Matt. 4:1-11, The Man Christ Jesus (3)

Again, if we ask how the Almighty God could become the weakness of Man, the technical answer is, the virgin birth.  The sinful nature was carried through the earthly parents.  But Christ was conceived through the work of God in an earthly mother, thus protecting Him from the sinful nature.  The Bible calls Him the “last Adam” (1 Cor. 15:45).  As in Adam all became sinners and death was passed to all men, so through the Last Adam, who did not fail the “test” as Adam did, all who come to Him in faith receive life everlasting.

Now we just said that Jesus was protected from the sinful nature.  So, you might think that Jesus did not experience the fullness of temptation.  The “test” He passed was not as real a test as what Adam experienced in the Garden of Eden.  Wrong!

Heb. 4:15 says Jesus was tempted in all “points” as we are, yet without sin.  How can this be since Christ was never married, had no children, no record of a job (though we suspect He was with Joseph in the carpenter shop), and certainly didn’t have my job, and so forth!

Remember that the enticements to sin are three: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life (1 John 2:16).  This is all that is in the world.  Adam in the Garden of Eden experienced these and sinned.  The fruit was good for food (lust of the flesh), pleasant to the eyes (lust of the eyes), and would make him wise like God (pride of life). 

The last Adam experienced these without sin (Matt. 4:1-11).  To turn the stones to bread was a test through His flesh, having not eaten for 40 days.  Would He use His divine power to meet His earthly need?  Or would He do the will of the Father?  Satan showed Him and offered Him all the kingdoms of the earth, a test through His eyes.  Then Satan challenged Jesus to jump from the pinnacle of the temple, an appeal to pride.  Satan even quoted Scripture.  Jesus met every test. 

Remember: the fact He never succumbed to the temptation means He experienced it to the max in every area.  In that way He was “made perfect” (proven fully mature) through sufferings.  This was the Father’s will: For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings (Heb. 2:10).  It was fulfilled in the earthly life of the Son: though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Heb. 5:8-9). 

This is incredible for us to think about. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted (Heb. 2:18).  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:16).

Luke 1:26-38, The Man Christ Jesus (2)

We concluded the previous post with several passages that emphasized the true humanity of the Son of God.  I want to return to the question of “how” this could be?  From Phil. 2:5-8 we saw that the Incarnation required the humility of the Son. He was willing to leave the majesty of heaven and be the Servant to the Father.  But now we should consider what might be the “technical” answer to that “how” question.  For God to be true God and yet become true Man, it required that He be born of a virgin.  Listen to the Bible on this.

Matt. 1:23 (to Joseph): Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, ‘God with us.’  Joseph had nothing to do with the conception and birth of Christ.  Thus, having the Christ child among us was having God among us.

Luke 1:35 (to Mary): And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Mary’s conception, without the any mans help, was a miraculous work of God.  He was uniquely and truly, Son of God (Deity) and Son of Man (Humanity).

·       The EXTENT of His humanity.

Again, let me say: it is hard for God to become Man.  And perhaps even harder for humans, even though we are made in the image of God, to understand this.  The scholars struggle hard to describe what happened.  But what they did do, at least those who came to be understood as “orthodox” (true in their doctrine), was to accept all that the Bible said about Jesus.  Here is perhaps the classic statement of the two natures of Christ (from The Tome of Leo, June 13, 449AD):

Thus the properties of each nature and substance were preserved entire, and came together to form one person.  Humility was assumed by majesty, weakness by strength, and mortality by eternity; and to pay the debt that we had incurred an inviolable nature was united to a nature that can suffer.

As we said, this may be hard to understand.  But it is the testimony of Scripture.

o   God, who never sleeps nor slumbers, who has no need, who is Creator of all things, dwelling in a home where there are no tears, no death.

o   Christ, born a helpless child, growing up in a home, subject to parents, became weary and thirsty and hungry.  He cried and was at times distressed.  He lived in what we would call poverty.  He needed care from others, such as parents and the support of wealthy women.  Above all, He knew death (Phil. 2:8).  THOUGH HE WAS SINLESS!  He knew no sin (2 Cor. 5:21).  He was without sin (Heb. 4:15).  He offered Himself unblemished to God (Heb. 9:14).  He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth (1 Pt. 2:22).  In Him is no sin (1 John 3:5).

Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 10:5-10, The Man Christ Jesus (1)

 We have been given the answer as to how Jesus became true Man.  It is in the first three “steps” down from the place of glorious majesty to this earth:

1 He was in the form of God, in no way less than God.

2 He made Himself of no reputation.

3 He took on the form of a Servant, submitting to the will of His Father.

What was the “will of God” regarding the Incarnation of the Son?  The answer is in Heb. 10:5-10.  To begin with, it was God’s will that He have a body.  As God, He did not have a body because God is Spirit (Jn. 4:24) and a spirit does not have flesh and bones as Jesus had (Lk. 24:39).  Then Hebrews says that with that body the Son came to do the Father’s will.  The rest of the “steps” down in Phil. 2:5-8 tell us about this “will” of God:

4 He came in the likeness of Man (the exact image; truly Man).

5 He humbled Himself.

6 He became obedient to death (obedient to the Father).

7 Even the death of the cross.

Hebrews says God’s will was not that Jesus be a “priest of Israel,” who would offer sacrifices at the temple.  God had something infinitely and eternally greater in mind, that the Son would use His body to be the ultimate, once-for-all sacrifice for sin.  Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed (1 Pt. 2:24).

The question we want to ask and answer from Scripture is this: to what extent did God take on humanity?  As we said before, for God to take on humanity was not an easy thing.  So, how far did He go to be what we are?

·       The FACT of His humanity.  The Bible makes it clear that God became Man!  He assumed a second nature.  Consider the following.

o   John 1:1,14: The Word, who was God, became flesh and dwelt among us.

o   Rom. 8:3: God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.  This is the same term “likeness” as in Phil. 2:7. Jesus did not become sinful because that is not essential to being Human.  Adam was human before he sinned.  What Paul says here is that all humans were sinful, and Jesus was Human just like all those who have populated the earth. 

o   Heb. 2:14: Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same. 

o   John, in 1 Jn. 1:1-2, again stresses the fact of Jesus’ Humanity: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us.

Phil. 2:5-8; Isa. 42:1-9, How God Became Man (3)

 ·       He took on the form of a servant.  Jesus came to serve men.  Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (Mt. 20:28).  Chiefly, He came to serve God.

o   Isa. 42:1: Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights!  I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.  He precisely this was fulfilled at Jesus’ baptism, when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him and He was filled with the Spirit; and His Father declared from heaven that He, Jesus, was His Son in whom He was well-pleased (Mt. 3:13-17).

o   Isa. 53:11: He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.  By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many.  For He shall bear their iniquities.

o   John 4:34: Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

o   John 6:38: For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

o   John 17:4: I have glorified You on the earth.  I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.

So how did God become a Man?  Jesus, not holding tightly to His majesty and glory, emptied Himself of the independent use of His attributes, submitting Himself to His Father.  Thus, as we read in John 3:16: God sent His only begotten Son!

There is to be application to our lives.  Our key passage in Philippians makes this humility of Christ to be the attitude we must have.  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.  We also must not cling tightly to our rights.  We too must be willing to be thought small or insignificant, to be of no reputation.  We too must deny ourselves, take up our cross and He took His, and follow Him.  You cannot have the love of God for those around you without following the example of Christ.  But remember, you cannot love those around you in your own strength, doing the best you can.  What is magnificent is that Christ now lives in the believer.  It is not I but Christ!

Let us also consider what day of the year this is as you read this blog.  We are approaching Christmas and Christmas is all about God becoming Man.  The miracle whereby the Eternal One enters time.  You can’t be saved without walking the way of Christ.  Consider: Job 14:4: Who can make the unclean to be clean?  No one!  Even as it is wonderful for God to become Man, so it is amazing for you and me, sinners, to become righteous.  You can’t do it yourself; you can only receive it.  

Psalm 29

As these words are written we are in Jerusalem where we have been for several weeks.  We arrived the end of January and about a week after we arrived we experienced one of the most amazing things: loud, booming thunder in the midst of a Jerusalem snow storm. 

We are not unfamiliar with majestic lightning and thunder storms from our days in Walsh in SE Colorado where we loved to sit on the front porch and marvel at the displays in the distance, from NE to SE, 180 degrees around.  The flash of lightning would be followed several seconds later by the faint sound of distant thunder.  One night we stood with friends at Holland Lake along the Swan highway of Montana and watched a thunder cloud work its way down a canyon from Upper Holland Lake, setting trees on fire with lightning and then dousing them with the accompanying downpour, and then moving across our lake until it got close, at which point we all ran for the car.  But we had stayed as long as we felt safe just amazed by the display of power and majesty of it all.

To be in the middle of the storm of course increases the sense of power and awe.  The flash of light followed within a second or two by the loud banging and crashing.  Several times in our Montana homes in Lewistown and Kalispell we experienced middle-of-the-night storms like this.  One night lightning split a tree just across the street from our house; the ear-splitting thunder was almost immediate and struck fear. 

That is the kind of thing we recently experienced in Jerusalem: the flash in the window followed almost immediately by the loud thunder.  The storms of this nature seemed to be moving quickly so that the lapse between lightning and thunder grew shorter until it seemed to be right over us, and then longer as it moved on.

The Psalmist seems to be in this very situation of watching a powerful storm pass, perhaps from North (where it splintered the cedars of Lebanon) to Southeast (where it shook the wilderness of Kadesh).  Apparently he even sees a frightened deer in its reaction to all the power of the display.  Verses 3-9 describe the amazing scene, something that could be imagined if David were situated on some of the surrounding hills of Jerusalem.  (Todays Mt. Scopus among others would provide such a vantage point.)

All of this, so far, is not unusual in the sense that perhaps we have all had similar experiences of the display of power and majesty in creation around us.  But let us be clear and careful in understanding the effect of this on the Psalmist.

First, this is a call to worship the Creator.  David begins with a wonderful call to praise (v1-2).  What is seen in the thunderstorm is directly related to God who is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.  We must bow before Him and worship in holiness for He is holy!  David sees the “God of glory” (v3), the omnipotent God (v4).  ALL in His temple of creation, cry “GLORY!”

As we have already seen in Psalms 8 and 19, what we see around us must tell us something about the Creator.  Thus we conclude that our view of “origins” is not a passing interest.  It is fundamental.  For example, those who struggle with a God who would hold men accountable who have not heard the truth of the Bible struggle because they fail to hear the truth of Creation.  There is a clear and in this case, powerful and loud voice that is speaking!  It speaks of the reality of a God of power and majesty who must be worshiped!  We are foolish, as in "stupid," to suppress this truth (Rom. 1:18-23).  And yet this is the approach of many.

Second, this brings comfort and encouragement to those who worship the Creator.  David concludes with this thought (v10-11).  The storm says God is King forever; thus it assures him that God will never lack the power to strengthen and bless His people.  The thunderstorm leaves a residue of blessing in its wake.  Around Jerusalem now, the greening of the desert is just amazing.  The wildflowers are in bloom.  We traveled down to Jericho and then north to Mount Herman this last week and were so blessed by what we saw.  The hills around Jerusalem were just covered with shepherds and their flocks enjoying the green pastures.  To bow before the awesome and powerful God, in reverential fear, brings comfort to those who worship Him.  At the same time it brings fear to those who refuse to acknowledge Him.

The call goes out to all to cry “glory!”  It is especially extended to the “mighty ones” (v1), those who are considered to be people of accomplishment.  Do not be full of yourself.  Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 

Phil. 2:5-8; Col. 1:15-18, How God Became Man (2)

 Our passage tells us how the Son of God did this.

·       He did not consider equality with God robbery, or something to be grasped.  What is the Son had said, “I am God; I live in glory and majesty and I will not leave what is rightfully mind?”  Instead, this is what He said: And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was (Jn. 17:5).  Peter claimed to be an eyewitness of His majesty at the transfiguration when Jesus was arrayed in the glory that was rightfully His (2 Peter 1:16).  John said that Jesus became flesh and they saw glimpses of His glory, the glory of the Only Begotten (Jn. 1:14).  God does not share His glory with any other (Isa. 42:8). 

·       He made Himself of no reputation (He humbled Himself).  The Greek means literally that HE made Himself void, nothing, of no effect.  For clarity, here are some other places that word appears.  In Rom. 4:14 unbelief makes the promise “of no effect.”  There is a promise made, but if the recipients of the promise do not trust God and receive the promise, the promise still exists but it is of no effect.  Again, 1 Cor. 1:17 says that the wise words of men make the message of the cross to have no effect.  If a person says, I will do the best I can and try to please my Creator, this sounds reasonable.  But it is foolish.  A person is a sinner from birth and can do nothing to satisfy God’s righteous requirements.  In the Gospel of Christ, He has taken sin and the punishment for sin for all who believe.  If we accept this by faith, it “works” for salvation.  But if we follow the wisdom of the world, that says do the best you can, then the gospel is of no effect.  It will not “work” for you.  So, Jesus made Himself of no effect.  What does this mean?  Again, Scripture will not allow us to say He ceased to be God.  But rather, as we will see, He laid aside the use of His divine attributes and powers and submitted Himself to His Father.  God never sleeps and has no weaknesses.  Yet Christ, as a man, was tired, had to eat, and even experienced temptation. And yet, on occasion His glory was seen, the powers were evident, as His Father led Him. 

Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 1:1-3, How God Became Man (1)

 (We are approaching Christmas and I always enjoy focusing on the Lord Jesus Christ and His Incarnation.  Lord willing, after Christmas we will hear more from the OT prophets, particularly Ezekiel.)

This is a difficult thing … for God to become Man.

·       The Immortal took on mortality.

·       The Infinite took on limitations.

·       The Invisible took on physicality.

·       Spirit took on flesh.

·       Majesty became humility.

·       Sovereignty became subject.

“He is Wonderful, because in Him the most marvelous extremes meet.  He is the Babe just born, but He is the Ancient of Days who fills space.  He grows in knowledge, but in Him are stored the riches of eternal wisdom.  He hangs in mortal agony upon the Cross, but He gives life to uncounted myriads.  He is laid in a borrowed tomb, but He lives evermore and death hath no power over Him!” (F. B. Meyer)

How could, how did, God become Man?  Let us begin with some “creative” but damning answers …

·       He seemed, appeared to be human.

·       His body and soul were human, His spirit divine.

·       He was born a man and later was promoted to deity.

·       He was an angel, born a man, then exalted to a higher status.

·       Sometimes He was human, sometimes He was divine.

All these are damning because they are not true!  And what you think about Christ is evidence of salvation.  By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.  And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is not already in the world (1 John 4:2-3).

The answer to our question can in no way deny:

Ø His being equal with God, 2:6. “Form” (Grk. morphe) speaks of external appearance.  Theologians have always struggled to talk about this knowing that God has no physical form.  Heb. 1:3 has a stronger term, “hypostasis” meaning exact representation of the invisible God.  The Word, an expression of God, WAS God and WAS WITH God (Jn. 1:1). 

Ø His being in the likeness of man, 2:8.  Again, is this saying He merely looked like man or that He was man, completely, truly.  The Bible insists He MUST BE and WAS full Man.  Therefore in all things He HAD to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people (Heb. 2:17).  For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.  22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive (1 Cor. 15:21-22; He HAD to be as much Man as Adam, not a sinner but fully human).