Humanity of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ was a man

By his own claims

John 8:40 CJB

As it is, you are out to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Avraham did nothing like that!

See also Mt 8:20

In statements made by others

John 19:5 CJB

So Yeshua came out, wearing the thorn-branch crown and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Look at the man!”

See also Mt 8:27; Mk 15:39 the centurion; Lk 15:2 the Pharisees and teachers of the law; Lk 23:18; Jn 1:33; Jn 4:42; Jn 7:12; Jn 7:15 some Jews; Jn 7:27; Jn 9:33; Jn 11:47; Ac 2:22–23

Jesus Christ shared in the general condition of humanity

He assumed human nature

Jn 1:14 “flesh” here speaks not only of a material body but also of human nature.

See also Php 2:7–8; Heb 2:14; 1 Jn 4:2

He had a human descent

Romans 1:3 CJB

It concerns his Son—he is descended from David physically;

See also Mt 1:1; Mt 13:54–56; Ro 9:5

He had a normal body which could be handled and touched

1 John 1:1 CJB

The Word, which gives life! He existed from the beginning. We have heard him, we have seen him with our eyes, we have contemplated him, we have touched him with our hands!

See also Mt 14:36; Lk 2:28; 1 Ti 3:16

He had a soul

Matthew 26:38 CJB

and he said to them, “My heart is so filled with sadness that I could die! Remain here and stay awake with me.”

See also Is 53:11

Jesus Christ partook of human experience

He was born

Galatians 4:4 CJB

but when the appointed time arrived, God sent forth his Son. He was born from a woman, born into a culture in which legalistic perversion of the Torah was the norm,

See also Lk 2:6–7

He grew and developed

Lk 2:40; Lk 2:52

He was hungry

Matthew 21:18 CJB

The next morning, on his way back to the city, he felt hungry.

See also Mt 4:2

He was thirsty

John 19:28 CJB

After this, knowing that all things had accomplished their purpose, Yeshua, in order to fulfill the words of the Tanakh, said, “I’m thirsty.”

See also Jn 4:7

He was tired

John 4:6 CJB

Ya‘akov’s Well was there; so Yeshua, exhausted from his travel, sat down by the well; it was about noon.

He slept

See also Mt 8:24

He was tempted

Hebrews 2:18 CJB

For since he himself suffered death when he was put to the test, he is able to help those who are being tested now.

See also Mt 4:1; Heb 4:15

He suffered

1 Peter 4:1 CJB

Therefore, since the Messiah suffered physically, you too are to arm yourselves with the same attitude. For whoever has suffered physically is finished with sin,

See also Col 1:22; Heb 5:7–8; Heb 10:10; 1 Pe 2:24

He died

Mt 27:50 Jesus Christ most closely identified with the rest of humanity through his death. However Jesus Christ is distinct from human beings in that his death was an act of free will and not the inevitable consequence of sin (see Jn 10:17-18).

See also Heb 2:9; Heb 2:14

The risen Christ has human characteristics

Luke 24:37–43 CJB

Startled and terrified, they thought they were seeing a ghost. But he said to them, “Why are you so upset? Why are these doubts welling up inside you? Look at my hands and my feet—it is I, myself! Touch me and see—a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you can see I do.” As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. While they were still unable to believe it for joy and stood there dumbfounded, he said to them, “Have you something here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, which he took and ate in their presence.

See also Jn 20:27

The returning Christ retains his human identity

Acts 1:11 CJB

The men said, “You Galileans! Why are you standing, staring into space? This Yeshua, who has been taken away from you into heaven, will come back to you in just the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Jesus Christ was a sinless human being

Heb 4:15 Sinlessness does not make Jesus Christ less human. It is sin that degrades humanity.

See also Lk 23:41; Lk 23:47; Heb 7:26

The necessity of Jesus Christ’s humanity

As a man Jesus Christ made atonement for sin

Romans 5:18–19 CJB

In other words, just as it was through one offense that all people came under condemnation, so also it is through one righteous act that all people come to be considered righteous. For just as through the disobedience of the one man, many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the other man, many will be made righteous.

See also Ro 5:12–17; 1 Ti 2:5; Heb 2:17

As a man Jesus Christ gives the gift of resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:21 CJB

For since death came through a man, also the resurrection of the dead has come through a man.

See also 1 Co 15:45; Php 3:20–21

As a man Jesus Christ is able to help others in their need

Hebrews 2:18 CJB

For since he himself suffered death when he was put to the test, he is able to help those who are being tested now.

See also Heb 4:15–5:2

As a man Jesus Christ is the perfect example

Philippians 2:5–8 CJB

Let your attitude toward one another be governed by your being in union with the Messiah Yeshua: Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God something to be possessed by force. On the contrary, he emptied himself, in that he took the form of a slave by becoming like human beings are. And when he appeared as a human being, he humbled himself still more by becoming obedient even to death— death on a stake as a criminal!