Christmas — what an amazing time of the year!
Not only do we celebrate the fact that the God of the Universe chose to enter His creation (Immanuel means “God with us!”), but the New Testament presents an equally mind blowing fact. Jesus was fully man. Can you imagine that?
The God of the Universe (the One who created everything we see), the Almighty God (who holds the universe together by His power), was born to a woman. The God Man, Jesus Christ, grew in wisdom and stature. He got tired. Jesus took naps! He got hungry and thirsty. Jesus bled and died. Jesus also experienced the full range of human emotions. He marveled at people. He wept when his friend died. He was tempted like us. Jesus is as people as you and me.
In order to fully understand Christmas, we must grasp these two equally profound Biblical truths. The first is that Jesus was fully God. The second is that Jesus was fully man.
Jesus’ humanity means that He can relate to our sufferings. He can sympathize with our weaknesses. We have a high priest who intercedes on our behalf. One who knows what it is like to be human. He had first-hand experience!
Also, the Bible makes it clear that we are to follow the example of Jesus Christ. He demonstrated what it meant to be fully human and live a life in perfect obedience to God the Father.
But most importantly of all, Jesus being fully man enabled Him to shed His blood and die for our sins. Jesus was the perfect, spotless lamb. The human sacrifice who could actually die for the sins of the world!
Marveling at His humanity,
Josh
Posted in A Word from the Pastor