Apologetics
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JESUS, THE GOD-MAN
The doctrine of Jesus as the God-Man is mystifying if not down right frustrating. Commentaries and books of Apologetics have taken up thousands of pages regarding this subject yet though easily explained it is very hard to digest. Do you understand the character of Jesus as God? Probably we would all agree to the affirmative. Do you understand the character of Jesus as man? Again we would all agree to the affirmative. Now for the big question: Do you understand the character of Jesus as God and man in the same person?
I would like to create a simply scenario of the subject though it be far from simplistic. More to the point, I would like to bring to mind some thought provoking ideas for you to consider. As believers it should be most important to have a deeper understanding of the person who brought redemption to all who would receive Him. Who is this Jesus who brought us Salvation? Was it the man, Jesus or was it God? Just to make our thinking more consequential was it the God-Man who gave us this awesome gift?
In the Old Testament when God was asked who He was He said, “I am who I am”, or simply put, I am. This simple statement being present tense brings God forever in the present. God is forever present and as such is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. In Genesis the term God is plural meaning Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Throughout Scripture we find the separation of persons all being one God. Trying to not go deeply into the doctrine of Trinity we will just make the correct assumption that each person of the trinity (the Godhead) is separate yet one with each other. They also have all the characteristics as God. Within this separateness each has a specific work or task to function within. Therefore each is God.
Jesus, in John 1:1 said He was in the beginning and He was or is God. The Gospels show Jesus as the sovereign God and at the same time show Him as a man. He was born as humans are born with one exception the Holy Spirit (God) placed the seed of life in Mary, the Virgin. He grew and matured as all humans do so you could honestly say He was a man. The Godly seed made Him God while Mary made Him man. So in a real sense we have the God-Man aspect of Jesus. More proof of His Godliness comes in the book of Revelation where he said he was “the first and the last” and among other quotes he claimed to be “I Am.” Therefore He like His Father and the Holy Spirit are always in the present simply put, infinite.
Not trying to be too philosophical we should think of the human side of Jesus. His death was not just the act of dying and the way of His death but all that has to be considered as something God did so mankind could have the opportunity of reconciliation (John 3:16).
The Gospels write of His birth to the Virgin Mary. They also tell of His growth process from an early age to manhood. He was definitely human but at the same time had a sense of knowing that went beyond human. As a man He had supernatural powers that He claimed came from the Holy Spirit. Receiving the Holy Spirit at His baptism seems unusual, as He too is God. The mix of God and man seems to be obvious but at the same time mysterious.
Considering the man Jesus, can we even comprehend what was within Him by some simple statements made within Scripture? Open up your brain cells and begin the thought process of Jesus, the Man. We tend to take too many things for granted and let the important stuff slide away. Thinking of Jesus, the Man can allow us to realize exactly what was involved in His work on earth. You might ask why this is important? Well if you really let yourself see what was encompassed in your salvation it may become more real and give you not only the free gift of God but total satisfaction in your part of the salvation process.
As a young man Jesus chose twelve men to begin a work that would totally free mankind of sin and death. Jesus was, among many other things a man of encouragement. He brought the inability of twelve to a great ability in serving mankind. His encouragement to these few friends and others were beyond normal. I think of when he went to pray at Gethsemane and asked three of the closest to sit and wait with Him. All His healings encouraged others toward belief. The gifts He gave His disciples encouraged them to complete a work that would change the world. He was a man of encouragement! During those three years of His “ministry” He would show what true love is all about. As a man He would show friendship and how to care about others. What? He would even speak and share with a Samaritan woman. This was Jesus, the Man.
Now let’s try to creep into His mind during His last days on earth. What were His thoughts? Were they God thoughts, man thoughts or a combination? Not wishing to be blasphemous, we should do this for our own personal benefit. What did He do for us? Why did He do it? What was He thinking? As God he knew all things. He knew what His purpose was. He knew He must die. As man He did not relish this fact, He even asked His Father to remove this burden that was about to happen. Place yourself in that garden where He went through such agony. As God He knew exactly what was about to happen. As man He dreaded the whole affair. Why do I have to do this? Why must I experience the pain and insult of mankind? “Oh Father, can’t we do this another way?” Put yourself in this scenario. What would your thoughts be?
When placed in the hypocritical position of a mock trial, dragged from political to “spiritual” scourge and ridicule He must have thought ‘what idiots.’ These Romans and Jews had no idea of what they were doing. In reality they were satisfying God’s will. Neither Romans nor Jews actually killed Jesus, we did! That in fact brings the death of Jesus, the Man into a right perspective, my sin is what placed Him on that cross. Was Jesus actually thinking of all the sin this world that they created would bring about His death. All the pain and suffering?
Jesus became a man because of the love God had for the creation. They loved the creation they had called into existence. They knew in advance what would and must take place for mankind to continue in the relationship planned from the beginning. Jesus, the Man (God) suffered and died for us all. Our thought process should involve a daily recognition of this fact that brings redemption through His shed blood. The spotless Lamb of God loved us enough to bring Himself to the low position of a man to give us salvation. Make it personal!
This, of coarse was not a theological representation of a scholarly sort. It was an attempt to bring the Man, Jesus who is God into a personal place within us. Can we live the life of a Christian and not think of what Jesus actually went through to give us the gift of life everlasting? Salvation is not merely acknowledging our sin and receiving a Savior, it goes far beyond that. We not only receive a Savior but also a Lord and our service to Him ought to be personal. Thinking of Jesus, the Man can bring our salvation experience personal and more intimate.
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