What is the significance of the humanity of Jesus?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

In the Old Testament, Jesus was prophesied before He came to earth, and one of those prophecies included that He would enter into the world through a physical birth (Isaiah 9:6). His humanity was significant because He endured human weaknesses, like the rest of us, and yet remained victorious over temptation—never sinning even once (Matthew 4:1–10; Hebrews 4:15). Without His human experience, He would not be able to sympathize with our struggles, and we would not have the perfect human example of Christ to model our lives after. Jesus’ humanity was also required for Him to die and be resurrected; without these acts taking place, we would not have had our sins paid for and death conquered by Christ (1 Corinthians 15:14–15, 17). Additionally, Christ’s physical ministry, death, and resurrection makes it possible for us to be adopted as sons and daughters when we believe in Him (Galatians 4:4–5). We must believe in Jesus as the one true Son of God and Son of Man; if we fail to do this, we risk missing out on the full gospel message (1 John 4:1–3). Lastly, 2 John 1:7 says there are many "deceivers" in the world who deny “Jesus Christ in the flesh.” We must not align ourselves with deceivers but with the Scriptures.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The humanity of Jesus is important because prophecy required a physical birth. The Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 9:6 said, "a child is born."

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The Son of God entered the world fully human in order to experience the struggles of humanity. Without His humanity, Jesus could not have been tempted as we are (Matthew 4:1–10), nor could He have experienced human sadness, suffering, or pain.
• Related to the fact of His death is the fact of His resurrection. After His physical death, Jesus physically rose from the dead. If He had not died, then He certainly could not have resurrected. This teaching is essential to the Christian faith. Paul stated it in the strongest terms: "If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ... If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:14–15, 17).
• Galatians 4:4–5 says, "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."
• First John 4:1–3 instructs, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already." To fail to accept Jesus as fully human is to miss the true message of Jesus.
• The humanity of Jesus is essential to the character of Jesus as the Christ. Second John 1:7 specifically states that those who deny the humanity of Jesus are false teachers: "For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist." Jesus is God in the flesh.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Scripture proclaims that Jesus is both the Son of God and the Son of Man. Those who deny the humanity of Christ reject an essential doctrine of the Bible. The belief that Jesus was only a spiritual being, or that He only had the appearance of physicality, negates the reality of His death and makes salvation impossible. His humanity was necessary for His substitutionary atonement. Jesus had to be fully human to die for the sins of humanity on the cross. If He did not have flesh and blood, then He could not suffer for our sins and die. Without the death of Christ, there would be no sacrifice for our sins, and we would remain unforgiven (1 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 9:22). Praise God that this is not the case! First Corinthians 15:3 says: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures.” Jesus, being both divine and human, took our place on the cross so that we didn’t have to pay for our own sins.

UNDERSTAND

• Jesus had to be fully human to die and rise for our salvation.
• Jesus’ humanity allows Him to sympathize with our struggles.
• Denying Jesus’ humanity is a rejection of the true gospel.

REFLECT

• How does knowing Jesus faced human struggles, just like you, impact the way you bring your burdens to Him?
• In what areas of your life do you need to follow Jesus’ example of obedience, even in weakness or suffering?
• How does the truth of Jesus’ physical death and resurrection shape your confidence in your salvation?

ENGAGE

• What does Jesus’ humanity reveal about God's desire to connect personally with us?
• How can we better reflect the humanity of Jesus in the way we show compassion and grace to others?
• In what ways does understanding both the divinity and humanity of Jesus deepen our grasp of the gospel?