Who is Jesus? part 2: Incarnation

In recognizing Jesus Christ, as He revealed himself in Scripture, we must accurately depict both his divinity and his humanity. To misrepresent either is to invent a Jesus differing from the one revealed in his Word.

The Hebrews in the wilderness made a Golden Calf, and called it "the God who led them out of Egypt". To re-frame Incarnate God to suit personal preferences is to create another Golden Calf.

Jesus Christ is divine, in every respect.

He demonstrates attributes possessed only by deity. He calls himself by the same I AM as the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. He hears and answers prayer. He forgives sin. He is Holy. He created the world, and he sustains it. He will judge the hearts of men, and grants eternal life.

God, in the Incarnation, became flesh and dwelt among us. Someone may ask, if He was God, in what sense was He human? In every sense. He is both Fully God and Fully Man.

Jesus, as we know, was not the son of his mother's husband. Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, and she conceived. This is the virgin birth, a cornerstone Christian doctrine. Mary herself was His natural mother (with respect to his human nature). His genealogies were traced through 2 lines, one in Matthew ch 1, and the other in Luke 3. One was through David's son Solomon. The other was through David's son Nathan. Even though Jesus could not have laid claim to Joseph's bloodline, he could factually lay claim to Mary's, thus fulfilling Scripture by being the Son of David.

Although she was his natural mother (with respect to his humanity), she (like his brothers and sisters) has no special spiritual significance. Those who would know Jesus can only know him by way of the new birth, not by his family lineage.

The Incarnation is a strong refutation of the heretical belief that matter has an inherently evil nature, and reaffirms the creation account which repeatedly says "it was good". Jesus returned dignity to His created world, as a promise of what is to come. Sin was the result of a corrupt will, and not a corrupt body.

Some may ask how one born of woman could be born sinless, since we are all under sin. Quite simply, God's word, again and again, attributes the character of a person to his father. This can be seen with references to Adam, Abraham, Satan (when Jesus confronted the Pharisees) , and even God Himself as a father. It should come as no surprise, then, that Jesus carried the same sinless nature as His divine Father, without becoming corrupted by his Humanity.

I have heard a repugnant phrase that should be addressed. Jesus did not enter into his earthly ministry with mere tokenism. He most emphatically did NOT have his humanity as an 'Earth Suit'. He was like us in every way, and yet without sin.

His Incarnation is sometimes known as his Humiliation. Yes he is divine. Yet, he came as the Last Adam to reverse the First Adam's rebellion. He had to succeed where Adam had failed, or he would not be fit as our substitute.

On the one hand, Jesus was completely without sin. He did not, on any account, at any time sin. There is No instance in which he violated by trespass or by neglect the requirement of a moral life.

But to be our righteousness, Jesus had to live a life not merely free of sin, but one that was actively righteous. God's creation had a higher responsibility than simply being 'sin-free'. We (His creation) were created to give Glory to Him, to be actively righteous and obedient. To honor Him fully.

Jesus, you will observe, submitted to be baptized. Why? The baptism was associated with repentance. Jesus obviously had nothing for which to repent, and John himself protested against it. Jesus answered that it was to fulfill all righteousness. The reason: Jesus lived a submitted life. He did only what he saw his Father doing. Though divine, he was also human. He had to be circumcised, eat, learn, grow, pray, weep, and be obedient.

We have established that Jesus' divinity is intact, and not altered by His humanity. Likewise, His humanity is intact, and not altered by His divinity. As a participant in his own creation, he took on the nature of man. Man, obviously is the highest creature within God's creation. Being creaturely, he can only fulfill his role as creature to the degree that he obeys his Creator. This is why the Son's submission is so vitally important. Obedience even unto death on a cross.

Jesus is divine. He has shared Glory with the Father since the Beginning. But He chose to submit Himself to the Father's will, and to do only as He saw the Father doing. Why? Because that's what the First Adam was supposed to have done. Had Jesus done everything else, but remained autonomous in his humanity, he could not have stood in our place. First, because he had not lived the life we ought to have, and second, because it is the primary function of a Creature to submit to his Creator. For someone to fail to submit, it would mean that they were either an impious creation, or not a full participant in said creation.

After His death, resurrection, and Ascention, Jesus was Exalted. He now has such titles as 'Firstborn from the Dead'; Great High Priest; mediator; intercessor. These can be properly understood only if applied to his enduring Human nature. Had Jesus discarded His Humanity at the time of His ascension, and had not risen bodily from the dead, we would believe in vain. But He Is risen!

Remember: There are scriptures which apply to our Lord's Humanity (specifically), and others which apply to His Divinity (specifically).

Some people may try to deny (in particular) His divinity by citing passages relating specifically to His Humiliation. These same people will try to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But I would hope you are prepared to refute them, and to give reason for the hope which is within you.