The Significance of Jesus' Humanity for Our Faith

Jesus is Fully Human: Understanding the Humanity of Christ

As Christians, we believe that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully human. However, it can be tempting to focus on his divinity and overlook his humanity. In this article, we will explore the significance of Jesus' humanity and its implications for our faith.

The Humanity of Jesus in the Bible

The Bible affirms that Jesus was truly and fully human. In the Gospel of John, we read that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). This means that Jesus, who was previously with God and was God (John 1:1), took on human nature and lived among us. He experienced the limitations and vulnerabilities of human life, including hunger, thirst, fatigue, and temptation.

The New Testament writers affirm Jesus' humanity in various ways. The writer of Hebrews notes that "since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity" (Hebrews 2:14). The apostle Paul writes that Jesus "made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" (Philippians 2:7). These and other passages affirm that Jesus was not an apparition or a phantom, but a real human being who lived and walked among us.

Jesus' humanity is also evident in his emotions. He experienced joy (Luke 10:21), sadness (John 11:35), anger (Mark 3:5), and compassion (Matthew 20:34). He wept at the death of his friend Lazarus (John 11:35) and agonized in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-39). These emotions demonstrate that Jesus was not a distant or detached deity, but a real person who experienced the full range of human emotions.

The Significance of Jesus' Humanity

Why is it important that Jesus was fully human? There are several reasons why this aspect of his nature is crucial to our faith.

Identification with Humanity

Jesus' humanity enables him to identify with us in our struggles and weaknesses. As the writer of Hebrews notes, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin" (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus understands our struggles because he experienced them himself. He understands our pain because he felt it himself. He understands our temptations because he faced them himself. This enables us to approach him with confidence, knowing that he understands and sympathizes with us.

Redemption of Humanity

Jesus' humanity also plays a crucial role in our redemption. As Paul writes, "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22). Jesus became human in order to redeem humanity. He lived a sinless life and died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. His humanity made it possible for him to represent us before God and to take our place on the cross. As the writer of Hebrews notes, "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil" (Hebrews 2:14).

Exaltation of Humanity

Finally, Jesus' humanity has implications for our future exaltation. As the apostle John writes, "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2). Our future glorification is linked to Jesus' humanity, as he is the "firstborn among many brothers and sisters" (Romans 8:29). Because Jesus is fully human, we can look forward to a future in which we, too, will be fully human and fully alive.

The Humanity of Jesus and the Challenges of our Time

Understanding and affirming the humanity of Jesus is especially important in the context of our current cultural moment. In a world that is increasingly skeptical of objective truth and absolute values, it can be tempting to downplay or deny the humanity of Jesus. Some may argue that Jesus was merely a moral teacher or a symbol of human potential, rather than a real person who lived and died in history.

However, this view is at odds with the witness of the Bible and the testimony of the church throughout history. The reality of Jesus' humanity is a non-negotiable aspect of our faith. As the apostle John writes, "This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God" (1 John 4:2).

Furthermore, affirming the humanity of Jesus has implications for how we view our own humanity and the humanity of others. If Jesus became human in order to redeem humanity, then every human being has inherent value and dignity. As the Psalmist writes, "What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor" (Psalm 8:4-5).

Recognizing the humanity of Jesus also means recognizing the humanity of those who are marginalized and oppressed in our world. If Jesus identified with the weak and vulnerable, then we are called to do the same. As the apostle Paul writes, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others" (Philippians 2:3-4).

Conclusion

The humanity of Jesus is a crucial aspect of our faith. It enables him to identify with us in our struggles and weaknesses, it plays a crucial role in our redemption, and it has implications for our future exaltation. In a world that is increasingly skeptical of objective truth and human dignity, affirming the humanity of Jesus is more important than ever. May we always remember that Jesus was not only fully God, but also fully human, and may this truth shape our lives and our relationships with others.