God's Son
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Jesus
Jesus
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
A man stood before the statue of Christ at Johns Hopkins University’s Medical Center. After a while he walked to another position to look again at the statue. Then he walked to the other side of the statue, still gazing intently. Finally, he walked away, frustrated. A young girl, who had been watching all of this, ran up to him. Gently tugging his coat sleeve, she exclaimed, “Sir , if you want to see His face, you must kneel down.”
Indeed, if we would see Jesus, we must “kneel down.” Seeking to understand Jesus and what He has done for us demands that we “kneel down” again and again in prayer. To know Him and begin to comprehend the divine/human nature of Christ is impossible without divine help. Yet, even a child can understand the simple truths about Jesus.
Prayer
Preview
Preview
So let’s look first at the virgin birth. The angle told Mary that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and the child that she would bear would be holy. Look at this way "She, as mother, contributed to him all that any human mother contributes to her child, sin excepted. Through the umbilical cord, Jesus is this particular man, the son of this particular woman, the bearer of the whole previous genetic history of her people and the recipient of innumerable hereditary features. He was a unique genotype ( meaning no else like him) precisely because she contributed at least half his chromosomes (as any human mother would). How the rest was contributed remains a mystery. The one certainty is that Mary couldn't herself have contributed the sex-determining chromosome, Y, which is always provided by the biological father. This chromosome, at least, must have been provided miraculously; and it remains possible that all the chromosomes normally derived from the male parent were provided in this way, the divine act which fertilized the ovum simultaneously creating twenty-three chromosomes complementary to those derived from the mother" (Donald Macleod, The Person of Christ, p. 162). Think about that for a minute and let it sink in. This birth is beyond comprehension for humans, but God made it possible to show that the incarnation of Jesus is unique. Because Jesus is both divine and human He can save all who come to Him. His divinity gives Him the power to change us. His death makes it possible for Him to save us. His humanity enables Him to express compassion and care fur us. With His humanity Christ encircles the human race; with His divinity He grasps the throne of the Infinite, uniting us with God.
You’ve all seen rainbows. They are made from the union of sunshine and shower. The higher the sun the lower the rainbow. If the sun rises above 40 degrees, a rainbow doesn't happen. If Christ were to have come in His divinity, we as sinful humans could not see or understand Him. But He came united with humanity, so that from our sinful angle we might behold His refracted loveliness and be attracted to Him.
The next time you see a double rainbow, notice that the brighter primary bow has the red color on the outside while in the less-distinct secondary how the color is reversed. God’s mercy is the primary bow with the red blood of Christ prominently outermost. In the secondary bow, that represents God’s justice, it is reversed. To His sinful but repentant children God says, “Live - I have given you a ransom in Jesus, to accept Him in peace.”
Points to Ponder
Points to Ponder
Why did God ordain “before the foundation of the world” ( Peter 1:20) the plan for Jesus to become incarnate?
This demonstrates God’s love for the entire universe, showing that salvation from sin was not a hasty thought in the mind of God. In Their infinite wisdom, the Godhead provided that should sin arise, God the Son would come to this earth as a man.
The bluebird has many enemies, but the worst is the house sparrow, which delights in taking over the bluebird's house. If there are eggs, the sparrow pecks holes in them. If there are baby bluebirds, the sparrows kill them by pecking their heads. Then they build there nest on top of the little bluebirds’ bodies. The father bluebird fearlessly goes into the box to do battle with the intruders.
Like the bluebird’s rescue mission, Jesus came into this world, the stronghold of the devil, to rescue His children. He gave His life in the attempt. Because of His love, because of what He has done on the cross, we shall praise Him all through eternity.
2. Why was God specific in prophesying the time when Jesus would come to earth?
By giving a specific timetable for the coming of Jesus, God showed He is in control of the affairs of earth. This also gives believers another “hook” on which to hang their faith. It is an assurance that the other promises of God - including the promise of the sinners’ restoration - are true.
3. What prophecy gives the time of Jesus’ ministry and death?
Daniel 9:24 specifies that the Messiah would appear during the 70 weeks (490 years) prophecy. It is part of the 2300 days/years prophecy.
Nuts & Bolts
Nuts & Bolts
1. What strange symbol did God use in the Old Testament?
1. What strange symbol did God use in the Old Testament?
9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
Why did He use it?
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
2. Let’s look at the Old Testament predictions that were fulfilled in the New Testament
2. Let’s look at the Old Testament predictions that were fulfilled in the New Testament
9 Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread,
Has lifted up his heel against me.
12 Then I said to them, “If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.” So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver.
18 They divide My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.
20 He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.
10 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.
3. If someone who believed the Bible asked you or I to prove that Jesus was truly God, how would you explain His divine attributes?
3. If someone who believed the Bible asked you or I to prove that Jesus was truly God, how would you explain His divine attributes?
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.”
4. People often see that Jesus is called the Son of Man as well. How can we help them to understand that the Bible describes Jesus’ human nature, His human feelings, and that He depended on His Father?
4. People often see that Jesus is called the Son of Man as well. How can we help them to understand that the Bible describes Jesus’ human nature, His human feelings, and that He depended on His Father?
2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.
17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
“He Himself took our infirmities
And bore our sicknesses.”
14 Just as many were astonished at you,
So His visage was marred more than any man,
And His form more than the sons of men;
36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.
35 Jesus wept.
2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
5. Although divine, what sacrifice did He make?
5. Although divine, what sacrifice did He make?
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
6. Christ’s holy nature was extremely sensitive and pained in any contact with evil. Look at this verse.
6. Christ’s holy nature was extremely sensitive and pained in any contact with evil. Look at this verse.
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
7. The Bible says that Christ knew no sin.
7. The Bible says that Christ knew no sin.
22 “Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Obviously, Jesus was not tempted to use drugs. No did He indulge in watching degrading TV programs. So how could he be tempted in all points as you and I are? If you do word studies on the points and tempted, you will find that we tend to put a very personal aspect to this verse. We tend to immediately thing of all the ways that we are individually tempted. Those lists are very much related to modern day things. The word points can be translated: all, all things, every respect, every way, and all points. Also all kinds. The word tempted: testing, has been tempted, has been tested. The ESV states the verse this way
15 For we do not have 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.
The Teacher’s Commentary 157: Heb. 4:14–8:13—Jesus, Our High Priest
Imagine two prisoners of war being tortured to make them do a propaganda radio broadcast. One, after two months, can stand it no longer and yields. The other resists beyond the two months for years, even though the pressures increase. Both learned something of their weakness as the pressures grew. But only the one who continued to resist really knew how weak he was, as he daily had to cope with and overcome his human frailty. Only the one who continued to resist understood the full weight of pain that being a human being involves.
Jesus because of what He endured has been tempted as we are. Just like the prisoner, He was tempted beyond what we could endure and hence He truly knows what it means to be tempted here on this earth. Just because we are tempted with things that He didn’t come in contact here doesn’t make his temptation any less. He succeeded without sinning. We have not! So who knows more about being tempted.
8. The Bible teaches that Jesus is in the heavenly sanctuary now serving as our High Priest. What encouragement can you gain from His ministry there?
8. The Bible teaches that Jesus is in the heavenly sanctuary now serving as our High Priest. What encouragement can you gain from His ministry there?
25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
9. Who Pleads for us if we sin?
9. Who Pleads for us if we sin?
1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
10. Jesus is not only Priest but King.
10. Jesus is not only Priest but King.
His Kingdom actually has 2 aspects. First, the kingdom of grace. It was instituted immediately after Adam sinned. Jesus, when He began His ministry, refereed to this when He proclaimed:
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Second, the kingdom of glory. It will be established when Jesus comes to the second time.
30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Words To Remember
Words To Remember
Incarnate, incarnation God is Jesus becoming a man - the mysterious union of the divine and the human.
Vicarious Suffering in the place of another for that person’s sin.
Impeccability Faultless or sinless.
Propensities Inclination or desire.
The Difference Between
The Difference Between
Aaron’s and Melchizedek’s priesthood. Aaron’s priesthood (Levitical) differed from Melchizedek’s priesthood. Melchizedek, a priest during the time of Abraham, had no recorded lineage in the Old Testament. The book of Hebrews uses him as a symbol of Christ’s priesthood. The book of Hebrews uses him as a symbol of Christ’s priesthood. Aaron and his sons were assigned the priesthood by God himself, and only those of the tribe of Levi were allowed to be priests. So, Jesus could never serve as a priest under these rules as he came from the tribe of Judah and therefore not a levite. Jesus is a priest just like Melchizedek by divine appointment. So by God’s ruling, Jesus could not become our High Priest until He had taken the human nature.
17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
I Truly Believe
I Truly Believe
It was not people who bound Christ against His will - He chose to become a captive in our stead. It was not for His own wrongs that He suffered - it was for our sins that He was shackled. It was not His condemnation that took Him to the cross - it was our sins that caused His death.
Jesus was willing to be condemned and crucified s that you and i can be pardoned, set free, and given eternal life. Have you accepted His great love gift for you?
Think carefully about each of the following statements. If, in your heart, you agree with the concept of each statement, in-bed them there and never forget them.
I thank God that the Bible teaches that Jesus is both divine and human.
I am grateful that the Bible teaches that Jesus ministers as my High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary.
I understand that it was necessary for Jesus to be divine and human to save me.
I love and adore Jesus and claim Him as my Lord and Saviour
With God’s help I am determined to spend time daily with my Bible and in prayer so that I may know my Saviour better.