What is the humanity of Christ?
How can we know that Jesus was truly human? John 1:1-14 may give us the general idea, but are there specifics?
John 1:1 - 14
ESV - 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.
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Tim Maas
Some examples of Jesus' true humanity: Although miraculously conceived, He was born through the normal process of human delivery (Luke 2:6-7). He went through the normal human process of growth and maturing (Luke 2:39-52). He hungered (Matthew 4:2). He was tempted (Matthew 4:1-11; Hebrews 4:15) He thirsted (John 4:7; John 19:28). He grew tired (John 4:6) He required sleep (Mark 4:38). He walked from place to place (John 7:1). He experienced extreme agony, to the point of sweating blood (Luke 22:44). Before the beginning of His ministry, those who had known Him from childhood thought of Him only as a normal human being (Matthew 13:54-58). He voluntarily laid down His life (John 10:18).
Jack Gutknecht
Jesus had a human soul and spirit (Matt. 26:38; Luke 23:46). So, He had a soul (Matthew 26:38 pp Mark 14:34 See also Isaiah 53:11). He was hungry Matthew 21:18 pp Mark 11:12 See also Matthew 4:2 pp Luke 4:2 He thirsted (John 4:7; John 19:28). One of the 7 last sayings of Christ was “I thirst” (“I am thirsty”). It's Jesus' 5th Word -- 5. "I thirst!" (John 19:28). In saying this phrase, Jesus fulfilled the prophecy found in Psalm 69:21: "For my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." Jesus also demonstrated that he understands human suffering, and thus understands our hurting and physical needs, too. John 4:14 reads, "but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Writes author Ray Pritchard: "It is one of the ultimate ironies of the biblical story that Jesus cried out 'I thirst.' He who is the water of life now dies of thirst." He grew tired (John 4:6) He went through the normal human process of growth and maturing (Luke 2:39-52). Jesus lived out his mortal life normally with all of the restrictions of humanity. He grew and developed Luke 2:40,52. I.e. “subject to growth” (Luke 2:52, Ryrie). “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” He required sleep (Mark 4:38) so He slept-- See also Matthew 8:24 pp Mark 4:38 pp Luke 8:23. He wept (John 11:35) – shortest verse in the Bible! (“Jesus wept.”) Jesus Christ was a sinless human being. Hebrews 4:15 Sinlessness does not make Jesus Christ less human. It is sin that degrades humanity. Compare Luke 23:41,47; Hebrews 7:26. He voluntarily laid down His life (John 10:18). "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." He could have called ten thousand angels but didn’t. “He could have called ten-thousand angels but He died alone for you and me” as the song goes. He voluntarily laid aside the independent exercise (use) of His divine attributes to show His true humanity. He died Matthew 27:50 pp Mark 15:37 pp Luke 23:46 pp John 19:30 Jesus Christ most closely identified with the rest of humanity through his death. However Jesus Christ is distinct from human beings in that his death was an act of free will and not the inevitable consequence of sin (see Jn 10:17-18).-- 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. Compare Hebrews 2:9, 14 Why did Jesus Christ need to be human? As a man Jesus Christ is able to help others in their need Hebrews 2:18 Compare, too, Hebrews 4:15-5:2 Hebrews 2:18-- New International Version “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” See also Hebrews 4:15-5:2 Hebrews 4:15 says that He was tested as a man. An application of this for Christians is that we must realize that God always understands what we are experiencing (Hebrews 4:15-16 says in the New American Standard Bible “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”-- KJV As a man Jesus Christ is the perfect example: (Philippians 2:5-8 says,”Let Christ Jesus be your example as to what your attitude should be.” (J.B.Phillips records in these verses: "Let Christ Jesus be your example as to what your attitude should be. For he, who had always been God by nature, did not...
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