Jesus Christ – Human, God, or Both?

What was the humanity of Christ like and how did it coexist with God and his will?

(Note: all text in green is my own thoughts)

• John 1:1
  • “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God”
    • What Word is John referring too here?  And what does he mean it was “with God”?
    • The word was a concept used by theologians and philosophers, both Jews and Greeks, in many different ways.  In Hebrew scripture, the Word was an agent of Creation (Psalm 33:6” By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth”), the source of God’s message to his people through his Prophets (Hosea 4:1 “Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land”) and Gods law, his standard of holiness (Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.).  In Greek philosophy, the Word was the principle reason that governed the world; in Hebrew thought, the Word was another expression for God.  Johns description shows clearly that he is speaking of Jesus (see the next verse). – a human being he knew and loved nut at the same time the creator of the universe, the ultimate revelation of God, the living picture of God’s Holiness, the one in whom “all things hold together” *Colossians 1:17 [see below].  To Jewish readers, to say this man Jesus was God was blasphemous.  To Greek readers, the idea that “the Word became flesh” was unthinkable.  To John this new understanding of the Word expressed the Good News of Jesus Christ.
• 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 Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth”
    • Based on the previous verse we read prior to this one, John tells us God became flesh.  But didn’t God do this once already with Adam and Eve?  How is this time different?
    • This tells us that there is unequivocal proof that God (the Word) made himself flesh (in the form of his son), to save the world from sin.  Another note, by God becoming flesh, he gifts us with the perfect teacher, Jesus or rather himself!

• Philippians 2:5-11
  • “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

• What is Paul trying to teach us here?  Is there some underlying message he’s trying to convey?

• I don’t believe he’s mincing any words here.  He’s telling us to live a humble life and serve our fellow man, just like Christ.  But the underlying thing which could be missed, is he’s telling us that God and Jesus are the same thing, just formed a different way
• In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he tells us to have the same mindset as Jesus.  He tells us that Jesus is “the very nature of God”, but did not use this advantage, rather he humbled himself as a servant and made an ultimate sacrifice for our sins.  Reading verse 11, we hear Paul acknowledge, that we should all know and believe that “Jesus Christ is Lord”.  Pretty straight forward, Jesus and God; same thing.
• Colossians 1:15-19
  • The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
  • What is Paul telling the Colossians?  What message is he trying to convey?
    • A little context here, unlike the previous verse, Paul had never visited the Colossians (Note: Paul helped establish the church in Philippi on his second mission journey) So this may read a little differently as Paul is trying to reach a different audience.  He’s more explicit and all encompassing in his words about Jesus being God.  I believe he’s trying to drive his point home that God sent his only son, to bring peace, through his very own blood.
  • In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he again (I believe even more clearly) shows us that Jesus is God.  In verse 15 he tells us the Son is the image of the invisible God (makes me think about God making man in his own image).  He goes on to tell us all things are created through Jesus, clearly overlapping with Gods creation of the earth. 
• Mark 10:18
  • “Why do you call me good?” Jesus Answered “No one is good – except God alone”
    • What is Jesus telling us here?  We just proved without a doubt that Jesus is in fact God.  Right?
    • I believe this is a moment where without context or the right perception, this verse can be taken out of context.  Jesus knows he’s God, but even as this is true, this shows the very nature that Jesus is also man, and he knows it.  This is part of a story where a rich man is trying to figure out a way into heaven.  Where Jesus simply tells the man, follow the commandments, be humble and to relieve himself of all worldly possessions, then simply follow him.
• Luke 5:16
  • “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed”
    • Why would God need to withdraw and seclude himself?  Isn’t the almighty strong enough to withstand anything?
    • I believe this one needs more context.  This verse happens right after Jesus heals the man from leprosy.  Jesus tries to tell the man to keep it quiet, but humans can’t help themselves and gossip happens.  Think about the masses that likely swarmed Jesus.  I believe the humanity of Christ shines through here, even he needed time to rest and pray with his father.  He may be God, but also still man.
• Luke 2:41-52
  • Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”  “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them.  Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.  And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
  • What was Jesus thinking?  Completely forgetting(?) about his parents and being so involved in his teachings & conversations that he became disobedient to his parents?
  • How does this passage show us both sides of Jesus the Man and Jesus our God?
  • This young version of Jesus shows us he was a child (almost a teenager, 12 yrs. old).  Leaving his earthly parents and not telling them where he was.  Pretty typical for kids even today.  This also shows how Jesus (our living God) needed probe the teachers and question them.  I believe he was paving a path from his human side to more closely relate to the religious leaders of the time. 
  • The other thing I see here is how when Jesus “realizes” his parents concern, he immediately went with them and became obedient.  This shows me that God knew what he was putting Jesus through, being both God & man.  Jesus showed the respect and humility to Mary & Joseph, even though he is God in the flesh.

Ultimately, I have no idea (nor will I), how Jesus pulled off being both God and Man at the same time.  Having all the knowledge and having the humanity of our earthly minds at the same time.  What I do know, is Jesus did it right.  He held back when needed, he showed us ways that even today we are having revelations about.  He shows us what true humility and humanity really can and should be.  Not to mention he sacrificed himself so that we can live without sin.  God gave us this amazing part of himself, I just hope we don’t take it for granted.