The deity of Jesus Christ is central to the Christian faith, affirmed not just in the New Testament but throughout the entire Bible. Understanding Jesus as fully God and fully man is crucial for grasping His eternal nature, His mission, and His profound love for humanity. This post will explore how Scripture reveals Jesus as the eternal Creator, why He became a man, and how His incarnation is the ultimate expression of divine humility and glory.
Jesus in the Old Testament: The Eternal Creator
From the beginning, Jesus’ presence is evident. He was not a created being, but rather the Creator Himself. John 1:1-3 (NKJV) declares, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” This passage establishes that Jesus, the Word, was not only with God but was God, co-eternal with the Father.
In Genesis 1:26, God says, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” The plural “Us” reflects the presence of the Trinity in the act of creation. Jesus is also seen in prophetic glimpses throughout the Old Testament. For example, Isaiah 9:6 prophesies, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” This clearly attributes divinity to the coming Messiah, affirming that He is indeed the Mighty God.
Micah 5:2 underscores the eternal nature of Jesus, saying, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem was not the beginning of His existence; He is from everlasting.
The Incarnation: Fully God and Fully Man
The incarnation of Christ, God becoming flesh, is one of the greatest miracles in history. John 1:14 (NKJV) states, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus, while stepping into the realm of humanity, did not relinquish His deity. Philippians 2:6-8 explains, “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Though He was fully man, Jesus never ceased being fully God. He exhibited divine knowledge, such as when He knew the thoughts of the Pharisees (Matthew 9:4) and revealed intimate details about the Samaritan woman’s life (John 4:17-19). His mastery over nature was evident when He calmed the storm (Mark 4:39), and His authority over life and death was displayed when He raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43-44).
Why Did Jesus Become a Man?
The purpose of the incarnation was multifaceted. First, Jesus came to reveal the Father and embody God’s love (John 14:9). He also came to identify with humanity’s suffering and weaknesses. Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV) affirms, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus experienced hunger, exhaustion, grief, and temptation, yet He remained sinless. This perfection was necessary for Him to be the spotless Lamb, the final and sufficient sacrifice for sin (1 Peter 1:19).
Jesus became a man to do what humanity could not—overcome sin and death. Romans 5:19 explains, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” His sinless life, culminating in His sacrificial death, provided atonement for our sins. Only by the shedding of His pure, sinless blood could humanity be redeemed (Hebrews 9:22).
The Meekness of Christ: Power in Humility
One of the most profound aspects of Jesus’ incarnation was His display of meekness. Though He was God, with the power to command legions of angels (Matthew 26:53), He chose the path of suffering and humility. He washed the feet of His disciples (John 13:5) and submitted to the scorn and mockery of those He came to save. Isaiah 53:3 says, “He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Yet, in His suffering, He demonstrated perfect obedience and love.
This meekness was not weakness; it was power under perfect control. Jesus, who could have spoken one word to end His tormentors, chose instead to endure the cross for the joy set before Him—the redemption of mankind (Hebrews 12:2). His restraint was the ultimate expression of love and obedience to the Father, earning Him the name above all names (Philippians 2:9).
The Unfathomable Nature of God
The deity and humanity of Jesus confront us with the limits of human understanding. We cannot fully fathom a being who has no beginning or end, who is all-knowing and all-powerful, and who is present everywhere at once. The mystery of the Trinity—three persons in one essence—further deepens this wonder. But while we may not comprehend it fully, we believe it because it is what Scripture teaches.
Jesus’ life and works provide undeniable evidence of His deity. From His miraculous birth to His resurrection, everything about Him testifies that He is God. John 20:28 recounts Thomas’ declaration, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus did not rebuke him, affirming that worship and acknowledgment were right.
My Final Thoughts
In Jesus, we see the perfect union of divinity and humanity. He is the eternal Word, the Creator of all things, who chose to become flesh to save us. His life was marked by perfect obedience, compassion, and strength under submission. He sympathizes with our struggles and provided the only means for our salvation through His sinless sacrifice. Jesus did not lay aside His deity when He took on human flesh; He displayed it in love, meekness, and ultimate sacrifice.
Though we may not be able to comprehend every aspect of His nature, we hold fast to the truth of His deity and His glory, for “great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16). It is in this belief that we find hope, redemption, and the assurance that He is worthy of all honor and praise.
