Who is Jesus Christ?
by: Daniel Lam
It is essential that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully human for His work on the cross to be sufficient for human salvation. This paper will argue that Jesus’ is fully divine and fully human and discuss how these attributes limit or enhance each other. It will also address Jesus' role in human redemption and his impact on my life.
The divinity of Jesus is supported throughout Scripture. John opens his Gospel to proclaim Jesus is God: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn. [MF1] 1:1). In Greek, the verse “the Word was God” is written as “θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.” [MF2] If we translate word for word, it would be rendered “God was the Word.” By placing θεὸς first, John wants to emphasize the Word “as divine and distinguished.”[1] The Word [MF3] is not only God, but through the Word, all things were made (Jn. 1:2). Paul affirms Jesus is the Creator and the Sustainer of the universe (Col. 1:16-17). Jesus is the necessary because only “by him all things were created” (Col. 1:16). He is the begotten Son before the ages. He has the knowledge and power to create all things. Erickson points out that, therefore, deity is necessary, eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and incorporeal.[2] This Word, however, is distinct from the Father, he is Jesus, the Son of God. The Nicene Creed describes Jesus as “the only-begotten Son of God”[MF4] and the Chalcedonian [MF5] Creed describes as “begotten of the Father before the ages.” However, He is the same as the Father, “true God of true God” (Nicene Creed) and “of one substance with the Father” (Chalcedon Creed).
The divinity [MF6] of Jesus is not only seen through his presence at the beginning and his creative works, but in his life and ministry. An Old Testament prophecy about Jesus, says: “For to us a child is born…he will be called …Mighty God…” (Isa. 9:6). The words “Mighty God” that Isaiah used communicates that Jesus is God and not a merely human messiah. [3] Therefore, Jesus was a mighty God even during his time on Earth.. Furthermore, we see examples of when Jesus takes actions that only God can do. For example, in Mark 2:5, Jesus said to the paralytic man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Only God has the authority to forgive sins. Therefore, Jesus has to be God in order to forgive sin. Jesus shows that the man's sins were forgiven through healing the paralytic man. Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and has the authority to forgive sin. The resurrection is a confirmation that Jesus is indeed God as he claimed to be,”[4] “the way, the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6, NKJV).
Jesus’ human attributes are also emphasized in the Scriptures. John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Paul affirms that Jesus “manifest in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16[MF7] , KJV). When the Scriptures talk about Christ taking on flesh, it means becoming human.[5] The Nicene Creed says Jesus “was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man.” The Chalcedonian Creed says Jesus is “perfect in manhood.” Although Jesus’ conception was a miracle, His birth was a normal human delivery. He has a typical genealogy in both Matthew 1 and Luke 3. [MF8] Jesus did not have an unlimited physical strength. He was made human in every way (Heb. 2:17). He was hungry after forty day fasting in the dessert (Matt. 4:2). He was thirsty on the cross (Jn. 19:28). He was fatigue from the journey to Samaria (Jn. 4:6).[6] Luke 2:52 says, “He grew in wisdom.” Jesus was not born knowing all, but he gained his wisdom and knowledge through learning and observation.
Jesus had the same emotions as we do as well. For example, in the Lazarus’ story, [MF9] we see that, although he knew Lazarus was dead (John 11:14), and he knew he would raise Lazarus from death (John 11:11), he experienced sorrow and remorse when talking to Martha and Mary. He “was deeply moved in spirit and trouble” (Jn. 11:33), he wept, and again at the tomb, he was “once more deeply moved” [MF10] (v.38)[7]. Erickson describes this event as “one of Jesus’ most human reactions.”[8]
Jesus’ apostles recognized Him as human. The apostle John called those who taught Jesus did not come to the flesh as “false prophet”(1 Jn. 4:1-2). In Roman 1:3,[MF11] the apostle Paul introduces Jesus as a descendant of David in his human nature. In every way, Jesus was fully human. Erickson says, “If Jesus was not human, than surely no one ever has been.”[9]
In Jesus, there are two natures: fully God and fully Man. The Chalcedonian Creed says, “Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood…to be acknowledged in two natures.” Although he was incarnated to be human, Jesus did not stop being God. Horton says, “Rather, he gave up the independent exercise of the divine attributes. He was still fully Deity in His very being, but He fulfilled what seems to have been a condition of the Incarnation, that his human limitations were real, not artificial”[10] The human and divine attributes united in Jesus Christ.
In another way, Jesus’ human attributes limit His divine ones. [MF12] In Philippians 2:6-7, Paul said Jesus was “being in very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Jesus emptied Himself and became a human being like us. The act of emptying himself made him to be more human.[11] Jesus did not know everything thing. When talking about the Second coming, Jesus said he did not know the time (Mk 13:32).[MF13]
Jesus’ role in human redemption is in three “offices”: [MF14] prophet, priest and king.[12] First is the office of prophet. Jesus is the Prophet who Moses prophesized in Deuteronomy 18 (Acts 3:22-23). As a prophet, Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God, basic truth about the Father, human soul and ethical teaching.[13] Also because of His due natures, Jesus knows about the future, He was not a fortuneteller. Second office is Priest. The author of Hebrews says Jesus has a permanent priesthood because He lives forever (Heb 7: 24). A priest is a mediator between God and human. A priest gives sacrifice of atonement for human’s sin according to Moses’ laws (Lev.7:7). He offered a final lasting sacrifice for human sins once and for all (Heb. 10:10). The third office is King. The author of Hebrews talks about Jesus as King and His throne will be last forever (Heb. 1:8). Although, Jesus’ believers still follow the rules the earthly kings, they will serve their eternal King, Jesus for eternity. Jesus’ office as prophet, priest and king is not only fulfilling the prophecies, but give Jesus’ believers peace and hope. It is great to know that there is an eternal priest to pray on their behalf, and a loving King will rule them forever in love.
I came from a Buddhist background. When I was still practicing Buddhism, it was very vague to me. I followed because my family followed, and I felt like I had to work hard to earn the blessing from the Buddha. When I got to know Jesus Christ, the most attractive thing to me was His love. It is still hard to comprehend that how great His love is. He came and died on the cross for my sin. Now, when I know Him more, His teaching shows me how to be in relationship with the God. And as my priest, He is praying for me day and night. He also gives me great hope because He will be my loving King forever. The amazing thing is He has done all of this for me before I even knew of Him.
In conclusion, Jesus is both fully human and fully God. [MF15] Though always God, Jesus voluntarily gave up His power to become one with humanity. At the same time, he was also able to take actions that other humans could not because Jesus' divinity enhanced his capabilities. This dual nature empowered him to fulfill the prophecies of him as prophet, priest and king. His fully divine and fully human nature made him a perfect sacrifice to connect God and humanity.
References
Davis Jefferson John. Basic Bible Texts. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.
Erickson J. Millard. The Word Became Flesh. Grand Rapids, IL: Baker Book House, 1991.
Erickson J. Millard. Christian Theology – Third Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013.
Horton M. Stanle. Systematic Theology. Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 2007.
[1] Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology – Third Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013. 629 .
[2] Millard J. Erickson, The Word Became Flesh. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1991. 554-556.
[3] John Jefferson Davis, Basic Bible Texts. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984. 69.
[4] Erickson, 633.
[5] Erickson, 649.
[6] Ibid, 645.
[7] Erickson, 647
[8] Ibid,647
[9] Ibid, 650
[10] Stanley M. Horton, Systematic Theology. Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 2007. 317
[11] Ibid, 670
[12] Ibid, 697
[13] Ibid, 701
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