On 9/21/03 we wrote a commentary called
"Jesus, Fully God and Fully Man", in which we listed some of the emotions and needs Jesus experianced as a Man. In this commentary we will show how, even though Jesus was fully man, he was also always fully God. Some of the following comes from Charles Swindoll's book "The Darkness and the Dawn".
For a period of thirty-three earthly years He voluntarily gave up the independent exercise of His own rights as God. While on earth He submitted Himself to the Father, so that every word was spoken as God would have Him speak it, and every act was done precisely as God would have Him do it.
For example, as a human being, He was tired and fell asleep in the hold of a ship, but moments later, as God, He was able to still the sea and calm the wind. As a man, He was broken hearted and wept at the tomb of Lazarus, but as God, He raised Lazarus from the dead. As a man, He suffered a horrible death on the cross, but as God, He was bodily and victoriously raised from the dead.
After hanging many hours on the cross, Jesus utters the words "I am thirsty". This statement also reveals both God and man. "I am" - the same words the Lord gave Moses when He said, "Tell them I am sent you. I am that I am, the eternal Son of God sent you." The same words Jesus used when He told the Pharisees, "Before Abraham was, I am." He says, "I am" ...That's Deity! And then He says..."thirsty". And that's humanity.
The irony of being God and man is; all the items used to crucify Jesus were made and put on this earth by Jesus. The wooden cross, the nails, the thorns, the spear, the hill etc. all came from this earth in one form or another. This earth that was created by God.
There is a poem written by F. W. Pitt that helps us to see what a great paradox He was - how Deity and humanity resided in the One we call Jesus.
The Maker of the universe
As man for man was made a curse;
The claims of laws which He had made
Unto the uttermost He paid.
His holy fingers made the bough
Where grew the thorns that crowned His brow;
The nails that pierced His hands were mined
In secret places He designed.
He made the forrests whence there sprung
The tree on which His body hung
He died upon a cross of wood,
Yet made the hill on which it stood!
The sky which darkened o'er His head
By Him above the earth was spread;
The sun which hid from His face
By His degree was poised in space!
The spear which spilt His precious blood
Was tempered in the fires of God;
The grave in which His form was laid
Was hewed in rocks His hands had made!
The throne on which He now appears
Was His from everlasting years!
But a new glory crowns His brow
And every knee to Him shall bow!
By George Konig
August 15, 2004
www.georgekonig.org
See a list of all of our commentaries