A LOOK AT THE LIFE AND
LOVE OF OUR SAVIOR,
AND WHAT JESUS’
INTERMINGLED DEITY AND
HUMANITY MEANS FOR
WOMEN TODAY.
“WHO IS JESUS?” we ask the little girl as she clutches her
teddy bear and slides into the social worker’s car.
She looks at us with big eyes as she replies, “He is a Daddy who never
leaves me or hurts me.”
“Who is Jesus?” we ask the woman as she sits in the rocking chair.
Her shaky hands put down her knitting, and her laugh rings as silver
as the color of her hair. “Why, He is my Beloved. He loves me when I
am lonely.”
“Who is Jesus?” we ask the beaten young woman as we gaze at her
through the bars.
She closes her eyes and whispers, “He is a Deliverer from evil and
Strength in my weakness.”
“Who is Jesus?” we ask you. There is no way to avoid the question.
Jesus has been a topic of conversation, ground for debate, and spark of
discussion for over two-thousand years. Jesus is one of the key points
that separate Christianity from other religions. What is it about Jesus
that makes Him so unlike anyone this world has ever known? Why is He
mentioned over nine-hundred times in the Bible? What is it about this
name that people are and were willing to suffer rejection from family
and friends, journey into dangerous parts of the world, give their lives
at the stake, and endure torture, starvation, and imprisonment?
We have heard Him preached in sermons, taught in sunday-school
lessons, and sung in hymns. We can recite the story- Jesus is the Son
of God who came to earth as a baby, was crucified, rose from the grave
after three days, ascended into Heaven, and is coming back at the end
of the world to judge the saved and unsaved. We may even be apologetic
professionals and know all the proofs that support Jesus- things like
early and accurate manuscripts, fluent and extensive Gospels, fulfilled
prophecies, eyewitnesses, an empty tomb, followers willing to suffer
martyrdom....
Simple, right? Isn’t that all we need to know? No! We need to REALLY
understand Who Jesus Is because that is what makes the dramatic
difference in how and why we live our lives. Jesus is a fascinating
combination of Deity and Humanity who longs to be in a personal
relationship with us.
From the beginning of time, we have record of Jesus (Genesis 1:26).
Jesus was there the entire time, because He was the Son of God. He
was living in full majestic power and glory, and things were going well
at the beginning of the earth’s birth. The Deity had created the perfect
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masterpiece. There was not a flaw of pain, hurt, abuse, hate, or sin to
be found---- but then, the human race changed all of that.
Imagine spending long hours sewing a new shirt for Johnny to wear for
his birthday party at Grandma and Grandpa’s. Saturday morning, as
you help him button up the shirt, you warn him not to get dirty because
there will be consequences. Later, you find Johnny hiding in the corner
of the barn. His new shirt is torn and smeared where he had attempted
to clean off mud with a rag. He hangs his head and cries, “Mommy, I’m
sorry. I didn’t know I would get dirty while I was playing.” You shake
your head; he would have to suffer the consequences. But yet, amidst
your anger, you feel such love for your little boy, love that prompts
you to give him another chance. You put Johnny to work at some extra
chores and sit down at the sewing machine once again. Your eyes
are tired, and your fingers hurt; but you get another new shirt made.
Johnny gets the chores done in enough time to go to the party, but you
are left at home. You missed the party in his place, because the extra
time spent sewing meant the bread for Sunday’s potluck was still not
baked.
That is what Jesus did, but to a much greater degree! He saw the
hopeless state of eternal death and misery that sin had put us in and
chose to take our punishment. Mankind waited for this prophesied
Messiah to set them free, but they could not fathom the degree of His
love. They expected to see Him in His full Divinity because He was
a King (Is. 33:22), Redeemer (Job 19:25), Emmanuel (Is. 7:14), and
Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6).
They waited; but they missed Jesus’ arrival, because the GalaxySpinner and Star-Twirler had traded Heaven for earth. He had left
power, glory, and beautiful harmony for a decaying planet, reeking of
hate and sin. The angels must have gasped in disbelief. Kings do not
walk with publicans and sinners. Kings are addressed by “Your Majesty
“, not simply as a Child (Luke 2:43), Carpenter (Mark 6:3), Prophet
(Mark 8:28), and Teacher (Math. 19:16).
Jesus was human