It’s a tough question, and one that’s hard to understand. We wrestle with this because when we think of God we think of His power, magnificence, His ability to be everywhere, know everything, etc. So, how is it possible for Jesus to be all of this and yet man at the same time?
The way Jesus could be both 100% God and 100% man is because He has the nature of both of these. In other words, He had characteristics that can/should belong only to God. He had superior knowledge and could read into people’s hearts (John 2:24-25). He knew the future (Matthew 26:31-35). He had power over angels and demons (Matthew 4:5-7; Mark 1:21-28). He had power over nature (Matthew 8:23-27; 14:22-33). He had power over sickness (Matthew 8:1-4; 9:1-8; 12:9-14) He had power over death (John 11:1-45; Matthew 28:1-20). He could bring eternal life to humanity (John 10:28). He was sinless (1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:15). He accepted worship (Matthew 2:2, 11, 14:33). He accepted being called God and the Son of God (John 20:28; Mark 1:1; Hebrews 1:8). Jesus displayed what we would expect to see in deity.
The way He was 100% man was because He had the nature of man. He had the characteristics of a human. He was born physically and from a human mother (Matthew 1:18-25). He had to grow up from a child (Luke 2:39-52). He was tempted (Matthew 4:1-11). He got hungry (Matthew 4:2). He got thirsty (John 19:28). He got tired (John 4:6; Matthew 8:24). He cried (John 11:35). He had a physical body of flesh and bone (Luke 24:39). He died (Matthew 27:33-50). Everything that we deal with as humans, Jesus went through because He was a man (Hebrews 4:15; 2:17-18).
Colossians 2:9 sums it up really well, “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.” Jesus was fully God, but the form in which His deity dwelt on this earth was in a physical body. Jesus is all deity and at the same time he was a physical man.
We have trouble fully grasping this because we all have only one nature, human. We don’t really know what it would be like to have two, but Jesus did. Without a doubt, Jesus is both God and man. It is only because of this that we are able to have forgiveness of sins. He was the only man to live perfectly, and since He was also God, it made Him the sacrifice that was needed to bring us salvation (Hebrews 10:10). Let’s praise God for tremendous plan and sacrifice!
I’m glad God leaves us mysteries to devour in His glory when we reach Heaven.
I read a book by a good friend of mine called He’s Greater than You Know: Letters for a Doubting Christian and he came from the premise that some Christians doubt things about the faith and some other things. Anywho, he mentioned how the Trinity was something we can’t understand but in Heaven, obviously this three in one concept exists and we’ll understand it better there with changed bodies able to handle it.
I’m mutilating the guy’s words now but it went something like that. I have to find it.
I understand what you’re saying. We will definitely come to an even better understand in heaven!
See, why couldn’t I say it that way? It was just so profound in Phil’s book the way he said it. I was blown away.
This study is not to diminish the deity of Jesus.
Colossians 2:9
In him dwelleth all the fulness of the God Head bodily. This is a comprehensive study into the word of God. Search the scriptures yourself and ask the Holy Spirit of God for His understanding).
It was not until God the Father raised Jesus up by “His Glory” did Jesus have in Him the Godhead bodily.
Note: This might help answer some questions whether Jesus was 100% man and 100% God.
1) The flesh is just a body without a soul. Without a soul the body dies. For the soul is the character and breath of the flesh.
2) The spirit is the breath of the soul.
3) Can the soul survive (temporally) without the spirit? Well, yes it can, but the flesh cannot survive without the soul. (Without medical machines)
4) Jesus was 50 % man and 50% God manifested.
5) He was 50% man because it was just the flesh of man and the flesh only.
Since Jesus had no earthly father, the earthly soul was missing, making him sinless from Adam & Eve and only 50% man.
Acts 2:30
Being therefore a Prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would set one upon his throne.
Psalms 132:11
The LORD has sworn in truth unto David; He will not turn from it, of the fruit of that body will I set upon the throne.
Also In Romans 1:2
Which he promised beforehand, through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son who was born a descendent of David according to the flesh. Here we see an illustration about Christ coming from the lineage of David. Notice that it is careful to mention the fruit of his loins according to the flesh, and the flesh only.
2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
6) He was 50% God because …if He was 100% God:
A) He would have known the end of the age.He would be omniscient.
Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man,no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the son but the Father.
B) If He was 100% God, then we would be burned up at His presence.
Exodus:33:20
and He said, Thou cannot see my face: for there shall no man see me and live.
Remember: this is Jehovah talking to Moses.
He was 50% God because He emptied himself of some of His “Deity privileges”. Jesus reduced Himself a little lower than the angels.
Psalms 5:8
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Jesus reduced Himself in likeness of men.
Philippians 2:7 (KJV)
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: No reputation = Strongs (# 2758 Hebrew context) to make empty, i.e figuratively) to abase.
Philippians 2:7 (New American Standard)
but emptied himself, taking the form of a servent, being made in the likeness of men; (NewAmerican Standard) He became a middle ground to communicate with God and intercede for us.
By Gods spirit, Jesus rose from the dead and set the captives free from the curse of the Law.
1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Mediator = (3316)Mesites. Pronounced…Mes-`ee-tace a go-between, i.e.(simply) an internunciator, or (by implication) a reconciler (intercessor): Which comes from the root word (3319)Mesos.(Pronounced)…Mes`-os meaning…middle.
If Jesus was 100% God then He would have had all authority in Heaven and earth.
Matt 20:23
And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
ROMANS1:19-20
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them: for God has shown it to them. For the invisible things of Him, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.
“BY THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE”. <
There is nothing in this world that is 200% and because of that illustration GOD gave us, we know that Jesus was not 100% man and 100% God………. before the crucifixion.
Anything else is ignorance of the scriptures and/or lack of discernment of Gods creation.
may God bless you and your family