God Revealed #1: The Greatest Miracle Ever

           “Imagine for a moment becoming a baby again: giving up language and muscle coordination, and the ability to eat solid food and control your bladder. God as a fetus! Or imagine yourself becoming a sea slug – that analogy is probably closer. On that day in Bethlehem, the Maker of All that is took form as helpless, dependent newborn” (Philip Yancey, Disappointment with God, p. 113).

Scripture plainly teaches that Jesus is one person with 2 natures: 100% God and 100% man. 

100% God	100% Man
He is the Creator and was not created (John 1:3; Col. 1:16)	His body had a beginning (Luke 2:7)
“Only-begotten” (John 3:16) does not mean that Jesus had a beginning; rather Jesus is God’s unique Son because only Jesus is fully God and eternally the Father’s Son (John 1:1-3; 14-18; see also Heb. 11:17)
“Firstborn of all creation” (Col. 1:15) cannot mean that Christ was created, because Paul says that ALL of creation was made in and for Christ. He existed before all creation and holds it together (Col. 1:16-17). The “firstborn” traditionally was the main heir (Gen. 25:5-6; 27:35-36; Deut. 21:15-17). In context Paul is saying that Christ, as God’s Son, is the main heir of all creation (Col. 1:12-14).
He is coequal with God the Father (John 5:18; 10:30-33)	He was in subjection to the Father (Matt. 26:39; Phil. 2:5-11)
He is all-powerful (Matt. 8:26-27; 14:19; John 2:1-11, 19; 10:17-18; Heb. 7:16; 1 Tim. 6:16)	He had physical limitations (Matt. 4:2; 8:24; Luke 4:2; 22:44; John 4:6, 7; 19:28-42)
He is all knowing (Mark 2:8; John 2:25; 6:64; 16:30; 21:17)	He grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52; John 16:30; Heb. 5:8)
He is present everywhere at all times (Matt. 8:13; 18:20; 28:20; John 1:48-51; Eph. 1:23)	He could only be in one place at a time (John 16:7)
He is worshiped (Matt. 2:2, 11; 14:33; 21:9; 28:9)	He worshiped the Father (John 17)
He is worshiped by angels (Heb. 1:6)	He received less honor than the angels during His 33 years here on earth (Heb. 2:7-9; see also Phil. 2:5-11)
He is prayed to (Acts 7:59; 1 Cor. 1:1-2)	He prayed to the Father (John 17:1)
He was called God (Matt. 1:23; John 1:1-5; 20:28; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 1:8; 2 Peter 1:1; 1 John 5:20)	He was called man (Mark 15:39; John 19:5)
He was called Son of God (Matt. 17:5; 27:54; Mark 1:1)	He was called Son of Man (John 9:35-37)
He claimed to be God (John 5:18) He claimed to be Yahweh/Jehovah (Ex. 3:14; John 4:26; 8:24, 58-59; 13:19; 18:4; Greek Matt. 14:27; Mark 6:50; Luke 24:39)	He claimed to be man (Matt. 8:20; 9:6)
He is sinless (1 Peter 2:22; Heb. 4:15)	He took upon Himself the sins of the world (John 1:28; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2; see also Mark 1:4; Matt. 3:15)
He cannot be tempted (James 1:13)	He was tempted, yet personally sinless (Matt. 4:1; Heb. 4:15)
He is eternal/immortal (Heb. 7:16; Rev. 1:17-18)	He died (Rom. 5:8)
The fullness of deity dwells in Him (Col. 2:9)	He has a body of flesh and bones (Luke 24:39)

As 100% man, Jesus was just like you and me. He experienced that same sort of things which we do physically. He grew tired; and He slept. “After He fasted 40 days and 40 nights, He then became hungry” (Matt. 4:2); boy, I can’t imagine why ☺. If Jesus was only 100% God then these things would not be, for God does not grow tired nor need anything to sustain Him (Isa. 40:28). Therefore, when we are weak or experience physical limitations, we can know that Jesus has been there too; He understands what we are going through.

Jesus had to grow physically, intellectually, socially and spiritually, just like we do (Luke 2:40, 52). He learned obedience (Heb. 5:8); He did this in just the same way you and I do, through life experiences. Therefore, when we struggle to understand things or are going through difficult times learning various lessons, we can know that Jesus has been there too; He understands what we are going through.

Jesus endured the same sort of temptations we do. Satan tempted Jesus with desires of the flesh: an improper longing for tastes, touches, smells and hearing (Matt. 4:3-4). Satan tempted Him with improper thinking (Matt. 4:5-7). And Satan tempted Him with improper materialism/power (Matt. 4:8-10). All of the commandments find their origin in one of these 3 improper desires.

Thus, Jesus was “tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). Likewise, Jesus can help us overcome temptation (1 Cor. 10:13). “Take courage in this; greater is He who is in you as a Christian than the one who is tempting you” (1 John 4:4).

And Jesus experienced the exact same sort of emotions we do. He marveled about the faith of a Roman centurion (Matt. 8:10). He felt compassion for people who were sick, had diseases and distressed (Matt. 9:35-36). Jesus even wept and mourned deeply at the death of one of His friends (John 11:33-35). Jesus has walked a mile in our shoes emotionally. He cares about us. And He wants us to know that He loves us and is with us through our hurts.

Why would Jesus do all of this? One word: love (John 3:16). Jesus came to earth as a man to give us help in whatever situation we find ourselves in (John 10:10). He came to destroy the works of the devil (Gen. 3:15; Heb. 2:14). He came to liberate us from death (John 11:25-26; 1 Cor. 15:54-58). And He came to make us holy through the forgiveness of sins (Luke 19:10; 2 Cor. 5:21).

Theologian Wayne Grudem said, "It is by far the most amazing miracle of the entire Bible—far more amazing than the resurrection and more amazing even than the creation of the universe. The fact that the infinite, omnipotent, eternal Son of God could become man and join Himself to a human nature forever, so that infinite God became one person with finite man, will remain for eternity the most profound miracle and the most profound mystery in all the universe” (Systematic Theology: p. 563).

More of Him, less of me,

     Matt