The Human Nature of Jesus

I believe for many of us, when we think of Jesus we often forget the human nature of Jesus and are automatically attracted to the great miracles he had done such as raising Lazarus from the dead, feeding the 5,000 with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fish, or the most important miracle of all; how he overcame death and rose again on the third day. All the glorious things He had done while on this earth sometimes overshadow the human nature of Jesus that is revealed through God's Holy Word. What does the Bible teach us about the human nature of Jesus?

 

One human nature of Jesus that we must never forget is He could have sinned just like anyone of us do everyday, but never did. The Bible teaches that Jesus was tempted by Satan and He overcame those temptations in order to help us through our temptations. Also, a sinless sacrifice was the only way Jesus could become the "perfect sacrifice", pay for our sins, and become the mediator between God and man.

Matthew 4:1 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' " 7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' " 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

 

Hebrews 2:18 18 Because He himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

 

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

How often do you get angry? For some of us, we get angry too often and for the wrong reasons. This is when anger becomes a sin, but Jesus also got angry; but his angry was justified and was not a sin. The human nature of Jesus came through when He cursed a fig tree for having no fruit and when He drove the merchants out of the Lord's temple.

 

Mark 11:12-1712 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it. 15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: " 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations' ? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.' "

Love and friendship are a human bond that most of us long-for and require for mental health. The human nature of Jesus made these human emotions a necessity for Him as well. His relationships with those that were close to Him were just as real and powerful to Jesus as they are to you and I.

John 11:5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus
Rejection is a human emotion that none of us enjoy. This was no exception for our Lord Jesus Christ. The human nature of Jesus allowed Him to feel rejection just like everyone else. Jesus was rejected by many of His own followers and felt the whole world hated Him because of His triumph over evil.

John 7:7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.

John 6:66-67 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.

Jesus was very sad when tragedy struck Him in His life. He cried just as you and I do!

John 11:33-3633 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"
Jesus became tired, hungry, and thirsty just like you and I.

John 4:6 6 Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

Matthew 4:2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.

John 19:28 28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."

The last biblical evidence of the human nature of Jesus that I would like to share are the ones that I feel are most important! When Jesus willingly went to die on the cross for the sins of the world, just like any other man, He felt sorrow and fear and knew that He would suffer and feel the pain of this most gruesome death. I believe that Jesus was afraid because He knew the suffering and pain that He must endure would be enormous. However, His love for us and the sorrow he felt knowing that all mankind would have eternal separation from God the Father was the motivation that kept Him going!

Luke 19:41 As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it,

Matthew 26:38-39 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Matthew 16:21 21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

We should remember that Jesus is God and is our Lord by right! But, we should respect Jesus for more than just being God. We should respect Him for successfully doing something that no other human being past, present, or future will ever do. That was to set the example and live the perfect life for everyone to follow!

Please praise Him!

by James Apple Jr.

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