Jesus Is Man

by Micky Galloway

John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.”

In our last article we noted that John introduces his gospel by declaring that Jesus is God! “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made” (John 1:1-3). He continues, “the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us …” (John 1:14). Jesus’ human nature requires all attributes of humanity to prove His full humanity just as His deity requires all divine attributes to reveal His divinity. Strip Him of either, and you can prove neither! “Sarx [flesh] is thus thought of as having a will – as does a human being: The birth willed by the physical human being corresponds to the conception desired by the person. John 1:14 asserts that, like every person, the Logos [Word] too, took on physical form; it chose the same earthly existence that every human being has, it set up its tent, and it dwelled among us” (Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament). John affirms the Word was made “flesh”!

Indisputable facts about Jesus’ humanity. Jesus was born of woman in Bethlehem of Judah (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1-2, 16; Genesis 3:15; Galatians 4:4). His body was of human flesh. “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare for me” (Hebrews 10:5; 2 Corinthians 5:16; Hebrews 5:7). As such He experienced hunger (Matthew 4:2). He sweated (Luke 22:44). He thirsted (Psalms 69:21; John 19:28). He experienced exhaustion like you do (John 4:6). Jesus said, “My soul is troubled,” disturbed or agitated (John 12:27). His body died (John 19:33) for He had said, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost” (Luke 23:46). It was His suffering at the time of His death that underscores His full humanity (cf. Acts 1:3; 3:18; 17:3; 26:22-23). He suffered mentally and emotionally as you would, in the garden before the cross. “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground” (Luke 22:44).

Why is it so important that we understand that Jesus, the Son of God, “became flesh, and dwelt among us”? Or as Paul stated it, “God was manifest in the flesh” (I Timothy 3:16 KJV)?

As a man, Jesus can sympathize with us and adequately represent us to His Father. “And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (I John 2:1-2). (Please read Hebrews 2:9-18). “For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as (we are, yet) without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help (us) in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16). Let us be thankful that we have such a high priest, “who can bear gently with the ignorant and erring, for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity … Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear, though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered” (Hebrews 5:2, 7-8). He knows the trials of humanity because He also shared in flesh and blood; and partaking of no sin. He truly sympathizes with us.

There is only ONE who is so qualified to mediate on our behalf to God. “For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, (himself) man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all; the testimony (to be borne) in its own times” (I Timothy 2:5-6). It was crucial to John to present that God came into the world, clothed in flesh as a man. He wrote, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the (spirit) of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already” (I John 4:1-3).

Why is it so important that we understand that Jesus, the Son of God, “became flesh, and dwelt among us”? The sin of one man against another can be settled in the civil courts or similar means; but sin against God has no remedy, but Christ who mediates between God and man! This is because He alone is both God and man. Jesus’ coming in the flesh did not make Him any less God, but made Him everything that man is. Paul wrote, “Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient (even) unto death, yea, the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5-8).

In what other way could He accomplish man’s redemption and reconciliation without subjecting Himself to the suffering and temptation characteristic of all men? Jesus prayed in the garden, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me” (Matthew 26:39). There was no other way! The apostle Peter said that, “Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit” (I Peter 3:18). Indeed, He came as God in human flesh!