“God or Man?”

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

What does it mean that Jesus was fully God and yet fully man?  Wouldn't this mean that He knew He had to go to the cross?  How could He bear that pain?

Sincerely, Fully Perplexed

Dear Fully Perplexed,

The phrase ‘fully God and fully man’ is not a Bible phrase, but it is accurate.  It means that He was 100% man and 100% God at the same time.  The Bible clearly states that Jesus was a human in every way that we are.  He began life as a child (Lk 2:7), faced physical hunger (Matt 4:2), bled real blood (Jhn 19:34), and wept real tears (Jhn 11:35).  Even in spiritual things, He was human – being tempted as we are (Heb 4:15), having to rely on the Father for His power (Matt 26:53), even admitting some things were outside of His knowledge (Matt 24:36).  In every way, Jesus was completely human as He walked this earth.

Yet, the Scripture is just as clear in saying that Jesus was and is fully God.  Jhn 1:1 says He created the heavens and earth.  Jesus admits He existed before Abraham (Jhn 8:58).  He is given the name Immanuel (Matt 1:23) which literally means ‘God is with us’.  There can be no mistake… Jesus is wholly God and wholly man.

Of course that doesn’t mean we understand how that works.  It just means that is what God says.  Some concepts are so complex that we cannot fully appreciate their intricacies in this life.  Some details and secrets belong to God alone (Deu 29:29).

So Jesus, fully man and fully God, went to the cross.  He did so knowingly (Mk 8:31), voluntarily (Jhn 10:17-18), and with love for mankind in His heart (Jhn 15:13).  Such generosity, selflessness, and mercy could only come from God Himself.

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