Who is Jesus?
People have debated this ever since his mother laid his precious head on a bed of straw. Was he a prophet? A good person whose example we should follow? Those are easy answers to accept, but what about the claim that Jesus is God? Can Jesus be both God and man?
Finding the truth is critical because it’s the foundation of the Christian faith and part of what sets Christianity apart from every single other religion in the entire world. Because the truth is, he had to be both.
Jesus is the One True God and Jesus knows exactly what it’s like to be human—because he became one of us.
Hi, I’m Lauren Thell, author of Christian YA fiction and blogger for teens who are ready to exceed the world’s expectations.
In This Article
More Than a Man: Jesus is the One True God
Few religions deny that Jesus was truly human, but even fewer believe Jesus is the One True God.
Few religions in the world deny that Jesus was truly human, but even fewer believe Jesus is the One True God. Our limited human minds struggle to grasp how a man could be God and why God would ever humble himself enough to become a man.
We tend to dismiss anything that seems illogical. But God is not limited by human logic.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been madE. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, THE WORLD DID NOT RECOGNIZE HIM. The Word BECAME FLESH and made his dwelling among us. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, WHO IS HIMSELF GOD.”
-Exceprt from John 1, caps added for emphasis
It doesn’t get much clearer than that. Jesus is the Word who became flesh. Jesus is the One True God.
Which means God walked on this earth. To do that, however, he needed flesh and bones.
More Than Just God: Jesus Became One of Us!
“For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.“
-Hebrews 2:17-18
I grew up on a farm, where I was the undisputed shepherdess. I loved my sheep and they came to love me back as much as lowly sheep can. Every day before school—even on the darkest, coldest winter mornings—I went out to the barn to feed and water them before breakfast. I did the same every evening before supper. I talked to them and sang to them. Each of my sheep had a real name chosen from a baby name book. (There were no Fluffys or Baa-Baas in my flock.) They were a big part of my life.
But never once did I wish I could become one.
Yet, Jesus did exactly that for us. He gave up something even greater—his glory and supremacy—to live in a world of pain, death, dirt, evil, and temptation. Why? Couldn’t the God of the universe devise a way that didn’t require him to get his hands dirty?
Maybe, but getting his hands dirty was the point.
More Than a Savior: Jesus Knows Exactly What It’s Like to Be Human
Childbirth is very gritty. I speak from experience; it’s not pretty at all.
Potty training is messy (especially with boys) and not a lot of fun.
Puberty is a very volatile time in a person’s life.
Acne is mortifying when you’re a teen.
First jobs are stressful at any age.
And Jesus went through all these stages.
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.“
Luke 2:6-7
Jesus is the One True God, so he could’ve easily skipped a few steps had he wanted to. He could’ve dropped out of the sky as a full-grown man and skipped all the growing up that the rest of us have to go through to become adults.
Jesus knows exactly what it’s like to be human because chose to bear every part of humanity.
But he didn’t.
Jesus knows exactly what it’s like to be human because chose to bear every part of humanity and get the full experience so he would be better able to empathize with you. Are you dealing with anxiety, sadness, illness, death, or temptation? Jesus understands. He experienced firsthand the grit of life on Earth. He also has one experience no one reading this post can yet relate to: He knows what it’s like to die.
Jesus was born a human, lived as a human, and became the perfect sacrifice to take your place. God cannot die, but man can. God cannot die, but Jesus did. He didn’t simply work your salvation from afar like a kid holding a remote. The Creator of the world set aside his glory to become one of his own.
So, in summary, you have four reasons to rejoice this Christmas season:
- Jesus is the One True God. He’s in control of all things in heaven and on Earth.
- Jesus became one of us. God cannot die, so he had to become a man.
- Jesus knows exactly what it’s like to be human. He can empathize with your struggles.
- Jesus is your advocate before the throne of God. Who better to present your case?
Bring your burdens to him and let these truths carry you into the new year and beyond!
For Further Reading
You don’t have to have all the answers.
But, hey, why not?
Bring me your questions about faith, life, God, the Bible… and I’ll help you find the answers.
See what the Bible says about Jesus, the One True God:
Learn more about Jesus’ experience as a human:
- Luke 2: The most famous and in-depth account of Jesus’ birth.
- Matthew 4:1-11: Jesus faced temptation as well. Such a human experience.
- Mark 14:32-42: Jesus went through a moment of terrible anxiety. It doesn’t get more human than that.
- Hebrews 2:5-18: See the importance of Jesus sharing in our humanity
Fuel your faith with the truth:
Wow the way you put this is a real eye opener. Thank you Lauren God has truley blessed you ❤️
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