Fully God and Fully Man
Jesus Christ is not only fully God, but He is also fully man. He experienced hunger and thirst, loneliness, and the pain of betrayal and rejection. He suffered the humiliation of hanging naked upon the cross. He experienced temptations. He at real food, cried real tears at the death of a friend and lost real blood during his crucifixion. Even his resurrection was physical. Jesus Christ was fully man.
What does it mean to us that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man?
1. Because Jesus is God, He is worthy of our worship. We should treat Him as God, with reverence and respect. Jesus is not our buddy; He is our Lord.
The Lordship of Jesus means allowing Him direction over every area of our life: not only our religious worship and our private devotions, but our career, our family, our finances, our attitudes. Knowing Christ should affect our relationship with others and what we watch on television. Giving Christ control of these areas isn’t what gets us into heaven; [giving Christ control] is a response to our eternal relationship with Him. He is your powerful Lord, Love Him, Worship Him.
2. Because Jesus is God, He is able to handle all of our problems. There is nothing we face that God cannot overcome. Jesus is the “I AM” who can do all things. Jesus claims that He is able to make all things work for good in our life (Romans 8:28). In fact, He is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20, NIV). As you get to know Jesus better, I hope you will see that He has the power to do in your life what He promises.
3. Because Jesus is God, He was able to reconcile us to God. Jesus is more than a friend. He is our Savior.
4. Because Jesus is fully man, He is able to identify with all of our needs and problems. There is nothing we go through that He cannot understand: “Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:18, NIV). By living among us, Jesus perfectly understood all that we feel.
5. Jesus’ identity as fully man affirms our humanity. We do not become more Christian by becoming less human. God created us in his image and wants us to enjoy life with all of its possibilities. He gave each of us talents and abilities that He wants us to develop.
This does not mean that following Christ will make you healthy and wealthy (though it will make you wise!).
There will be personal sacrifices. You may have to give up what is comfortable: an old lifestyle, private habits, a career path, financial success, even your life. But allow Jesus’ teaching in your life, learning from Him, leaning on Him. It’s what makes life great.http://www.startingwithgod.com/new-life/jesus/
