No greater mystery exists for men, than how the LORD JESUS CHRIST can be perfectly and completely GOD, and yet perfectly and completely a man, born of a fleshly mother. It is no wonder that man in his earthly wisdom cannot and will not receive this most glorious truth. The perfections and glory of the Eternal GOD cannot be comprehended by natural men. Only as the LORD is pleased to give men life and faith can they receive this truth, even then seeing dimly.
Men have spent much time and effort in seeking to give explanations of this phenomenon, which they hope, can satisfy the carnal mind, yet none is ever sufficient. All of man's “explanations”; either seek to limit HIS deity or deny HIS total humanity. The man of faith, on the other hand, does not need “explanations”, but is quite satisfied with “revelation”, which is only given to those who are “born again.” (see John 3:3) This “revelation” is set forth in the words of John, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”(John1:18) It is also manifested in the confession of Peter, “And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6:69), and concluded by John, ”And the Word was made 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.” (John 1:14)
All of the errors concerning the PERSON of CHRIST, stem from a faulty view of this most compelling mystery. These errors lead to a faulty view of the purpose of GOD in the creation of the world as well as the purpose for which CHRIST came into the world that HE created. This is demonstrated most clearly as HE went about doing good, all the while being hated by the very ones who were the recipients of HIS earthly benevolence. “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (John 1:10,11) “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isa 53:3) “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory. Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1Cor 2:7,8)
The apostle Paul is a good example of the inability of the natural man to comprehend who this MAN, JESUS, actually is. Once he was given eyes to behold HIM seated upon the throne of HIS glory, he necessarily bowed down, calling HIM LORD. He then discovered a view of HIM as not simply the leader of a religious sect which threatened the very foundations of that which he understood to be the purpose of GOD. Oh, how the mercy of GOD is displayed in showing him that this MAN JESUS is both LORD and CHRIST; the LAWGIVER, and the FULFILLER and SUSTAINER of the very law which, he thought, he held in the highest esteem.
In our perusal of the Psalms it becomes quite evident, to us, that, though, David was the penman of most of these wondrous words, yet CHRIST is the SUBJECT of them and they comprise both the testimony and the prayers of the LORD JESUS as HE walked among men and communed with HIS Heavenly FATHER. HE was indeed tempted (i.e.; tried and exercised) in all points like as we are, and HE learned (i.e.; experienced) obedience by the things which HE suffered. HE was heard in that HE feared. (see Heb.5:7-9), and thus became the SURETY of HIS people, even as HE is their EXAMPLE, that they should follow HIS steps. (see I Peter 2:21)
Since HE is a perfect man, exercised in every trial, and acquainted with every sorrow, which befalls the sons of men, HE is sympathetic unto HIS fellow men, even as HE instructs all of mankind to be. “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Mat 22:39) HE demonstrated HIS human kindness every day as HE walked among the sons of men. HE saw the infirmities of those around HIM and HE ministered to their needs, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and giving sight to the blind. HE manifested the perfect keeping of the law. This is the same law, which HE had shown the rich young ruler that he yet was deficient in, saying, “Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor.” (Luke 18:22) Not only did HE (as a perfect MAN) give all that HE had, but HE did so with great joy, demanding nothing in return.
Psalm 35 serves to demonstrate both the perfect HUMANITY and the absolute DEITY of JESUS CHRIST. In the very first verse we see the prayer of a righteous MAN crying out to HIS FATHER for help. HE has none other upon which HE will call and HE feels HIMSELF overwhelmed with the onslaughts of HIS enemies which certainly threaten to destroy HIM. HE would confess that HIS trust is in the LORD, even as Jonah, in the belly of the great fish, declared. “Salvation is of the LORD.” HE knows the weakness of the human frame since HE has taken upon HIMSELF flesh and blood.
Yet we see HIM pray a prayer that no sinful man can rightly pray as HE asks that the LORD destroy HIS enemies. “Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.”(Psa 35:4-6)
In these words, we see HIM demonstrate HIS righteous indignation against all who will seek to harm HIM. HE instructed us to never pray such a prayer. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Mat 5:44) “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” (Luke 6:27-28) HE, alone, who walked in human flesh as TRUE GOD could breathe out these righteous judgments. Mere mortals, sharing a sinful nature, have no grounds upon which to pass such condemnation (see John 8:11) upon one another. Yet HE who is eternal must desire such in order to fulfill the purpose of the FATHER whose will HE came to perform.
But then we see HIM demonstrate a characteristic which cannot not at all be found in a mere human being by nature. HE says, of those who hated HIM, despised HIS way, and even bore false witness against him (see v.11), “They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.” (Psa 35:12). Yet HE sought not their destruction for HE says “when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.” (Psa 35:13-14)
In this passage I am reminded of Paul's words, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:6-8) Oh who is sufficient for these things? Who can comprehend the depths of HIS mercy and the wideness of HIS love to undeserving sinners who have not only despised HIS word but hated HIS person. Surely the Psalmist is right when he wrote, “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.” (Psa 130:3-5)
mam