Some argue that Jesus was not born as both fully man and
fully God, citing various verses like these to support their views. Yet, it is
crucial to recognize that Jesus was divine from the very moment of His birth,
as declared by angels to Mary and the shepherds. We cannot diminish Jesus’s
divinity simply because we lack understanding of the profound events
surrounding His early life.
The reality of Jesus being both human and divine presents
challenges, particularly regarding His human experience. Throughout His life,
Jesus faced the full spectrum of human emotions. He was deeply affected by His
family dynamics and the struggles of the Holy Land under Roman rule. While His
divine nature enabled Him to navigate these emotional challenges, we must
remember the true purpose of His incarnation: to fully comprehend the human
condition of those He came to save, rather than to merely impress with His
supernatural abilities, which would only serve to elevate His position and
status.
Jesus did indeed showcase His supernatural powers, but
always in a limited and intentional manner, emphasizing that love is far
superior to mere displays of power. In a time when the Jews prioritized
adherence to the law, Jesus revealed that genuine service to God stems from
love—both for Him and for our neighbors. This profound understanding of love
reflects the very heart of God, demonstrating the essence of His mission on
earth.
We cannot ignore the instances recorded in the gospels where
Jesus expressed the pain and passion of human emotions when interacting with
His neighbors, which demonstrates that He wasn’t devoid of feeling and
compassion. With that being said, Jesus did cry out to His heavenly Father,
which is shown in the gospels that Jesus communication with His Father from a
deeply human need for understanding and knowing His Father’s heart for
everything He experienced. Not because He was unaware, but because He was
connected with His Father in a supernatural or celestial way. Jesus was part divine
there is no escaping that fact, but one thing remained which was the payment
for redemption that Jesus had to embrace.
We cannot overlook the powerful examples in the gospels
where Jesus vividly expressed the full range of human emotions during His
interactions with those around Him. This shows that He was filled with feeling
and compassion. Importantly, Jesus frequently cried out to His heavenly Father,
demonstrating His deep human longing for understanding and connection with His
Father’s heart throughout His earthly experiences. His cries were not born from
ignorance but stemmed from a deep, supernatural bond with His Father. While
it’s undeniable that Jesus was part divine, one truth stands firm: He willingly
accepted the profound responsibility of redemption that He had to face, even as
His human nature instinctively struggled against it.
This passage powerfully illustrates the profound love of God
for His people. By choosing to come to earth and take on human form, He
intimately experienced life as we do. Such extraordinary humility is truly
unparalleled in history. This is why the Angel of the Lord, often seen as
representing God Himself, alongside His divine council, appeared to the
shepherds in the fields at night, proclaiming, “Glory to Yahweh in Elyon” (or
“Glory to the God of Israel in the highest heaven”) and “on earth peace among
those” (the term “those” serves as a Messianic title) “whom He is pleased.” God
is being proclaimed as glorified in the highest manner, and now there is
finally peace brought to the earth through God the Son in whom He is pleased. This
is also proclaimed about Jesus when He was baptized by John the Baptist when a
voice came from heaven “You my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased” (Luke
3:22)
I find the passage captivating where it states, “Although he
was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered.” What’s truly
remarkable about this is that numerous Sons of God were designated to govern
over the gentile nations prior to Jesus, and none faced the suffering that He
endured; they never learned obedience from their elevated positions. Instead,
they chose rebellion against God and His people. The same applies to the
accuser known as Satan. They never experienced the human condition, nor did
they confront the myriad pains that come with being human. In fact, they have
never tasted death, for their existence is eternal.
Because Jesus became human and was an embodied divine being,
He encountered what humans experience, the imperfection of the human condition,
not as a celestial divine being, but as a lowly man. You could say that Jesus
who was a deity (perfection), became a man (imperfection) and experience the fallibility
and futility of the human condition to become its salvation. Jesus’s purpose
for coming to earth was to become a means of restoration and redemption for
mankind who was co-opted by another divine being known as the accuser and
deceiver. Jesus was God’s unique Son who was part of the Godhead but lowered
Himself to know us personally and intimately that He might save us to the
uttermost.
Because Jesus became human and was an embodied divine being,
chose to experience the complexities and imperfections of the human
condition—not as a lofty celestial being, but as an ordinary man. This profound
act illustrates how He, who is perfection, willingly embraced imperfection to
fully grasp our struggles, ultimately offering us salvation. His mission on
Earth was one of restoration and redemption; He came to rescue humanity from
the grip of a formidable adversary known as the accuser and deceiver, a rebellious
divine being who robbed mankind of their birthright. As God’s unique Son, a integral
part of the Godhead, He humbled Himself to forge a personal and intimate
connection with us, ensuring that He could save us to the uttermost.
We are drawn back to believing loyalty again, Jesus becomes
the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Again, Jesus lives in the
present tense, not in the past. This is what God always intended from the
beginning, for it says in scripture that Christ existed before the foundation
of the world. It means that when God spoke the world into existence, Christ was
there, for Jesus is the Word of God, but now revealed in a natural man. He was
designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek, this name is a
compound word: Melchi and Zedek or more correctly: Tsedek.
“Let’s take a critical look at
biblical history, starting with Abraham. Abraham worships Yahweh—it's mostly
just him at first, along with his children and a few servants who embrace this
faith. They settle in Canaan because God specifically directed them there,
while the surrounding population consists of Canaanites. Among these people is
Melchizedek, a priest of the Most High God.
Now, consider this thought: what if Melchizedek referred to the Most High God as Tsedek? If you approached him and asked, “Who is the Most High God?” might he reply, “Tsedek!”? This leads us to the conclusion that Melchizedek’s name could mean “My God is Tsedek.” However, this doesn’t necessarily indicate a different deity than Yahweh. It could simply reflect the reality that various names exist for the same God. Scholars are often divided on this nuance, yet one thing is clear: by the time David arrives to establish his reign over Jerusalem, the identity of the God he worships is unequivocal.
The historical records that emerge during and after David’s reign reflect a pronounced theological transformation: they do not merely come, into this city as Yahweh worshipers while acknowledging the Canaanite beliefs around Tsedek. Instead, David proclaims firmly, “We come to declare that the Most High God is Yahweh.” This declaration marks a significant theological transition.
David's assertion is powerful: “We are reclaiming this land, that has been given to our ancestors by Yahweh, the Most High God. This city, Jerusalem, is to be my capital. Chosen by God as king, I will not entertain the names of other deities.” In discussions surrounding the Most High, the term Tsedek is replaced with Yahweh—He rightfully holds the position of the Most High.
It can be complex for us to understand how such a religious system functioned. Perhaps consider how we, today, refer to God: we might call Him God, Yahweh, El, El Shaddai, or even Father. We easily use multiple titles without inferring that we are acknowledging other gods. Now, imagine a historical context where those varied references could suggest multiple deities to different listeners. This was the confusion during biblical times.
The biblical authors recognized this challenge and sought to clarify it through their writings. They made a concerted effort to consolidate terms, taking care to include various names and deities as part of the historical narrative. Their theological stance is clear: they navigate through historical realities while making a compelling argument to unite all these titles under the authority of Yahweh as the Most High God. This merging reflects not just a historical account but an assertion of faith that remains relevant today.” (Melchizedek - adapted from the Naked Bible Podcast-episode 167-part 1b)
Stephen Barnett
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