Portrait of Jesus Christ - His ‘Humanity’ & ‘Deity’   Philippians 2:1-11

Jesus is the subject.  “Jesus is the reason for the Season.”  Jesus gives us hope for today, tomorrow and beyond the grave.  The bible says, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth…all things were created through Him and for Him” (Col.1:15-16).  That means YOU were created by Him and for Him.  Created for now and eternity!  What a hope we have in Jesus Christ!  I am thankful to be part of the human race. I am thankful for my God given five senses (i.e., sight, hearing, smell, taste, tough), although as I grow older, not what they used to be.  But, in eternity we will have those same five senses in our new glorified bodies and all five will be functioning hundred percent as our creator intended!  Being part of this human race brought free-will.  Our creator loves us so much that He has given mankind, made in His image, the power of free-will.  The power of choice.  The power to accept or reject His one and only Son - Jesus Christ.

One of Jim Elliot's (missionary killed by the Waodani tribe in Ecuador in 1956) famous journal entries, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose," reflecting his missionary life and martyrdom; other popular quotes include, "Wherever you are, be all there," and "When the time comes to die, make sure that all you have to do is die!”  We serve a Savior that was fully God and fully man. Why does Jesus Deity and humanity matter?  As God (Deity), Jesus’ sacrifice atoned for the sin of mankind. As man (humanity), He represents humanity and knows the human experience and struggles.  Jesus as “Son of Man” and “Son of God” bridged the gap created by sin between God and man.  Yes, Jesus came to earth, born in Bethlehem as a little baby - God took on human flesh so that we might be saved!  I love the way 1 Timothy 3:16 expresses it, “God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.” 

700 years before Jesus came to earth the prophet Isaiah prophesied about the coming Messiah and that He would be God in the flesh.

Why it matters?  Unless Jesus was fully God and man you and I could not be saved from our sins. Because he was, we not only can be saved, but we can serve Him with full assurance that He can identify with everything we are going through in our flesh.  We can navigate this wonderful gift of life knowing that Jesus saved us (cf John 3:16) for eternity and know that Jesus ‘gets us,’ even when others don’t. 

What a Savior - Jesus is His name!

Pastor Rodney

Ecclesiastes 12: 9-14