Jesus: The Divine and the Human

What Shapes Us: Jesus

WARM-UP

Think of a fictional character or a well-known person that you admire. What are the qualities you admire about him or her?

How do you usually respond when you make a mistake? Recall an instance explaining this.

Share a moment when you were awarded or recognized for your work. What was the experience like?

WORD

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. PHP 2:5-8

(Read also PHP 2:9-11.)

Jesus is divine and human, being fully God and fully man. This is not just a matter of fact—it is essential to our faith. The dual nature of Jesus Christ is a big part of why the redemption of mankind was possible. Paul, the writer of the letter to the Philippians, explains the dual nature of Jesus and how Jesus himself is the example by which we can live in humility. Let us discover truths about Jesus and how believing in him can shape our lives.

1 Jesus is God.

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped . . . PHP 2:5-6

When Paul wrote this, the Philippians were facing conflicts and challenges among the community. So he encouraged them to remember who Jesus is and to follow his example. Jesus is one person with two natures. Jesus is God and equal to God the Father. He is not just “part” God—He is fully God, uncreated and existed before time (Joh 1:1). In fact, it is through him that all things were created (Col 1:16). How does Heb 1:10-12 describe Jesus’ divinity?

10 And,

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,

and the heavens are the work of your hands;

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. GEN 1:1

Rashi

In the beginning—Rabbi Isaac said: It was not necessary to begin the law except from “This month is for you,” (Exo 12:2) which is the first commandment given to Israel. What is the reason, then, that it commences with “In the beginning?” Because of the text (Psa 111:6) “He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.” For should the nations of the world say to Israel, “You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations of Canaan,” Israel will reply, “All the earth belongs to the Holy One, blessed be he; he created it and gave it to whom he pleased. When he willed he gave it to them, and when he willed he took it from them and gave it to us” (Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 187).

In the beginning, God created—This verse calls for explanation in the manner that our Rabbis explained it: God created the world for the sake of the law which is called (Pro 8:22) “the beginning of his work,” and for the sake of Israel who are called (Jer 2:3) “the firstfruits of his harvest.” If, however, you wish to explain it in its plain sense, explain it thus: At the beginning of the creation of heaven and earth, the earth was astonishing with emptiness, and darkness . . . and God said, “Let there be light.” The text does not intend to point out the order of the creation—to state that these were created first; for if it intended to point this out, it should have written “At first he created the heavens and the earth.” Should you, however, insist that it does actually intend to point out that these (heaven and earth) were created first, and that the meaning is: In the beginning of everything he created these—and that there are elliptical texts that omit a word, as for example Job 3:10 “because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb” where it does not explain who it was that shut the womb; and Isa 8:4 “he will carry off the wealth of Damascus” without explaining who will take it away; and Amo 6:12 “does one plow there with oxen,” and it does not state, “if a man plow with oxen”; Isa 46:10 “telling the end from the beginning,” and it does not state, telling the end of a thing from the beginning of a thing”—if so (that you assert that this verse intends to point out the order of creation), be astonished at yourself, for the waters preceded, as it is written, (v. 2) “and the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters,” and Scripture had not yet disclosed when the creation of the waters took place! From this you learn that the waters preceded the earth. And a further proof that the heavens were created from fire and water. Therefore you must admit that the text teaches nothing about the earlier or later sequence of the acts of creation.

God created the heavens and the earth—It does not state “the Lord created,” because at first God intended to create it to be placed under the attribute (rule) of strict justice, but he realised that the world could not endure and therefore gave precedence to divine mercy allying it with divine justice, and that is the reason it is written in Gen 2:4: “in the day the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.”

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. JOH 1:1-3

11 they will perish, but you remain;

they will all wear out like a garment,

The Lord is king forever and ever;

the nations perish from his land. PSA 10:16

Rashi

The Lord is king forever and ever after the nations perish from his land.

12 like a robe you will roll them up,

like a garment they will be changed.

But you are the same,

and your years will have no end.” HEB 1:10-12

2 Jesus became man.

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. PHP 2:7-8

While Jesus is equal with God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped or held on to. He humbled himself by living on earth as a man, who like us was capable of experiencing all the limitations of being human. But unlike other humans, Jesus lived the way we should have lived—a perfect, sinless life in obedience to God the Father and in service of others. Jesus became the perfect sacrifice to atone for the sins of mankind. How can you follow Jesus’ example of service in your daily life?

7 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,

but you have given me an open ear.

Burnt offering and sin offering

you have not required.

Rashi

In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted on the day of the giving of the law, as the matter that is stated (in Exo 19:5): “And now, if you will earnestly hearken to my voice, etc.,” and likewise in Jer 7:22 Scripture states: “For . . . I did not speak to your fathers or command them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices.” I said (Lev 1:2), “If . . . from among you,” but I did not require it as an obligation to burden you. The daily sacrifices and the additional sacrifices are only to bring me pleasure, that I ordained and my will was performed, but it is a small matter.

You have given—You made them hollow enabling me to hear.

You have given me an open ear saying, “Hearken to my voice.”

8 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;

in the scroll of the book it is written of me:

Rashi

Then at the time of the giving of the law, behold I came to you to be bound in your covenant. (Exo 24:7): “We will do, and be obedient,” and this matter is written as testimony concerning me in the scroll of the book, i.e., in the law of Moses.

9 I delight to do your will, O my God;

your law is within my heart.” PSA 40:7-9

Rashi

Your law is within my heart—Even my food is according to Your law; I ate neither unclean beasts nor untithed produce.

3 Jesus is exalted.

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. PHP 2:9-11

In his humility and obedience to die on the cross, Jesus was exalted. God exalted him in the heavens and the earth. By serving others and living in humility, Jesus was given glory and honor by God the Father. Because of what Jesus has done and how the Father exalted him, he deserves all our obedience, worship, and adoration. How will this truth affect the way you live?

23 By myself I have sworn;

from my mouth has gone out in righteousness

a word that shall not return:

“To me every knee shall bow,

every tongue shall swear allegiance.”

Rashi

By myself I have sworn and from my mouth has gone out in righteousness to accept all those who return to me. I spoke a word that will not return. What is the righteousness that from my mouth has gone out? To me every knee shall bow, and I will accept them, as the matter is stated (Zep 3:9): “For at that time will I change for the people a pure speech, to call all of them upon the name of the Lord . . .”

24 Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me,

are righteousness and strength;

to him shall come and be ashamed

all who were incensed against him.

25 In the Lord all the offspring of Israel

shall be justified and shall glory. ISA 45:23-25

Rashi

In the Lord . . . shall be justified and shall glory—Through the promise of the support of his love they shall be justified and shall glory of his strength.

Shall glory—Porvantir in O.F.

As God, Jesus humbled himself by serving others. As humans, we tend to seek glory and honor for ourselves. But unlike us, Jesus came to serve. The apostle Paul encourages us to do nothing from selfish ambition (Php 2:3) and instead to follow the humble example of Jesus’ life, giving glory to the Father. We can respond in humility by serving others, too.

APPLICATION

Ask God to reveal an area in your life where you seek glory and honor for yourself. Pray that God would help you surrender this area to him. Share this with a trusted friend or mentor, as you are comfortable.

This week, what is one thing you can start doing to serve others more?

Through your words and actions, how can you demonstrate humility in your church community?

PRAYER

Ask God to grow a heart of humility in you—a heart that is ready to serve, receive correction, and obey God.

Thank God that Jesus walked in perfect humility. Pray that like Jesus, you would have a desire to serve others more.

Pray that as a church community, we would serve those outside the church, too.