"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us". John 1:14
John is telling us that Jesus was made man. He was "manifested in the flesh". (1 Tim. 3:16) This is what "incarnation" means. He took human nature upon himself. He did this to save us. He became like us in all things except sin. A woman gave birth to him. He grew up, both in wisdom and stature. (Luke 2:52)
Like us, Jesus got hungry, thirst and tired. He ate, drank and slept. He had our same emotions. He got angry. He grieved. (Isaiah 53:3) He felt compassion. He was tempted. He suffered, died and was buried. He rose again in bodily form.
While Jesus was fully human, he was fully God as well. The blood he shed was the blood of God. (Acts 20:28) The union of Jesus' two natures is a great mystery. It is one we must be careful with. I would even say we cannot fully understand it, so we must be careful how we discuss it.
The two natures of Jesus were not mixed. One did not take over the other. He did not cease to be God when he became man, although his deity was somewhat veiled. He has always been the perfect God and was the perfect man from the moment he was born.
The union of Christ's two perfect natures qualifies him to be the perfect mediatory. As fully human, Jesus is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. As fully God, he can deal with the Father on our behalf.
John is telling us that Jesus was made man. He was "manifested in the flesh". (1 Tim. 3:16) This is what "incarnation" means. He took human nature upon himself. He did this to save us. He became like us in all things except sin. A woman gave birth to him. He grew up, both in wisdom and stature. (Luke 2:52)
Like us, Jesus got hungry, thirst and tired. He ate, drank and slept. He had our same emotions. He got angry. He grieved. (Isaiah 53:3) He felt compassion. He was tempted. He suffered, died and was buried. He rose again in bodily form.
While Jesus was fully human, he was fully God as well. The blood he shed was the blood of God. (Acts 20:28) The union of Jesus' two natures is a great mystery. It is one we must be careful with. I would even say we cannot fully understand it, so we must be careful how we discuss it.
The two natures of Jesus were not mixed. One did not take over the other. He did not cease to be God when he became man, although his deity was somewhat veiled. He has always been the perfect God and was the perfect man from the moment he was born.
The union of Christ's two perfect natures qualifies him to be the perfect mediatory. As fully human, Jesus is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. As fully God, he can deal with the Father on our behalf.
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