TEXT:

‘In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself’ – John 1:1 Amplified Bible

THOUGHT:

The previous Today’s Teaching considered Jesus – The Word and His Divinity, Ability and Authority. Many people can understand a “God in heaven” concept, but find it more difficult to believe in a God who understands what it is really like for people living on earth. This is what this Today’s Teaching concentrates on.

Jesus – The Human Word – His Humanity – ‘So the Word became human and made his home among us’ – John 1:14 NLT

Paul’s epistle to the Ephesian Christians described Jesus’ coming to earth in this way, ‘Though he was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being’ – Philippians 2:5-7 NLT. So in Jesus there is the perfect combination of God and man.

• He became like us, so we would know that He understands what we are going through

‘For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin’ – Hebrews 4:15 Amplified Bible. If no one else understands, God does. He helps to make a way of escape from the battles of temptation and sin that we continually face – 1 Corinthians 10:13. God assured Moses, ‘I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering’ – Exodus 3:7 NLT.

When the multitudes came to Jesus, He did not just look out over a sea of faces but, ‘What pity he felt for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn’t know what to do or where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd’ – Matthew 9:36 Living Bible. Thank God, the Good Shepherd was coming to their rescue!

• He became like us to live in us and lift us up – ‘Emmanuel, God with us’ – Matthew 1:23.

Jesus is the God who is with us, in us and is coming back for us – ‘There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me where I am. If this weren’t so, I would tell you plainly’ – .John 14:3 Living Bible. We do not get into a religion called Christianity. No, the Head of our faith gets into us! ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory’ – Colossians 1:27. A believer is not trying to get Christian principles into their life but wanting them to shine out from the life of the One who now lives on the inside. ‘Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven’ – Matthew 5:16

• He became like us to take away our sin – ‘John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”’ – John 1:29

The Captain of our salvation became the first casualty in this warfare against sin, when He died to save us. For centuries lambs had been sacrificed, but only to cover sin. Finally the Lamb of God was sacrificed once for all, to take away the sins of the world. ‘The Lord laid on him the sins of us all’ – Isaiah 53:6 NLT. Then God made this amazing promise, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more’ – Hebrews 10:17. God, through Jesus, has reconciled Himself to the world. Have you reconciled yourself to God? Have you ever said a heartfelt “thank you” to Him for doing that for you?

• He became like us so that one day we shall be like Him

‘Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is’ – 1 John 3:2 NLT. It will be wonderful to see for the first time, the One who gave His life up and died on the cross for me. But more than that, I am going to step out of this body, that grows older and experiences pain, sickness, disease and death, into a new, glorious body that can never die or deteriorate.

If Jesus is the Head and every Christian part of His body, then it must mean we will have the same kind of body as He has. The only difference is we will not have the scar marks of having been crucified – the eternal reminder of what it cost Him to save us.

What a wonderful Jesus! All powerful, all knowing and ever present.

The world often pities Christians for believing in Jesus. In the light of this study, it’s the world that needs to be pitied for refusing to believe in Jesus. The Apostle Paul summed it up this way,

‘For me to live is Christ and to die is gain!’ – Philippians 1:21