Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Did Jesus Ever Sneeze?

I realize that the title will cause some to be a bit hesitant to read any further, but I am not trying to be ridiculous.

My point in asking if Jesus ever sneezed is to emphasize what the Scriptures do about Him: that He was "being found in appearance as a man" (Philippians 2:8). On earth Jesus didn't enjoy such divine protection from physical suffering. As a matter of biblical record, He suffered much (e.g., the cross).

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (1 Peter 2:23–25).

Remember that God became flesh; that's actually the meaning of the name Immanuel—"God with us" (Matthew 1:23). And the reason why He became flesh was to save us from ourselves by becoming what we were supposed to be from the beginning when God saw that everything He had created was very good (Genesis 1:31).

And the only way for us to overcome these frail bodies is by walking by faith, and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). I don't believe faith is blind—faith is directed by God's word (Romans 10:17; 14:23).

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (1 John 3:1–3).

Stuck Going Through the Motions

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live ...