Jesus is both God and Man
Day 19
by Gini Crawford, MSW
God took on flesh
What has always amazed me was not that Jesus is God, but that He was willing to take on flesh and blood to become one of us so He could die for us.
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things ... Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might ... make propitiation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:14a, 17 ESV®
Let's try to understand what it means that the God of the Universe became man, if that is possible. I have this rubber ball that looks like the world. I can do whatever I desire with the ball such as crush it in my hand. God has much more power than that over us, our world and over the entire universe. His power, knowledge, wisdom and so on are so infinite compared to ours. He spoke the world and everything in it into existence. I can't even begin to comprehend how He could have created perfection, diversity, beauty and the science of everything that is so complex we still don't really understand a lot about it. God's creation is so awe-inspiring even with the effects of sin upon it. I guess what I am trying to stress (and not doing a very good job), is that God is so above us, yet He willingly stepped way, way down to our level out of love for us and become one of us.
I have heard people give the example that for God to become one of us would be like for us to become an ant. I can see where that is a sensible deduction, since God is so above us. Yet can any illustration really come near to what it was like for God to become man. I think you would agree that whatever example we use for God becoming human, the conclusion you have to come to is, that it was a huge sacrifice. Amazing love our God has for us, isn't it?
Five years old Faith attended a Bible Club in Africa. On the first day, the children were taught about Jesus Who is God, becoming a man, to die on a cross for their sins. After the club little Faith headed home singing about what Jesus did. King David loved God and sung His praises too. (Psalm 18:1-3). Does Jesus becoming man for your sake make you want to sing?
Life Application
Jesus our suffering Servant
Paul, the author of Philippians, seemed to recognize what it meant for God to be in our likeness, and what a sacrifice it was for Him. Paul's insights are spelled out in Philippians 2:6-8. Remember God's Word is inspired by Him, so we could say, God is explaining to us what it meant for Him to become one of us in this passage (2 Peter 1:20-21). Speaking of Jesus it says,
...who, although He existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:6-8 NASB1995®
I have broken up the above passage into three phrases so it will be easier to understand: In Philippians 2:6 the phrase "although He existed in the form of God" - the Greek word "form" refers to the outward expression which a person gives of his inmost nature. In other words, "form" means that Jesus had God's nature and character (John 14:7–11). In Philippians 2:7 the phrase "but emptied Himself" - the Greek word "emptied" means to empty oneself, to divest oneself of rightful dignity by descending to an inferior condition, to humiliate oneself. In Philippians 2:7-8a the phrase "taking the form of a bond-servant and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man" - means when Jesus took on the new inmost nature of a man at His incarnation, His outward expression as a man was that of a servant.
As you noticed Paul uses the word "form" twice in this passage. What Paul wanted us to realize Jesus had two natures after His incarnation, that of absolute deity and absolute humanity. After His resurrection, He laid aside His form as a suffering servant, but He still remains fully God and fully Man for the rest of eternity.
This passage has the incredible truth of what God sacrificed for us: Jesus willingly emptied Himself of His self-interests and rights, but not His deity, and descended to an inferior condition when He became a man. He let go of His glory as God. When we reflect on Who Jesus is, and that the hosts in heaven instantaneously fall down and worship Him, I think we can get a glance of how much He gave up to save us (Revelation 5:6-14). Who would imagine the Creator, the Sovereign King of the universe, would sacrifice so much because of love. Read Philippians 2:1-8. Are you willing to love and serve the God Who loves and serves you?
As I wrote this I was thinking, "God willingly gave up what was rightfully His when I needed Him too. How often am I willing to give up my rights, my self-interests, when others need me too?" To be frank, not as much as I should. How about you?
Thinking of what Jesus did for me produces a peace, hope and confidence in me, because of His genuine and unconditional love for me. You too?
Reflect on Philippians 2:6-8.