Jesus Was a Man
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15, ESV)
Last week we talked about the fact that Jesus was not just another man or a great teacher. He was God’s Son. Born of a virgin through the Holy Spirit, He had a divine nature. He was 100% God.
This week we’ll look at the fact that Jesus was also a man.
How is this possible?
Because with God, all things are possible.
John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (ESV)
Jesus voluntarily came to earth as a man so that He could save mankind from their sins. As John 6:38 says, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (ESV)
What’s amazing is that when Jesus came to earth, He didn’t come as a king or a rich, powerful ruler. Instead, He chose to live as an ordinary man, experiencing many of the same things that ordinary people go through in their lives.
For instance, Jesus was not born into a rich family. Instead, the sacrifice they offered when Jesus was born was the smallest sacrifice allowed for the poorest people.
Growing up, Jesus didn’t live in Jerusalem with the kings and religious leaders. Instead, He grew up in Nazareth, an agricultural community much like today’s rural areas, where people worked hard and played hard.
Jesus grew up in a normal family. He had other brothers and sisters and parents who weren’t perfect. They lived out all the normal dynamics that occur within every family.
Luke 2:41-52 shows us that Jesus submitted to His parents while He was growing up. (Can you imagine having to listen to your parents when you are God? Obviously, you ALWAYS know better than they do, but still, you have to obey.)
Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph, worked as a carpenter. His mother, Mary, raised and probably homeschooled the children. At some point, Joseph died, and Jesus experienced the heartache of losing a loved one.
When Joseph died, it became Jesus’ responsibility to take care of the family. He took over the family carpenter business and worked hard to support His mother, and brothers, and sisters until He was thirty years old. He knew the pressure of running a business, paying bills, and providing for a family.
At the age of thirty, He left home and started His ministry.
Even as He was stepping into the fullness of God’s plan for His life, Jesus still experienced many of the same things we do.
The Bible tells us that He got tired.
He got hungry (but not hangry).
Jesus experienced the camaraderie of friendship, but He also knew the pain of betrayal and rejection.
We see He experienced the full range of human emotions: sadness, anger, grief, joy, and hope.
Even though His body couldn’t get sick, it could experience pain, especially the agonizing and unbearable pain of crucifixion.
Why did Jesus allow Himself to experience all of these things?
The answer is given in Hebrews 2:14-18:
“Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it’s logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil’s hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death.
It’s obvious, of course, that he didn’t go to all this trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of Abraham. That’s why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people’s sins, he would have already experienced it all himself—all the pain, all the testing—and would be able to help where help was needed.” (The Message)
Jesus became a man so He could relate to men and give us the help and salvation we needed. This legendary decision allows us to love and serve God and have a relationship with Him.
Memory Verse: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15, ESV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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