endured every test and temptation,
so that he can help us every time we pass through the ordeals of life.
III.
RELATED VERSES AND QUESTIONS:
A. Jesus
faced His flesh, just as we do (putting it to death to Live in Spirit). He had
to resist starvation and the Cross:
Matthew 4:1-2
(TPT)
Afterward, the Holy Spirit
led Jesus into the wilderness to experience the ordeal of testing by the
accuser. 2 And after fasting for forty days, Jesus was extremely hungry.
Mark 14:32-36 (TPT)
Then Jesus led his
disciples to an orchard called “The Oil Press.” He told them, “Sit here while I
pray awhile.” 33 He took Peter, Jacob, and John with him. An intense feeling of
great horror plunged his soul into deep sorrow. 34 And he said to them, “My
heart is overwhelmed with anguish and crushed with grief. It feels as though
I’m dying. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
35 He walked a short
distance away, and being overcome with grief, he threw himself facedown on the
ground. He prayed that if it were possible, he would not have to experience
this hour of suffering. 36 He prayed, “Abba, my Father, all things are possible
for you. Please—remove this cup of suffering! Yet what I want is not important,
for I only desire to fulfill your plan for me.”
Hebrews 12:3-4 (TPT)
So consider carefully how
Jesus faced such intense opposition from sinners who opposed their own souls,
so that you won’t become worn down and cave in under life’s pressures. 4 After
all, you have not yet reached the point of sweating blood in your opposition to
sin.
Question: We all face our own flesh; what parts
of the flesh are you asking the Lord to expose that you may overcome and change
that part of your humanity?
B. He
also faced temptations—all temptations appeal to the flesh. The first one Jesus
faced from the Devil was to stop His fasting (key to overcoming unbelief). The
second was for Him to commit suicide (jumping off the tower). The third was for
Him to inherit the kingdoms of the earth without needing to go through the
anguish of the Cross and all of humanities sins (worshiping the Devil instead
of God). And these all fall into the three categories.
Additionally, we are told
to “resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7); this Jesus
demonstrated. But also, that He will help provide a way out from temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Matthew 4:1-10 (TPT)
Afterward, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to experience
the ordeal of testing by the accuser. 2 And after fasting for forty days, Jesus
was extremely hungry. 3 Then the tempter came to him and said, “How can you
possibly be the Son of God and go hungry? Just command these stones to be
turned into loaves of bread.”
4 He answered, “The
Scriptures say: Bread alone will not satisfy, but true life is found in every
word that constantly goes forth from God’s mouth.”
5 Then the accuser
transported Jesus to the holy city of Jerusalem and perched him at the highest
point of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you’re really God’s Son, jump, and
the angels will catch you. For it is written in the Scriptures: He will command
his angels to protect you and they will lift you up so that you won’t even
bruise your foot on a rock.”
7 Once again Jesus said to
him, “The Scriptures say: You must never put the Lord your God to a test.”
8 And the third time the
accuser lifted Jesus up onto a very high mountain range and showed him all the
kingdoms of the world and all the splendour that goes with it. 9 “All of these
kingdoms I will give to you,” the accuser said, “if only you will kneel down
before me and worship me.”
10 But Jesus said, “Go away, Satan! For the Scriptures say: Kneel
before the Lord your God and worship only him.”
1 John 2:15-18 (TPT) {PoG}
Don’t set the affections
of your heart on this world or in loving the things of the world. The love of
the Father and the love of the world are incompatible. 16 For all that the world
can offer us—the gratification of our flesh {lust of the flesh}, the allurement
of the things of the world {lust of the eyes}, and the obsession with status
and importance {pride of life}—none of these things come from the Father but
from the world. 17 This world and its desires are in the process of passing
away, but those who love to do the will of God live forever.
Question: What tempts your flesh?
C. Jesus (and His family) had to rely on the Lord
financially. As a baby, their family had to escape Herod by travelling to Egypt
and elsewhere. The gold / gifts they received from the ‘Wise Men’ allowed for
their passage, need, and survival. As a ‘carpenter’ (G5045:
builder / ship builder / craftsman / planner / author) with his dad (Mark 6:3), one can argue
that their business was blessed and quite successful. As an adult, Jesus had
enough funds to have a house in Capernaum (Mark 2:1). During His
ministry, He had enough funds to take care of all His Disciples with places to
stay, daily food to eat, boats to rent, clothes to wear, and even the large
“Last Supper” banquet—all the while Judas stealing money from Him (the
Disciples Treasury). The Father took care of Him and all His needs, just as
Jesus shared with us to seek His Kingdom first and all our living necessities
will be added to us (Matthew 6:25-34).
Matthew 2:11
(TPT) {PoG}
When they {Wise Men} came
into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, they fell to the
ground at his feet and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests
full of gifts and presented him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew
4:13-16 (TPT)
Jesus moved from Nazareth
to make his home in Capernaum, which is by Lake Galilee in the land of Zebulun
and Naphtali. 14 He did this to make the prophecy of Isaiah come true:
15 Listen, you who live in
the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, along the road to the sea and on
the other side of the Jordan, and Galilee—the land of the Gentiles!
16 You who spend your days
shrouded in darkness can now say, “We have seen a brilliant Light.” And those
who live in the dark shadow land of death can now say, “The Dawning Light
arises on us.”
John 12:4-6
(TPT)
But Judas the locksmith,
Simon’s son, the betrayer, spoke up and said, 5 “What a waste! We could have
sold this perfume for a fortune and given the money to the poor!”
6 (In fact, Judas had no
heart for the poor. He only said this because he was a thief and in charge of
the money case. He would steal money whenever he wanted from the funds given to
support Jesus’ ministry.)
Mark
14:12-16 (TPT) {PoG}
On the first day of
Unleavened Bread, when the Passover Lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked
him, “Where would you like us to prepare the Passover meal for you?”
13 So he sent two of his
disciples ahead into Jerusalem with these instructions: “Make your way into the
city and watch for a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him, 14 and say to
the owner of whatever house he enters, ‘The Teacher wants to ask you: “Do you
have my room {lodging place} ready where I can eat the Passover meal with my
disciples?”’ 15 And he will show you a large upstairs room ready and with a
table set. Make preparations for us there.”
16 So they went into the
city and found everything to be exactly like Jesus had prophesied, and they
prepared for him the Passover meal.
Question: Do you feel the Lord can provide for
your needs to fulfil His Will just as He did for Jesus?
D. We
should never deny that we experience emotions. They are given from the Lord as
“made in Their Image”. As such, Jesus had the exact emotions we have—which are
the same emotions as the Father has (Lord has). Jesus loved, He cried, He got
frustrated, and He got angry (Righteous Indignation). His soul (emotional
realm) was tormented like ours becomes. For Him and us, it’s not about denying
the having of those emotions, but about what we feel like doing when those
emotions come—do we let our flesh take over or the Holy Spirit in us. We can
acknowledge them, discern them, understand them, and appreciate them as part of
who we are.
I’d recommend that you
take time to look for His emotions (placing yourself in them) when you read the
Bible.
Matthew
17:14-18 (TPT) – Frustration
They came to where a large
crowd had gathered to wait for Jesus. A man came and knelt before him 15 and said,
“Lord, please show your tender mercy toward my son. He has a demon who afflicts
him. He has epilepsy, and he suffers horribly from seizures. He often falls
into the cooking fire or into the river. 16 I brought him to your followers,
but they weren’t able to heal him.”
17 Jesus replied, “Where
is your faith? Can’t you see how wayward and wrong this generation is? How much
longer do I stay with you and put up with your doubts? Bring your son to me.”
18 Then Jesus rebuked the
demon and it came out of him and the boy was instantly healed!
Mark
6:31-34;45-46 (TPT) – Compassion and Burnout
There was such a swirl of
activity around Jesus, with so many people coming and going, that they were
unable to even eat a meal. So Jesus said to his disciples, “Come, let’s take a
break and find a secluded place where you can rest a while.” 32 They slipped
away and left by sailboat for a deserted spot. 33 But many of the people saw
them leaving and realized where they were headed, so they took off running
along the shore. Then people from the surrounding towns joined them in the
chase, and a large crowd got there ahead of them.
34 By the time Jesus came
ashore, a massive crowd was waiting. At the sight of them, his heart was filled
with compassion, because they seemed like wandering sheep who had no shepherd.
So he taught them many wonderful things.
45 After everyone had
their meal, Jesus instructed his disciples to get back into the boat and go on
ahead of him and sail to the other side to Bethsaida. 46 So he dispersed the
crowd, said good-bye to his disciples, then slipped away to pray on the mountain.
John
12:27-28 (TPT) – Turmoil in His Soul
“Even though I am torn
within, and my soul is in turmoil, I will not ask the Father to rescue me from
this hour of trial. For I have come to fulfil my purpose—to offer myself to
God. 28 So, Father, bring glory to your name!” Then suddenly a booming voice
was heard from the sky, “I have glorified my name! And I will glorify it
through you again!”
Matthew 26:36-39 (TPT) {PoG} – Severe Depression
Then Jesus led his
disciples to an orchard called “The Oil Press.” He told them, “Sit here while I
go and pray nearby.” 37 He took Peter, Jacob, and John with him. However, an
intense feeling of great sorrow plunged his soul into agony {most severe depression}.
38 And he said to them, “My heart is overwhelmed and crushed with grief. It
feels as though I’m dying. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 Then he walked a short
distance away, and overcome with grief, he threw himself facedown on the ground
and prayed, “My Father, if there is any way you can deliver me from this
suffering, please take it from me. Yet what I want is not important, for I only
desire to fulfill your plan for me.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to
strengthen him.
Question: Do you feel you relate to His
emotions; and Him to your emotions?
E. Jesus
knows what pain of the body is too—and the sickness you face. He took the most horrible
beating anyone could bear going to the Cross. And with that beating, “by His
stripes we are healed” as he bore all our sickness and curses upon Himself. And
on top of that, He took upon Himself every sin of humanity with their emotions.
·
Refer also: Bible Study Lesson 008 – Healthy
& Healing
Romans 15:3
(TPT)
For not even the most
powerful one of all, the Anointed One, lived to please himself. His life
fulfilled the Scripture that says: All the insults of those who insulted you
fall upon me.
1 Peter
2:23-24 (TPT)
When he was verbally
abused, he did not return with an insult; when he suffered, he would not
threaten retaliation. Jesus faithfully entrusted himself into the hands of God,
who judges righteously. 24 He himself carried our sins in his body on the cross
so that we would be dead to sin and live for righteousness. Our instant healing
flowed from his wounding.
Question: Do you believe that Jesus heals your
body, mind, soul, heart, and spirit; also having taken all your sins?
F. Jesus
had to also learn like we do for hope, trust, humility, trials, persecution, and
patience.
Hebrews
5:1-10 (TPT)
For every High Priest was
chosen from among the people and appointed to represent them before God by
presenting their gifts to God and offering sacrifices on their behalf. 2 Since
the High Priest is also one who is clothed in weakness, he humbles himself by
showing compassion to those who are ignorant of God’s ways and stray from them.
3 And for this reason, he has to not only present the sin offerings of others,
but also to bring a sin offering for himself. 4 And no one takes this honour
upon himself by being self-appointed, but God is the one who calls each one,
just as Aaron was called.
5 So also, Christ was not
self-appointed and did not glorify himself by becoming a high priest, but God
called and glorified him! For the Father said to him, “You are my favoured Son.
Today I have fathered you.”
6 And in another Scripture
he says about this new priestly order, “You are a Priest like Melchizedek, a
King-Priest forever!”
7 During Christ’s days on earth he pleaded with God, praying with passion
and with tearful agony that God would spare him from death. And because of his
perfect devotion his prayer was answered and he was delivered. 8 But even
though he was a wonderful Son, he learned to listen and obey through all his
sufferings. 9 And after being proven perfect in this way he has now become the
source of eternal salvation to all those who listen to him and obey. 10 For God
has designated him as the King-Priest who is over the priestly order of
Melchizedek.
Question: How can you learn to trust the Lord in
every aspect of life—obeying even when faced with hardships?
IV.
FURTHER THOUGHT:
A. Even
as a human being, we have access to the same Spirit He lived in. When we
believe (as Jesus believed), we have: God in us, Christ in us, Holy Spirit in
us. We can do all that He demonstrated and more (John
14:12-14)! So even though He experiences humanity with us, we can
experience Spirituality with Him.
Ephesians
3:14-21 (TPT)
So I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the
Messiah, 15 the perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on the
earth. 16 And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of
his glory and favour until supernatural strength floods your innermost being
with his divine might and explosive power.
17 Then, by constantly
using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the
resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life.
18–19 Then you will be
empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of
the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and
far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond
measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into
you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!
20 Never doubt God’s
mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely
more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your
wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly
energizes you.
21 Now we offer up to God
all the glorious praise that rises from every church in every generation
through Jesus Christ—and all that will yet be manifest through time and
eternity. Amen!
Thoughts: We only limit the Holy Spirit
through our humanity. Let’s tackle those strongholds that keep interrupting the
presence of the Lord out from in us. Without denying our human existence, we
have the ability to overcome our human limits through His Spirit in us!
A thank you to Kelly and Joshua who are inspirational in this life-journey. And to all the family, friends, sponsors, and donors who have fed into this ministry and outreach.
If you would like to support this ministry and outreach, you may do so via our website or at:
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