scottsholar

     Imagine yourself at a coin show. You’re a coin-collector looking for a new purchase. You walk up to a table, and you spot an unusual looking coin. After holding it in your hand for a while, you ask the vendor, “what is it made of?” The person replies, “It’s 100% gold and 100% silver.” Of course, your reply would be, “you’re joking, right?”

     Now, imagine that you are a dog-breeder, and you have taken your dog to the veterinarian for a checkup. While you’re waiting to be seen by the doctor, you see another person waiting with their pet. After looking at the other dog for while, you ask the owner, “what breed of dog is that?” The owner replies, “he is 100% Irish Setter and 100% Golden Retriever.” Once again, your reply would be something like, “that’s funny.”

     Finally, you’re at an antique shop searching for an antique chair for your home. You notice a unique chair, and you stroll up to the antique dealer and ask her, “what kind of wood is the chair made of?” The shop-owner says, “it’s 100% oak and 100% pine.” Your response would be, “that’s a good one.”

     Jesus Christ, however, was 100% God and 100% man (God-incarnate). Our finite human brains have a “hard time” comprehending this, but the Bible says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). Jesus was, simultaneously, “Son of God” and “Son of Man.” Jesus, although fully divine, referred to himself more often as “Son of Man.” He was both at the same time.

     The writer of Hebrews states, “But we see Jesus, who made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth in the form of man to die for the sins of mankind, but He did not give up His divine nature. He was the sinless Son of God. And because Jesus was willing to become man, we have hope today. And that hope consists of forgiveness of sin and escape from eternal punishment. And also, Jesus promised us, “‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full’” (John 10:10). Jesus was both God and man. And because of that, we now have the hope of eternal life in the world to come and abundant life here on Earth.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.