The Humanity of Christ

"The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that He sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding."   -Martin Luther, Table Talk.

Many people will tell you that Christianity is no different than any other world religion. If your children, or grandchildren take a world religion class in college, more than likely, the professor will tell them that there is no difference between the Christian God, and the gods of other religions. They will say that all religions are essentially the same. Well, they’re almost right. You see, all world religions are essentially the same. That is, all of them except one.

Every religion in the world—whether you’re talking about Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Mormonism, Paganism, or New Age—every religion in the world requires man to do something to work his way up to God. He has to achieve. He has to earn his way into some type of relationship with the deity. As a matter of fact, it’s not even a relationship with God. It’s actually becoming God. That's the thing that all religions have in common. They all require man to do things in an attempt to become divine. To become God. All of them except one. All of them except biblical Christianity.

You see, the goal of Christianity isn't to become God. It's to have a relationship with Him. God is God, and we’re not. And we never will be. We never can be. God is far too holy, perfect, righteous, just, pure and powerful for us to even imagine, much less attain. There's nothing we could ever hope to do to become God. We’re too frail, and imperfect, weak, and unfair. We could never become God, that’s why He had to become man.

God had to become man, not so we could become God; but so we, in all of our sin and imperfection, could have a relationship with Him. In order that God might have a relationship with us, His Son stepped down from His throne in heaven and became man. Jesus came to earth as a man because God desired to have a relationship with us. And when we see that, I'd us all to celebrate this Christmas knowing we have that relationship with Him.

In order to do that, we will look at the three relationships God desires with us. The first relationship He desires is a human relationship. Yes, God desires a human relationship with us. God is holy. He is high and lifted up. He is righteous. He is all powerful. He is all knowing. He is everywhere at once. He is infinite. That’s who He is. He is perfect. No words can accurately describe how far God is above man.

Because God is holy and perfect, He cannot tolerate profane and imperfect things in His presence. If He did, it would take away from His holiness. He would be tainted. So, how can an infinitely holy God have a relationship with weak, sinful and frail people like you and me? He can, because our relationship isn't based on what we bring to the table. It isn't based on anything we've earned.  Anything we do to earn a relationship with God is a stench in His nostrils. Our best effort falls that short of His holiness.

Our relationship isn't based on what we bring to the table. It’s based on what He brought to the table. His holiness, His righteousness is embodied in the person of His Son Jesus Christ. When Jesus saves us, He clothes us in His righteousness. So, if you’re saved, when God the Father looks at you, all He sees is His Son. He doesn't see your imperfections and frailties. He doesn't see your sin—He’s forgiven that as far as the East is from the West. All He sees is His Son. His righteous Son. His holy Son. But how does it all work?

God desires a human relationship with us, so He became a man. But if Jesus was only a man, He wouldn't have been able to be our Savior. So secondly, God also desires a holy relationship with us. Jesus cleanses us of our sins and clothes us in His holiness; the holiness He has as God the Son. But a holy relationship and a human relationship sounds like two different things. How can we put those two together? Because God also desires a holistic relationship with us.

By holistic, I mean that He desires a complete, total, whole relationship with us. If God had only sent us a man, He could have only sympathized with us, not save us. If God had only come to us as God, He could have only come to judge and condemn us, not save us. But God came down to us as both! He sent His Son Jesus Christ to be born of a virgin as a total man. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to be conceived of God the Holy Spirit, as God the Son, but fully God. Jesus Christ is both 100% God and 100% man!

I know this all might sound a little confusing. But, my God is powerful enough to do anything. He’s a whole lot more powerful than I am smart. I don’t have to understand everything. But I know that's the only way He could save us. That's the only way He could have a relationship with us without tainting His holiness.

What we celebrate at Christmas is an awesome event. We celebrate the fact that over 2000 years ago, the infinite creator God stepped into history. He stepped into time that He created but is not bound by. He reached down through His infinite power, majesty, might, and glory. And, He cried that first helpless cry of a newborn baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. He was fully God; and He was fully man!

John 1:10-13 says, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Jesus grew up, lived, and taught for 33 years. Most of the people rejected Him. Rejected Him to the point of hanging Him on a cruel Roman cross. But that was God’s plan all along. The baby whose birth we’re celebrating was born to die. He was born to die so you wouldn't have to. He was born to die, so you could have a relationship with our God Almighty.

But, not only was He born to die, He was born to live again! And He lives today, seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us, and making relationship possible between us and God the Father. Do you have a relationship with Him today? The relationship that Jesus provides is free to you. He paid all that could ever be paid when He gave His live on Calvary. He was born to die so that you, and I might live.

Scripture: Matthew 1:22-1:25; Luke 2:7; Deuteronomy 18:15; 2 Samuel 7:12; John 6:40-41 

Prayer: Dear Lord, let your joy be always in us, your children. Let your joy bring light and peace to our lives, no matter what happens around us. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Laura