Jesus Christ was born some two thousand years ago, to a woman named Mary. When she became pregnant, Mary was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, and she was still a virgin. The Bible is clear that Jesus is the son of God – he was conceived by the Holy Spirit, God’s power.
And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great… The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.”
Luke 1:30-35
Whilst Jesus is the son of God, he was also a human being, inheriting from his mother the mortality that we all share. He faced temptations to sin, just like we do.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:18
The difference is that Jesus was perfect in his obedience to God; he did no sin, despite having the capacity to sin like we all do.
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
Hebrews 5:8
Because he is the son of God, and by completely submitting to and fulfilling his father’s will, Jesus revealed to us the nature and character and purpose of God in a way that nobody else could.
I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.
John 17:26
Jesus’ obedience was complete even to the giving of his life in a cruel crucifixion.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:8
This was God’s will, and it reveals to us the incredible love that God has for his creation. He wants us to believe in him and live forever with him in his coming kingdom. Through the obedience of Jesus, we have the wonderful hope of everlasting life in a perfect world!
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Yet the grave could not hold Jesus. He did no sin and did not deserve permanent death, so God raised him to life again and exalted him to a high position. Following his resurrection Jesus ascended to heaven to be with his father, and he is there today, waiting to return to earth to establish the kingdom of God and restore creation to perfection.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11
Further reading on this and other topics is available on the website of the Christadelphian Office:
