1 The Humanity of Jesus: Jesus became a man – for us! Message 2 in our 3-part series called The Miracle of His Coming. Sunday, December 12, 2010 Speaker: Doug Virgint

2 Four passages 1) John 1:14 the Word became flesh 2) Philippians 2:5-9 nature of God, nature of a servant 3) Hebrews 1:5 two natures are one “hypostatic union” 4) Philippians 3:21 still a man

3 Four passages 1) John 1:14 the Word became flesh 2) Philippians 2:5-9 nature of God, nature of a servant 3) Hebrews 1:5 two natures are one “hypostatic union” 4) Philippians 3:21 still a man

4 The humanity of Jesus 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. (John 1:14)

5 The humanity of Jesus The Word : refers to the eternal Son of God refers to the eternal Son of God “in the beginning” He was always God “in the beginning” He was always God (“en arché” – same as Genesis 1:1) co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit He was Spirit - had no material substance He was Spirit - had no material substance in perfect harmony & fellowship - Trinity in perfect harmony & fellowship - Trinity

6 The humanity of Jesus became : He did not cease to be God He did not cease to be God He did not forsake his divine nature He did not forsake his divine nature He took on human nature in addition to his divine nature He took on human nature in addition to his divine nature divinity and humanity were not mutually exclusive divinity and humanity were not mutually exclusive He did not have to pick and choose … He did not have to pick and choose … The Eternal Word became a man The Eternal Word became a man

7 The humanity of Jesus flesh: does not refer here only to the human body does not refer here only to the human body all that makes up a man – body, mind, emotions and will all that makes up a man – body, mind, emotions and will everything united to humanity was united to the Son of God everything united to humanity was united to the Son of God The eternal Son of God did not become like man – he became a true man The eternal Son of God did not become like man – he became a true man

8 The humanity of Jesus flesh: “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way …” (Heb 2:17) “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way …” (Heb 2:17)

9 The humanity of Jesus But why: “full of grace and truth” “full of grace and truth” “He became a man for us and for our salvation” (Athanasius, ) “He became a man for us and for our salvation” (Athanasius, ) the word became flesh to save us from our sin and to free us to marvel at and enjoy the unique union of divinity and humanity the word became flesh to save us from our sin and to free us to marvel at and enjoy the unique union of divinity and humanity He did it for us ! He did it for us !

10 Four passages 1) John 1:14 the Word became flesh 2) Philippians 2:5-9 nature of God, nature of a servant 3) Hebrews 1:5 two natures are one “hypostatic union” 4) Philippians 3:21 still a man

11 The humanity of Jesus …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! (Philippians 2: 5-9)

12 The humanity of Jesus Being in very nature God : nature (form) – “morphē “ nature (form) – “morphē “ different words in Greek for “form” different words in Greek for “form” “morphē” means “essential form” “morphē” means “essential form” “schēma ” means outward appearance “schēma ” means outward appearance here the word is “morphē” - essential, intrinsic attributes here the word is “morphē” - essential, intrinsic attributes Everything God the Father is, Christ is!

13 The humanity of Jesus Taking the very nature of a servant : “nature” this same word – “morphē “ “nature” this same word – “morphē “ “servant” = “doulos ” – “slave” “servant” = “doulos ” – “slave” this word “slave” is the very proof of his humanity – this word “slave” is the very proof of his humanity – – the lowest form of humanity! – the lowest form of humanity! He was as much man as He was God He was as much man as He was God

14 The humanity of Jesus He made himself nothing : “He emptied himself”, “divested himself” “He emptied himself”, “divested himself” “himself” is emphatic – voluntary! “himself” is emphatic – voluntary! not of his divine nature – that is impossible not of his divine nature – that is impossible stripped himself of the insignia of majesty stripped himself of the insignia of majesty But of what did He empty himself? But of what did He empty himself?

15 The humanity of Jesus temporarily divested himself of 5 things: His divine glory His divine glory His independent divine authority His independent divine authority His voluntary exercise of some of his divine attributes His voluntary exercise of some of his divine attributes His eternal riches His eternal riches His unique, intimate, and face-to-face relationship with his heavenly Father His unique, intimate, and face-to-face relationship with his heavenly Father

16 The humanity of Jesus Found in appearance as a man: He was wrapped in swaddling clothes He was wrapped in swaddling clothes He “grew up” He “grew up” He had brothers and sisters He had brothers and sisters He learned a trade He learned a trade He was hungry, thirsty, weary, sleepy He was hungry, thirsty, weary, sleepy He grieved and became angry He grieved and became angry He wept He wept

17 The humanity of Jesus Found in appearance as a man: He dressed like ordinary men He dressed like ordinary men He lived like ordinary men He lived like ordinary men He followed the customs of ordinary men! He followed the customs of ordinary men! and He died ! and He died !

18 The humanity of Jesus Death on a cross: such a death was shameful such a death was shameful such a death was humiliating such a death was humiliating such a death was painful such a death was painful and He did this for us ! and He did this for us !

19 The humanity of Jesus Found in appearance as a man: “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, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.” (1 John 4:2-3)

20 Four passages 1) John 1:14 the Word became flesh 2) Philippians 2:5-9 nature of God, nature of a servant 3) Hebrews 1:5 two natures are one “hypostatic union” 4) Philippians 3:21 still a man

21 The humanity of Jesus The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. (Hebrews 1:3)

22 The humanity of Jesus His being (KJV – person) : “being” = “hypostasis ” The hypostatic union

23 The humanity of Jesus The hypostatic union : The joining of the divine and the human in the one person of Jesus. The joining of the divine and the human in the one person of Jesus. The personal union of Jesus’ two natures. The personal union of Jesus’ two natures. Jesus’ two natures are perfectly united in his one person. Jesus’ two natures are perfectly united in his one person.

24 The humanity of Jesus The hypostatic union : “His two natures are without confusion, without change, without division, without separation” (Chalcedonian Creed – 451) “In this one person God-man, we find an admirable conjunction of diverse excellencies.” (Jonathan Edwards) Jesus is one !

25 The humanity of Jesus The hypostatic union : This means Jesus is one focal point for our worship. Because of this hypostatic, one-person union, Jesus Christ exhibits an unparalleled magnificence. No one person satisfies the complex longings of the human heart like the God-man.

26 The humanity of Jesus God has made the human heart in such a way that it will never be eternally content with that which is only human. Finitude can’t slake our thirst for the infinite.

27 The humanity of Jesus And yet, in our finite humanity, we are significantly helped by a point of correspondence with the divine. God was glorious long before he became a man in Jesus. But we are human beings, and unincarnate deity doesn’t connect with us in the same way as the God who became human. The conception of a god who never became man (like Allah) will not satisfy the human soul like the God who did.

28 The humanity of Jesus And beyond just gazing at the spectacular person of Jesus, there is also the amazing gospel-laced revelation that the reason Jesus became the God-man was for us. His fully human nature joined in personal union to his eternally divine nature is permanent proof that Jesus, in perfect harmony with his Father, is undeterrably for us. He has demonstrated his love for us in that while we were still sinners, he took our nature to his one person and died for us.

29 Four passages 1) John 1:14 the Word became flesh 2) Philippians 2:5-9 nature of God, nature of a servant 3) Hebrews 1:5 two natures are one “hypostatic union” 4) Philippians 3:21 still a man

30 The humanity of Jesus A Saviour from there (heaven) The Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (Philippians 3:21)

31 The humanity of Jesus Jesus is still a man – with a body! “after the resurrection Jesus ascended in “the flesh in which He suffered.” (Justin Martyr 168) “Jesus is still sitting there at the right hand of the Father, man, yet God... flesh and blood, yet purer than ours.” (Tertullian 225) “… that one grand and health-giving miracle of Christ’s ascension into heaven with the flesh in which he rose.” (Augustin 430)

32 The humanity of Jesus Jesus is still a man – with a body! “Jesus returned to heaven in “the self samyn body.” (John Knox 1572) “that Christ’s humanity is to all eternity...a clothing which He does not put off. It is his temple which He does not leave. It is the form which He does not lose.” (Karl Barth 1968) He is still the image of the invisible God!

33 Conclusion Because of his humanity, he is our perfect mediator For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:15) He mediates between God and us !

34 Conclusion Because of his humanity, he has conquered death for us Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of 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. (Hebrews 2:14) We need no longer fear death !

35 Conclusion Because of his humanity, he can be our intercessor in heaven (Hebrews 2:17) For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, … Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:17) He can help us win over temptation !

36 Conclusion Because of his humanity, God can forgive our sins (Hebrews 2:17) For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human 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. (Hebrews 2:17) Our sins can be forgiven !

37 The humanity of Jesus Jesus became a man – for us!