Jesus Christ's humanity is evident in His physical and mental exhaustion, needing rest as seen when He slept during a storm, trusting His Father's care. Born of a woman through a divine miracle, He lived as flesh and blood, subject to human conditions, growing up as a carpenter, and facing trials like fasting and temptation. His suffering in Gethsemane and at the crucifixion highlights His human loneliness and pain. Despite limitations, He served tirelessly, healing, feeding thousands, and washing disciples' feet, showing patience and non-retaliation. His sinless life offers a perfect example. As Philippians 2:6-7 states, He emptied Himself, taking a servant's form, truly sharing in humanity's likeness.

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The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Stilling a Storm

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

Jesus Christ's humanity is vividly displayed in His physical and mental exhaustion after a day of significant teaching and testing. Despite being sought by concerned friends, His mother, and half-brothers, and facing accusations of being demon-possessed, He unselfishly gives Himself to serve others. The large crowds continue to gather around Him, prompting Him to instruct His disciples to take Him to the quieter region of Perea across the Sea of Galilee. Once on board the small boat, Jesus falls asleep on a pillow, showing His human need for rest. Even as a sudden storm terrifies the disciples, His complete trust in His Almighty Father's care and protection allows Him to remain peacefully asleep, demonstrating both His human vulnerability and His deep reliance on divine strength.

Was Jesus Christ Born Under the Law?

'Ready Answer' by Earl L. Henn

Thelel, in his deceit, seeks to obscure the humanity of Jesus Christ, but the truth remains clear. Jesus Christ, in His earthly life, was fully human, born of a woman through a divine miracle, as God the Father caused Mary to conceive by the Holy Spirit. He was flesh and blood, subject to the same terms, forces, and conditions as any other man, demonstrating His humanity. A body was prepared for Him, as He Himself declared upon entering the world. This emphasis on His human nature reveals that He was not merely a spirit but truly lived as a man among us. Furthermore, the assertion that Jesus Christ was bound by Old Covenant rules from birth is a misunderstanding. He was not under the condemnation of the law during His life, for He led a perfect, sinless existence. Only at the time of His crucifixion did God the Father place Him under the law, laying the burden of the world's sins upon Him. The rituals and ceremonies of the Old Covenant, meant to remind Israel of their need for a Savior, did not apply to Him, as He had no sin to atone for. Even actions like His circumcision, performed by His parents when He was only eight days old, were not of His own doing, further illustrating that He was not personally bound to these practices. The deeper truth of His humanity persists even now. Jesus Christ continues to live His life through true Christians who submit to Him by the power of the Holy Spirit. His example, perfect in every respect, is one we are called to follow in all aspects of our lives. He set this standard not only in His actions but also in His willingness to undergo baptism, though He had no need for it, to show us the path we must take. Thus, every true Christian must emulate Him, walking as He walked, despite false teachings that suggest otherwise.

What Did Jesus Do?

'Ready Answer' by Staff

Jesus Christ's humanity is vividly portrayed through His life experiences as recorded in the gospels. From His birth in Bethlehem to His death on Golgotha, He lived a normal human life, growing up as a carpenter with brothers and sisters, facing the same challenges as others. He endured unique trials, such as fasting for forty days and being tested by satan, where He rejected offers of food, protection, and power, setting a foundation for how He lived His human life. His humanity is further revealed in moments of profound suffering and loneliness, such as His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and His feeling of desertion at His crucifixion. Despite the intense physical, mental, and emotional turmoil He faced, He demonstrated how to endure seemingly insurmountable trials, showing by example the importance of patience and non-retaliation. His life was lived with the full realization that He would suffer greatly for who He was and what He stood for, providing a model for how to face suffering and serve others even in the most difficult times. Throughout His life, Jesus served tirelessly despite having the same physical limitations as other men. His service included preaching a life-giving way, righting wrongs, feeding thousands, and healing those in need. A striking example of His service is seen in the act of washing His disciples' feet, teaching that service should persist even during the worst times. His life as a human, fraught with inherent frailties, was lived sinlessly, handling each situation with perfection, offering a clear example for approaching any circumstance with righteousness and spiritual depth.

Hebrews (Part Four): Who Was Jesus?

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Jesus Christ, in His humanity, became flesh and dwelt among us, embodying a unique blending of divine and human nature. He did not cease to be God, yet He took on human form, experiencing the same dependencies and emotions as mankind. He grew weary from journeying, as seen when He sat by Jacob's well and requested a drink. His life depended on blood, and He could be killed if He allowed it, demonstrating His vulnerability. He felt deep human emotion, weeping at the sight of others' grief. Despite these human traits, He remained God, a reality that astonished even His apostles who recognized both His divinity and humanity in this extraordinary Personality. Through His life among us, He revealed the Father, showing grace and truth, and His love was expressed to the uttermost, even unto death, for the spiritual benefit of those who follow Him.

Jesus Disqualified?

'Ready Answer' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Luke, writing primarily to Gentiles, emphasizes Jesus Christ's humanity throughout his gospel. He presents our Savior's natural, biological family tree to demonstrate that He shares humanness with the common man. Jesus is not only the Messiah of the Jews but also of the Gentiles. Therefore, Luke's genealogy traces back to Adam, highlighting His universal connection to every person, rather than stopping at Abraham as Matthew's does. Additionally, Luke addresses the unique situation of the virgin birth, focusing on points that would matter to a Gentile audience. A Gentile might not initially be concerned with Jesus' Davidic ancestry, but would certainly desire to know if He was a man like themselves. Thus, Luke records a line of descent through Mary, Jesus' link to humanity, showing His universality to all mankind.

Christ Coming in the Flesh

Sermon/Bible Study by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, marking them as deceivers and antichrists. This false teaching, though not currently a great controversy, lingers in the periphery of the church and must be understood and combated through the Scriptures. We live in a fleshly, physical, carnal, material world, and as such, we are full of sin. Sin can only be paid for through death, and for humanity, a greater death than a mere human one is required to cover the vast sins of all people. Jesus Christ Himself declared humanity evil, emphasizing the immense cost needed to redeem such sinfulness. The Creator, being spirit and eternal, faced the challenge of providing a sacrifice in kind—human for human. Thus, He had to voluntarily give up His glory and many of His prerogatives as the Eternal God, allowing Himself to be fashioned as a human, a fleshly material man. He became a man while maintaining His personality, character, and wisdom as God, divesting Himself of great power and glory, yet remaining capable of death. Through His shed blood as a man, He could pay for the sins of the whole world, satisfying God's justice and enabling grace. Scriptural accounts affirm this humanity. Hebrews 2:9 states that Jesus was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, tasting death for everyone by the grace of God. Hebrews 2:14 confirms He shared in flesh and blood to destroy the power of death through His own death. Hebrews 2:17 notes He was made like His brethren in all things to be a merciful and faithful High Priest, making propitiation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 5:5-9 describes Him learning obedience through suffering in the days of His flesh, becoming the author of eternal salvation. Hebrews 10:5-7 and 10:10 emphasize a body prepared for Him, through which we are sanctified by His offering once for all. Hebrews 10:19-20 highlights entering the Holiest by His blood, through the veil of His flesh. Philippians 2:5-8 reveals Jesus Christ, being in the form of God, did not cling to equality with God but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men, humbling Himself to death on the cross. John 1:14 declares the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth, His glory beheld as the only begotten of the Father. John 1:29-30 and 1:34 record John the Baptist's testimony of Him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, a Man who was before him and the Son of God. Matthew 1:18-21 and Luke 1:26-35 detail His birth from Mary through the Holy Spirit, conceived in her womb as a human being, named Jesus to save His people from their sins. Galatians 4:4-5 affirms He was born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law. Genesis 3:14-15 prophesies the Savior as the woman's Seed, indicating His humanity from the foundation of the world. Matthew 1:23, quoting Isaiah, calls Him Immanuel, God with us, born of a virgin, showing His human and divine nature. I Timothy 3:16 states God was manifested in the flesh, a great mystery of godliness revealed to the church. I Peter 1:17-21 speaks of redemption through the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish, manifest in these last times, visible and able to die as a human. I John 1:1-3 recounts John's personal witness to His humanity, having heard, seen, and handled the Word of life manifested in the flesh. I John 4:2-3 asserts that every spirit confessing Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, while those denying it are not of God, bearing the spirit of the antichrist. Romans 5:6-11 confirms Christ died for the ungodly, demonstrating God's love while we were still sinners, justifying us by His blood and reconciling us through His death. Jesus Christ was born into this world as a human being like us in every way, fulfilling all requirements to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins, ensuring both forgiveness and the promis

The High Christology of Colossians

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Low Christology views Jesus Christ as a mere man, emphasizing His humanity by pointing to instances where He experienced human limitations. Scriptures highlight that He was hungry, as seen in Matthew 21:18, when He returned to the city in the morning and felt hunger. In Mark 13:32, it is noted that He did not know the day or hour of certain events, suggesting a limitation in knowledge attributed to His human nature. Luke 2:52 describes how He increased in wisdom and stature, indicating growth and development typical of a human being. Additionally, John 4:6 portrays Him as wearied from His journey, sitting by a well, further underscoring His physical exhaustion. These examples are used to argue that He was subject to human weaknesses such as hunger, fatigue, and the need for growth, painting a picture of His earthly life as one bound by the constraints of humanity. Yet, the Bible also presents Jesus Christ as both human and divine, acknowledging that He experienced human conditions while maintaining a nature beyond mere humanity. This duality is evident in the recognition that His human experiences do not negate His divine attributes, showing that He lived as a man among men, fully participating in the human condition.

Four Views of Christ (Part 2)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

In exploring the multifaceted nature of Jesus Christ, one significant aspect is His humanity, portrayed vividly through the symbol of the man among the four faces of the cherubim. This figure emphasizes that man, uniquely among all creatures, is made in the image of God, sharing characteristics and feelings with Him. As seen in Genesis 1:26, God declares, "Let Us make man in Our image according to Our likeness," highlighting this profound connection. Further, in I Corinthians 2:11, it is evident that man alone possesses a spirit that enables a likeness to God, capable of receiving the Holy Spirit to magnify this image. This humanity is crucial in understanding Jesus Christ's role as High Priest, as detailed in Hebrews. In Hebrews 5:2, it is shown that a high priest can have compassion on the ignorant and those going astray because he himself is beset by weakness. Jesus Christ qualified for this role by becoming a man, not any other creature, sharing in flesh and blood as noted in Hebrews 2:14-18. Through this, He experienced death to destroy the power of the devil and release those bound by fear of death. Made like His brethren in all things, He became a merciful and faithful High Priest, able to aid those who are tempted because He Himself suffered and was tempted. When this figure of the man is applied to Jesus Christ, expect to see Him portrayed with human feelings such as empathy, sympathy, mercy, and compassion—emotions that animals cannot fully share. This portrayal, particularly emphasized in the book of Luke, presents Him in a universal sense, connecting with all mankind through shared human experiences and emotions. Thus, His humanity allows Him to relate to us deeply, fostering a bond that is essential for His role in guiding and saving humanity on their pilgrimage to the Kingdom of God.

Scripture Fulfilled in Christ's Death

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Jesus Christ's humanity is vividly revealed through His suffering and concern for others during His crucifixion. In the midst of His agony on the cross, He experienced profound physical and emotional pain, as evidenced by His cry, "I thirst," which underscored His true human nature and the real suffering He endured. This moment, recorded in John 19:28, shows His desire to align every detail of His life and death with the will of God, even prompting the fulfillment of prophecy by requesting a drink to quench His thirst. His humanity is further displayed in His deep care for those around Him, even in His final hours. While hanging on the cross, He turned His thoughts to His mother, Mary, and the disciple John, entrusting her care to him with the words, "Woman, behold your son!" and to John, "Behold your mother!" This act of compassion, despite His own intense suffering, highlights His selfless love and concern for others. Additionally, His words to the women on the way to Golgotha, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children," reflect His focus on their future well-being rather than His own plight. Jesus Christ's mental anguish is captured in His cry, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" revealing the depth of separation He felt from the Father while bearing the penalty of sin. His reflections on Psalm 22 during these hours show Him contemplating His suffering as being forsaken, crushed like a worm for God's people, and executed, yet still trusting in God's purpose. Even in His torment, His mind turned to the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles and the fruit His work would bear among future believers, demonstrating His enduring hope and vision beyond His immediate pain. His final statements from the cross further emphasize His human experience and compassionate nature. He prayed for forgiveness for His executioners, saying, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do," and offered hope to the believing thief with, "Today you will be with Me in Paradise." These words, alongside His conscious act of yielding His spirit with, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit," show Him in full possession of His faculties until the end, understanding the purpose of His death for the salvation of humanity. Through these actions and words, Jesus Christ exemplifies a profound humanity, marked by suffering, love, and an unwavering commitment to others even in the face of His own sorrow.

Jesus Wept

Sermonette by Ted E. Bowling

As we reflect on the Passover time, we focus on Jesus Christ and the life He lived while walking on this earth, along with the great sacrifice He made for us all. Contrary to portrayals that depict Him as unemotional or detached, the Scriptures reveal that He was a man like us, with close friends and deep care for others. Christ experienced happiness, love, joy, and laughter, as well as pain, sorrow, grief, and weeping. His humanity is evident in several accounts of His tears. In John 11:35, He wept before raising Lazarus from the dead, amidst great stress and the beginning of His preparation for the crucifixion. In Luke 19:41, He wept over Jerusalem as He entered the city on a colt, showing His emotional connection to the people and their plight. Additionally, Hebrews 5:7 describes His fervent prayers and tears during the days of His flesh, offered with vehement cries to God who could save Him from death. The scene in John 11, centered on the death and raising of Lazarus, highlights Christ's intimate relationship with Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, a bond akin to family. He stayed with them, shared meals, and engaged in deep conversations, demonstrating a unique closeness. Despite knowing He would raise Lazarus, Christ delayed His return to Bethany until after Lazarus had been dead for four days, ensuring no doubt of the miracle. When Mary fell at His feet weeping, saying, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died," He groaned in spirit, was troubled, and wept. His tears were not for Lazarus's death but possibly a release of frustration, stress, and empathy for Mary's emotional outburst, reflecting His deep care and understanding of their personalities. Similarly, His weeping over Jerusalem and in the garden for all humanity reveals a crescendo of emotion, showcasing His profound love and concern. These instances near the end of His life provide insight into Christ's feelings, emphasizing His humanity as the Word made flesh and the love He holds for each of us.

Four Views of Christ (Part 5)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Luke's gospel portrays Christ as the son of man, the high priest of man, and the savior of man, having all the feelings, compassions, and aspirations of man.

Intimacy with Christ (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We don't really know something unless we have experienced it. Knowing God manifests itself in the way one lives, reflecting faithfulness and obedience.

Our Affinity to Christ

Sermon/Bible Study by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Jesus has already suffered the things we have, and now serves as our compassionate High Priest and Advocate. He provides the pattern we are to emulate.

Fully Man and Fully God?

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Jesus Christ is called both 'Son of Man' and 'Son of God,' raising weighty questions about His nature. Could He have both full humanity and full divinity?

Fully Man and Fully God? (1994)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

The humanity of Jesus Christ presents a profound mystery when considering His nature. He was born as a man, taking on the likeness of humanity, as described in Philippians 2:6-7, where He emptied Himself, relinquishing the outward expression of His divine essence to assume the form of a servant. This exchange of expression meant that while on earth, though His outward form was human, He retained His divine essence, yet did not assert His rights to the full expression of Deity. His humanity was real, not a mere phantom, but it did not express the whole of His being, as He was also God. In His incarnation, He entered a new and unique state of being, a fleshly person with two natures. The word "likeness" in Philippians 2:7 and Romans 8:3 indicates a true similarity to humanity, yet His human form did not fully encapsulate all that He was. As John 1:14 states, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, embodying as much of God's nature as could be expressed in a human being. Similarly, Hebrews 2:14 notes that He shared in flesh and blood, aligning Himself with humanity. Thus, Jesus of Nazareth lived as Immanuel, God with us, in a human form that reflected a profound and unique expression of both natures.

A Man of Sorrows

CGG Weekly by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jesus anticipated what was coming on the nation, prepared for it as well as He could, and persevered through it along with the rest of His fellow citizens.

Acquainted with Grief

Sermonette by

Christ's bearing of our sicknesses and infirmities may have taken place throughout His life. He may have been acquainted with ill health for our benefit.

The Father-Son Relationship (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Father and Son are separate; the Father is the source of all power, while the Son serves as the channel through which we interface with the Father.

Preternatural, Natural, Unnatural, Supernatural (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God, before He created Adam and Eve, preternaturally planned the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to save humanity from the curse of sin and death.

The Father-Son Relationship (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Christ Himself asserted the superiority of the Father. Jesus serves as the revelator of the great God, providing the only means of access to Him.

In The Likeness of Men!

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Jesus was subjected to the same experiences as the rest of us, having the appearance, experiences, the capability of receiving injury and suffering temptation.

Garden of Gethsemane: The Oil Press

Sermonette by Ted E. Bowling

The Garden of Gethsemane has particular significance because it was not only an olive grove, but also the location where olives were pressed into oil.

Whatever Happened to Gnosticism? Part Two: Defining Gnosticism

Article by David C. Grabbe

We can glimpse Gnosticism in Paul's epistles to the Galatians and Colossians, in which he combats Gnosticism's twisting of the truth of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews (Part Two)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Hebrews is addressed to a people living at the end of an era, who were drifting away, had lost their devotion, and were no longer motivated by zeal.

Preternatural, Natural, Unnatural, Supernatural (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Christ's life and death were supernatural in that He had God's Spirit from the beginning, giving Him power over things, as well as undeniable logic.

Without Me, You Can Do Nothing (Part One)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

We tend to avoid acknowledging our weaknesses, but at some point, each of us will admit our powerlessness and inability to carry out God's will on our own.

Who Was the Samaritan Woman at the Well?

Sermon by Ted E. Bowling

The woman was the first Gentile convert and an evangelist to her fellow Samaritans, who clearly did not consider her an outcast or immoral woman.

The Father-Son Relationship (Part Seven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Holy Spirit is never venerated as a separate being. Our hope is the indwelling of Christ, used interchangeably with 'Spirit of God' and 'Spirit of Truth.'

Power Belongs to God (Part Two)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Human beings, even those who have been called, have an innate fear that God will not always provide. This fear originates in doubt about God's power.

Hebrews (Part Three)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jesus blazed a trail, giving a pattern for qualifying (through suffering and resisting sin) for our responsibility as priests, reconnecting man and God.

John (Part One)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

John presents Jesus, not as a phantom emanation, but as the reality, transcending the shadows represented by the temporal physical life.

Holiness (Part 1)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

To appropriate the name of God means to represent His attributes, character and nature. Our behavior must imitate Christ just as Christ revealed God the Father.