I'm so glad to have someone say these things I've thought about for years. Reading this did bring another thought. If Jesus were not fully human the resurrection part would have been meaningless: if He's God the miracle is that He died; if He's human the miracle is that He rose from the dead. ?
I’m really glad to read your contemplations here, Pete, and wish this had been more deeply explored when I was in seminary!!
No, I don’t blame you, not really. But considering Jesus’ humanity/sinlessness, as having meaning/weight exclusively in the context of PSA appears fairly narrow and seems to dehumanize him.
You said "I find it a bit amusing and also hopeful that at my stage of life I find myself still asking afresh, “Who is Jesus, resally?” I don’t think that’s a question that should ever be shelved, for we are talking about the mystery of God. (yes you did put that typo in!)
Who is Jesus really? He is our example that we should follow.
This is something I have addressed in my series of posts on the Birth of Christ- I will quote a bit as I think it relevant and would love your comments on it.
... we first need to address the important question: “why didn’t Jesus just come to Earth as a full-grown man, as had previously occurred?” (Gen 14:18-20, 18:1-3, 32:24-30)
By being begotten by the Holy Spirit in Mary, and carried by her for nine months, Jesus experienced being a man to the greatest extent possible- from conception to death. And in so doing, he showed us a complete example of how to live, which we can totally empathise with. (Heb 5:9, 12:2, Rom 8:29, 1Cor 15:49)
The ironic thing, however, about God’s becoming a man, is how truly unexceptional it actually is: As God made us in his image (Gen 1:26-28) it’s obviously no strange or difficult thing for God to then be made in our image, as it’s actually his image anyway!
By Jesus living a life as a physical man, it demonstrated the complete compatibility that God and Man have. It was showing us that physical and mortal human beings, can be changed to immortal spiritual beings that are actually one with God! (1Cor 15:53-54, John 17:21-23)
This was clearly shown by Jesus when, after being born in a physical mortal body, he was then resurrected after his death into an immortal spiritual body. (Phil 3:21) This opened the way for all human beings, in the image of God, to be made into spiritual beings that are one with God. Jesus was resurrected to eternal spiritual life with God- which is as he had been before his human birth. (John 1:1-3, 17:5, 17:24)
In going through this sequence of events from (A) immortal spirit being, to (B) physical being, and then (C) back to immortal spirit being again, he demonstrated the process that also enables all physical mortal beings to become one with God. (Rom 8:29-30, Heb 2:11-15)
He is our trail blazer, so that we also may be born onto his plane of existence- as eternal spiritual members of his Godkind- the actual children of God, who are to be one with God. (Col 1:15-18, Rev 1:5-6)
In completing this cycle of life, Jesus was fulfilling the entire purpose for mankind having been initially made in the very image of God. (Gen 1:26-27, 1Cor 15:20-23)
Great discussion Pete. I've always had similar questions regarding the Venn diagram of Jesus: fully human and fully God. Where are the overlaps and what are the boundaries? When Jesus was "lost" in the temple and carrying on a theological discussion with the teachers of the law, I've always wondered, as implied by the text, where did Jesus get this knowledge. Is this a case of the overlapping area of the Venn? I don't know but like you concluded, I'm really happy to lean into the mystery of God and intrigued to the point of ever exploring. Thanks for this substack Pete
I'm so glad to have someone say these things I've thought about for years. Reading this did bring another thought. If Jesus were not fully human the resurrection part would have been meaningless: if He's God the miracle is that He died; if He's human the miracle is that He rose from the dead. ?
I’m really glad to read your contemplations here, Pete, and wish this had been more deeply explored when I was in seminary!!
No, I don’t blame you, not really. But considering Jesus’ humanity/sinlessness, as having meaning/weight exclusively in the context of PSA appears fairly narrow and seems to dehumanize him.
I would love a further discussion on this.
Thanks Pete
You said "I find it a bit amusing and also hopeful that at my stage of life I find myself still asking afresh, “Who is Jesus, resally?” I don’t think that’s a question that should ever be shelved, for we are talking about the mystery of God. (yes you did put that typo in!)
Who is Jesus really? He is our example that we should follow.
This is something I have addressed in my series of posts on the Birth of Christ- I will quote a bit as I think it relevant and would love your comments on it.
... we first need to address the important question: “why didn’t Jesus just come to Earth as a full-grown man, as had previously occurred?” (Gen 14:18-20, 18:1-3, 32:24-30)
By being begotten by the Holy Spirit in Mary, and carried by her for nine months, Jesus experienced being a man to the greatest extent possible- from conception to death. And in so doing, he showed us a complete example of how to live, which we can totally empathise with. (Heb 5:9, 12:2, Rom 8:29, 1Cor 15:49)
The ironic thing, however, about God’s becoming a man, is how truly unexceptional it actually is: As God made us in his image (Gen 1:26-28) it’s obviously no strange or difficult thing for God to then be made in our image, as it’s actually his image anyway!
By Jesus living a life as a physical man, it demonstrated the complete compatibility that God and Man have. It was showing us that physical and mortal human beings, can be changed to immortal spiritual beings that are actually one with God! (1Cor 15:53-54, John 17:21-23)
This was clearly shown by Jesus when, after being born in a physical mortal body, he was then resurrected after his death into an immortal spiritual body. (Phil 3:21) This opened the way for all human beings, in the image of God, to be made into spiritual beings that are one with God. Jesus was resurrected to eternal spiritual life with God- which is as he had been before his human birth. (John 1:1-3, 17:5, 17:24)
In going through this sequence of events from (A) immortal spirit being, to (B) physical being, and then (C) back to immortal spirit being again, he demonstrated the process that also enables all physical mortal beings to become one with God. (Rom 8:29-30, Heb 2:11-15)
He is our trail blazer, so that we also may be born onto his plane of existence- as eternal spiritual members of his Godkind- the actual children of God, who are to be one with God. (Col 1:15-18, Rev 1:5-6)
In completing this cycle of life, Jesus was fulfilling the entire purpose for mankind having been initially made in the very image of God. (Gen 1:26-27, 1Cor 15:20-23)
Great discussion Pete. I've always had similar questions regarding the Venn diagram of Jesus: fully human and fully God. Where are the overlaps and what are the boundaries? When Jesus was "lost" in the temple and carrying on a theological discussion with the teachers of the law, I've always wondered, as implied by the text, where did Jesus get this knowledge. Is this a case of the overlapping area of the Venn? I don't know but like you concluded, I'm really happy to lean into the mystery of God and intrigued to the point of ever exploring. Thanks for this substack Pete