A former pastor of mine would remind us, when Jesus was an infant He soiled His diapers. I'm sure His digestive system worked like mine does. He burped too. I'm not trying to be vulgar or irreverent. I am trying to “flesh out” Jesus in the flesh.
Another pastor always said that Jesus did not cheat. By that he meant that Jesus lived as a man on this earth. He set aside His deity (Philippians 2:6-9) as the Son of God to walk among us. He did not invoke His deity to overcome sin and temptation, thus "cheating".
My Wednesday Night Group is studying Hebrews. A few verses caught my attention and made me think about Jesus being a man.
Hebrews 2:17,18 says, "Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted."
Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."
Hebrews 5:8 says, Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him," (the concept of “being made perfect” carries the idea of being complete).
Jesus was tempted and suffered. We know that in spite of temptation he did not sin. The Scriptures also say that He learned from suffering. What did Jesus have to learn?
I have an idea. Let me know what you think.
Until the birth of Jesus, the triune God never experienced life in the flesh, as man. I know this will offend many. I am not questioning God's omnipotence. Could a perfect God know what life was like for man?
I believe that Jesus had to come and live as a man to experience what we go through. He had to be tempted like us. He did so without sinning. He had to suffer to be made perfect and therefore become the perfect high priest.
As a result He is able to sympathize with us. Jesus experienced pain, joy, anger, temptation, sorrow, fear, probably every emotion we feel. He knew what it was like to be separated from the Father. Again, in all those things he did not sin. He did not cheat. So maybe the fact of Jesus’ suffering completed or made him the perfect high priest to make the once and for all offering for our sins and better understand who we are to come to our aid.
No matter what we are feeling, or what we experience, remember that Jesus went through the same things. Read the verses above again. Look for other verses in the Scriptures that confirm what I'm saying. Share what you find with me. Let's grow together. God bless y'all real good.
(Thanks for your help Rudy.)
