Luke 2:52 "And, Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."
John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Glations 4:5 "(vs. 4) But when the time had fully come, God sent His son, born of a woman, born under law, (vs5) to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons."
Philippians 2:5-8 "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
'who being in the very nature of God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himselft and became obedient to death-
even death on a cross!'
1 Tim 3:16 "...Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:
'He appeared in a body
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in Glory.'"
Hebrews 2:14-18 "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's decendants. for this reson, he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."
1John 4:2 "This is how you can recognize the spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, (vs3- but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God)."
This is an attempt to simply expain the humanity of Jesus. But it really is not that simple. Although a man, he was also fully God, complicating the matter greatly, as far as comprehension goes! After analyzing the above scriptures, there are seven categories they can be organized into.
1. Jesus was PHYSICAL. He had a physical body (Luke 2:52). He was made of flesh (Luke 2:52). He labored as a carpenter. He bled and died on the cross (Luke 2:52). He was born of a woman (Gal 4:5). He was made in Human likeness (Phil 2:5-8).
2. Jesus was SOCIAL. He dwelt among us (John 1:14). He lived in and grew up in a small village, was probally well known by all. He grew in wisdom and stature with God and man (Luke 2:52). He attended social functions: weddings, funerals, and probally anything else that was cultural to do at that time.
3. Jesus was immersed in the CULTURE. He was born under law (Galations 4:5) He followed the Jesus law and customs.
4. Jesus had CHARACTER. According to Phillipians 2:5-8, Jesus' character was worth copying. Here are some of the qualities just from the above scriptures: sacrificial- reduced himself from God to man; humble- did not boast or brag; servant-minded: "...taking the very nature of a servant...", obedient: "...and became obedient to death, even death on a cross." Luke 2:52 states that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature with God and man. John 1:14 states that Jesus was full of grace and truth.
5. Jesus was SPIRITUAL, as we are (from the article, "Made In The Image of God" by Judy Streeter); was the Word/came from the Father (Jn 1:14); became flesh; is the Glory of God (Jn1:14); born to redeem those under law (Gal 4:5); vindicated by the Spirit (1Tim 3:16); rose again from the grave; was taken up in glory (1Tim 3:16).
6. Jesus left a LEGACY. According to 1Tim 3:16, He was preached among the nations. He was believed on in the world.
7. Jesus WAS ON A MISSION. Hebrews 2: 14-18 states that He used His death to destroy the devil (who held the power of death) and He used his death to free those who were slaves...
The humanity of Jesus is best summed up with the following scripture:
"For this reason, He had to be made like His brothers in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people."
