Because we focus so much on Jesus as the Son of God, we often forget to consider that Jesus was also human.
In fact, Jesus often referred to himself as the “Son of Man” as evidenced in all four gospels. The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews provides us with an important reminder of Jesus’ humanity and why it is so important to hold Jesus’ dual nature (both human and divine) together.
In the letter, the author explains that Jesus’ ministry was to people, not to angels. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, (Heb 2:17a).
Jesus became like us in every respect (except that Jesus did not sin). Pause for a moment and reflect on what this really means. Jesus was God and existed already at the time of creation. However, Jesus left his home in the heavens and came to earth in a human body.
That body restricted him in ways God is not restricted: in a human body, Jesus could only be one place at a time. God is everywhere all the time. As a person, Jesus would know hunger, thirst, fatigue, sore muscles, aching feet, stomach upset, and so on.
God cannot experience these things.
Jesus also experienced death of friends, betrayal, insults, and scorn. Then too Jesus experienced terrible pain as his back was torn open with whips, his brow was pierced with thorns, and his hands had nails driven through them. Finally, he died. All of these experiences can be known by another human being, but God cannot experience them. God cannot die.
Since Jesus shared our human condition, Jesus can also understand us fully when we present our worries, pain, and failures to him. We don’t need to be afraid to ask God for help (even if our suffering is our own fault) because Jesus, who lived in a human body, sits at the Father’s right hand and intercedes for us. God is not indifferent to our suffering and can be a very present help in times of trouble.
Jesus understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4:15-16 NLT).
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Nancy Frey serves as pastor of Listowel Mennonite Church.
