September 6, 2004

THE MAN CHRIST JESUS

"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5, NKJV).

The burden of this triple title is to emphasize the nature of Christ as a man. Jesus did not represent any segment of society, race, gender or nationality. He was an authentic representation of all humanity, both women and men.

This declaration of the apostle Paul came as a condemnation of the prevalent, but false, theory taught in his day by a branch of Gnosticism known as the Docetists. This group advocated the theory that Christ did not have a real human body, but merely appeared to have one. Paul and John firmly faced this heresy and strongly condemned it (see 1 John 4:3). Jesus was no spiritual phantasm pretending to be a man. Christ's response to doubting Thomas confirms His bodily form. "Handle me and see," Jesus said, "for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have" (Luke 24:39, NKJV).

The redemption story teaches that through the miracle of the incarnation, Jesus "became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14, NKJV). He was in every respect a real man, a true and complete human being like any other man, except that He "knew no sin" (2 Corinthians 5:21). He came as a helpless babe, bearing the humanity we bear. (See Review and Herald, September 4, 1900.) It was as the Man, Christ Jesus, that our Saviour, our substitute and high priest, came. Only through this Man, Christ Jesus, can the sinner be reconciled to God. Speaking of this Man, Ellen G. White wrote, "He took upon Him the work of mediator between God and man. In the fullness of time, He was to be revealed in human form. He was to take His position at the head of humanity by taking the nature but not the sinfulness of man."--Signs of the Times, May 29, 1901.

My Prayer Today: Lord, as the Man, Christ Jesus, You have redeemed me, and as the Man, Christ Jesus, You intercede for me. Amen.