Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17 NLT
One of the most important truths of Jesus’ identity is that while He was still fully God, He came to earth as fully human. That can be difficult to wrap your mind around, but God knew that only perfectly God and perfectly human Jesus could meet the needs of humankind. It’s hugely significant when I realize that “humankind” is me. It’s you. It’s all of us. It truly matters for me that Jesus willingly became fully human for me. Because He did:
He understands my pain. He didn’t just hear about or witness others’ pain. Jesus felt real grief, loneliness, hunger, thirst, and physical exhaustion. He wept with broken people. He wept in grief when His friend Lazarus died. He prayed and wept when He was preparing for the kind of separation from His Father we cannot even imagine. Jesus knows my pain and tears from personal experience.
Jesus defeated temptation. Satan targeted Him in His humanity just as he does me. Jesus faced hard choices just like I do. He relied on His relationship with His Father and His Father’s strength to say no to sin. He relied on the Word of God and responded with it when temptation was fierce. Jesus shows me how to walk through temptation and win. He is my example and guide for living my own life in obedience and victory.
He saves me completely. Only a human could pay the debt for human sin and restore peace with God. Jesus took my place as a human substitute for me and all of humanity. Jesus was a real human who died a real death on the cross for me as the perfect sacrifice. Then He rose from the dead to give me new life. He broke the power of death over humans. He promised He would be with me forever.
The humanity of Jesus means He “gets me.” He understands me. I can pray with bold trust and confidence. I am never unseen or unnoticed. He is with me in all my experiences. He became “in every respect” like me so He could be a King who identifies with me and walks with me.
- Jesus, thank You for coming into our world and choosing to feel all the joys and heartaches of our lives. You understand my weaknesses, pain, and struggles. When I feel alone or overwhelmed, remind me that You walked this earth, felt these emotions, and won. Give me Your strength today.