Do you cringe when you declare “Jesus was fully human”? Many Christians do. We’re afraid that, in saying this, we’re somehow undermining the equally true statement “Jesus is fully God.” But, the truth is, we must recognize the vital role His humanity played in securing our salvation if we want to fully grasp our spiritual inheritance. Hebrews 4:15-16 states: “We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

The high priest in Israel’s worship system was a bridge between the people and their holy God. His service enabled them to be reconciled to the One they depended upon but could not approach on their own because of their sin. As Hebrews 5:1-4 explains, “Every high priest is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. No one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God.”

Jesus was, of course, a high priest of greater significance and power than the high priests who served in Israel before Him. While they had to atone for their own sins and could not stay in the priestly role forever because of their mortality, Jesus “appeared once for all to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26). That’s why, as it says in Heb. 7:25, “He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” As our bridge between heaven and earth, Jesus fully identified with both realms. As the Son of God, He was sinless, but He took on our humanity, becoming the Son of Man, so He could fully experience life from our perspective. Philippians 2 describes Jesus’ incarnation as an “emptying” … a relinquishing of His divine power so He could suffer death for us.

While Jesus’ conception was supernatural, His birth and everything that followed was like any other child entering the world. Luke 2:51 reveals He submitted to parental authority. Growing up, He was subject to the same family hassles we all encounter. His face didn’t look like a fully grown man, which is how the infant Jesus is depicted in paintings during the Middle Ages. If He had a halo around His head, I doubt there would have been any controversy around who He was. His Nazarene neighbors obviously saw Him as just one of them. Mark 6:2-3 records their reaction when He began to teach in their synagogue: “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles … Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?”

By coming to earth in human flesh, Jesus was subject to the same discomforts, temptations, and challenges we all face. He had to learn obedience through the things He suffered (Hebrews 5:8). He submitted himself to the will of the Father, as we must do. Like us, He prayed for wisdom and strength to face the challenges that arose during His years of ministry. He told His disciples in Matt. 24:36 that He didn’t know the day or hour of His second coming … that was something only the Father knew. Jesus grew tired and had to rest. He felt love, joy, and peace, as well as disappointment, anger, sadness, distress, and anguish—the full range of human emotions we’re acquainted with. No human can ever say to Him, “you don’t know how I feel!”

As our perfect High Priest, Jesus offers us the chance to become all that God intended for us to be when He created us in the beginning. In Him we’re set free from the effects of sin that have marred human history for thousands of years, enabling us to become God’s image bearers again. In a sense, Jesus dignified our condition as human beings and showed us a better way to live within the limitations of a human body. Through Him, we’re restored to a place where we can commune with God again and enjoy His company, as Adam and Eve did before the Fall. Knowing our sin is dealt with and we are now members of God’s family, we’re free to share in the inheritance Jesus secured for us by His life, death, and resurrection.

A. W. Tozer, in his book No Greater Love, explains it this way: “Jesus became man not by stepping down from deity into manhood, but by taking up manhood into God. He humbled himself but He did not degrade himself. At the incarnation, Jesus became all that man is except sin, but in doing that, He took man up into all that God is except deity. This is why He was among us. He is the firstborn among many brethren. The little brother was lost, so the firstborn went to find him.”

Jesus told His disciples in John 15:14-15, “You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

Being privy to the master’s business is a big deal. In His desire to share what He’s learned with us, Jesus’ life of sacrifice did far more than just grant us forgiveness for sin. The apostle Peter writes in his letter (2 Peter 1:3-4): “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world.”

As His adopted siblings, we’re brought into full partnership with the Father and Son. We’re invited to roll up our sleeves and work alongside Jesus in the power of His Spirit to build the Kingdom. It’s both an awesome privilege and enormous responsibility. How wonderful to realize that He will provide the wisdom, courage, and giftings we need to venture forth in faith. “For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:16-18).

If you feel besieged by life’s painful trials and are fearful about the future, take heart. Jesus, the Overcomer, knows what we face. He has promised to meet our every need and bring us safely home. So let’s turn our eyes away from ourselves and our sin-sick world, fixing our eyes firmly upon our Savior. John Newton writes of Him: “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds, in a believer’s ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, and drives away his fear.” 

Thank you, Lord, for becoming one of us. We know that all your human trials are behind you now. You’re seated in the heavens, reigning as exalted King and Lord! But we also know how important your humanity was … and is … for our salvation and walk of faith. Help us to take you up on your offer of friendship. May we partner with you in building God’s kingdom on earth. We’re profoundly grateful for all you have done in our lives. Change us, Lord, into your image, we pray. Amen.