As to Christ’s humanity:

“For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” (NIV, Hebrews 2:17)

As to Christ’s temptations:

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin.” (NIV, Hebrews 4:15)

As to the hostility in Christ’s own flesh:

“14 For he is the peace of us, the one having made the two one and having broken, the middle wall of the partition the hostility, in the flesh of him, 15 the law of the commandments in ordinances having annulled, that he might create the two in himself into one new man, making peace, 16 and he might reconcile the two in one body – to God through the cross, having killed the hostility by it.” (The New Greek – English Interlinear New Testament (A), Ephesians 2:14 – 16)

As to Christ dying to sin:

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” (NIV, 1 Peter 3:18)

As to you and me walking in the path Christ pioneered for us:

“20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (NIV, Ephesians 4:20 – 24, underlines are mine)

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I’m glad you’re joining me for another post on the humanity of Christ and the journey and adventure (yes, an adventure) he experienced and endured.

Christ persevered in grace, in the revelation of his father.

It seems strange there’s a need to present and discuss the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ with the Scriptures so clear.

Nonetheless, the enemy has gone to great lengths over the centuries to distort and confuse the simple truth of Christ, his humanity, his journey, his pattern, and perfection.

Hopefully, this post will breathe new life in the knowledge of Christ, remove some of the fog, and promote a fresh read of the Scriptures.

If we do not understand who Jesus is and who he became, how can we understand our life and who we are to become in Christ?

You don’t have to be a Bible scholar to understand the truths of Scripture.

It is the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit and the light and breath of God that brings life to the Scriptures for the sage and babe alike.

No one need err in the knowledge of Christ. The Scriptures were not designed to be funneled through layers upon layers of teachings and traditions.

Christ is here, now, to reveal his word to you just as he did to Israel 2,000 years ago. The same Jesus is ready to take you on a journey with him, just like he did with Peter, Paul, and others in ages past.

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My last post focused on the grace extended to Christ in the revelation of the Father; putting to death the deeds of the body to walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:10; 1 Peter 3:18)

Jesus Christ was a man just like you and me, subject to the same appetites and desires of the body, soul, and spirit.

Unlike us, who are born into “works,” i.e., predisposed to entertain and embrace sin as our parents and ancestors – naturally inclined toward sin, Christ, though “… born under the law …,” (NIV, Galatians 4:4) was born into “grace,” (Luke 2:40), predisposed toward righteousness – naturally inclined toward godliness, the first of a new creation – receiving a newly begotten spirit from his Father.

Though he was not bent toward sin like us at birth, he inherited wounds and brokenness from his mother’s ancestral line and the “pull” to sin that comes with those wounds and weaknesses, being “… born of a woman …” (NIV, Galatians 4:4)

Jesus, the second Adam, not only faced Adam and Eve’s temptations, the power of sin seeking access from the outside, but also the power of sin coming forward from his mother’s ancestral line, i.e., “… the hostility, in the flesh of him …” (The New Greek – English Interlinear New Testament (A), Ephesians 2:14 – 15)

Revelation of the Father

Christ was made perfect through the revelation of his Father – “… he learned obedience from what he suffered.” (NIV, Hebrews 5:8)

The revelation of the Father to Christ is the baptismal journey Christ was taken into, pioneered, and perfected.

This includes the putting to death the deeds of the body to walk in newness of life – “resurrection life.” (Romans 6:10; 1 Peter 3:18)

Jesus redeemed his ancestral line back to Adam, i.e., mankind, by putting to death the deeds of the flesh he inherited, by grace, through faith, through the work of the Father in his life. He overcame sin, past and present.

Yes, Jesus Christ operated in grace and faith. The Scriptures are replete with references to the faith “of” Christ. (Romans 3:22-26; Galatians 2:16, 3:22; see an interlinear)

The Scripture is clear Christ inherited hostility in his flesh; flesh being broadly used as a term for the wounds and brokenness in body, soul and spirit.

All was not perfect in Christ at birth. It took a life’s journey, close to 30 years, (before his public ministry) for his perfection and resulting exultation – King, Priest, and Prophet.

(And Yes, Christ was exalted King, Priest and Prophet before his public ministry – how else could he offer salvation, raise the dead, heal the sick, have creative authority over the elements – except having a name above every other name – the Word manifested in flesh.)

It was a journey Christ undertook by grace, through faith, the revelation of the Father, for himself, first and foremost.

Out of his victories (journey) over sin, the devil, the world, and the hostility in his flesh, birthed the forerunner, pioneer, and perfecter of our faith.

This is the heart of the gospel. This is the journey of Christ and the pattern for us.

Wounds, Weaknesses & Brokenness, Passed from Generation to Generation

Christ, like you and me, inherited weaknesses and wounds from his ancestors and had to overcome them just like we are admonished to do by grace, through faith, the handiwork of God.

This is the promised grace to come as foretold by the ancients (1 Peter 1:10) – grace through faith to put the death the deeds of the body, made alive in spirit, to walk in newness of life.

Christ, the second Adam, by grace through faith in the revelation of the Father overcame sin’s temptation from within and without.

We, who are born again in Jesus Christ, have the same opportunity in grace through faith in the revelation of Jesus Christ to put the death the deeds of the body and be made alive in spirit.

The Father took Christ where he would not naturally go, and Christ takes us where we would not naturally go.

This is being taken deep in Christ.

This is Christ’s “coming,” going into the deep and secret places of our heart and life to cleanse and heal those areas keeping us separated from God and the righteousness of life offered in Christ.

My friend, now is the time more than ever to reach out to the Lord Jesus Christ and ask him to take you deep in him.

The simple truth of the Scripture is summed up in Jesus Christ. He is the heart of the gospel. He faced the same temptations within and without.

He is the pioneer and perfecter, the firstborn, the first fruit, and the forerunner of everything there is in God.

Historic Christianity

Many people struggle, scholars and otherwise, with the thought Christ would have wounds and brokenness, and the power of sin from those wounds and brokenness tempting him in his flesh.

It seems too human, like us.

Scholars readily admit meanings have been forced on passages because they don’t know what to do or make of the scripture – because the scriptures do not align with the layers upon layers of teachings about Christ. (e.g., 1 Peter 3:18, Ephesians 2:14 – 16, etc.)

If we don’t understand who Christ is, his journey, struggles, and victories, and how he endured and persevered, then how can we understand who we are and our journey?

The misunderstanding of Christ, who he is, who he became, what he accomplished and apprehended in his father, and what his father accomplished and apprehended in him, robs the Lord Jesus Christ of his glory.

Yes! It robs Jesus Christ of his glory. It robs him because the truth of Christ is hidden, the truth about him, and the truth of what he can and has promised to do in those seeking him.

If we do not understand the heart of the gospel and the fullness of Christ available to us, the promise of the Father for rest for the weary and heavy laden, and the deep work which Christ desires to do in the heart and life of his children, then we are like those of old who could see at a distance the glory cloud and watch it move away, bypassing them.

As I said in the last post, it is ironic that the absence of sound and scriptural teaching of the journey and adventure of the Lord Jesus Christ – may I be so bold as to say, the fear of teaching the “weakness” of Christ in the wounds and brokenness in his flesh he had to overcome, does not enhance the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, but, takes the glory of God from him.

Christ’s journey may seem far removed from our experiences because the church “at large” has not experienced the birth pangs of having the deeds of the body put to death in a very deep and meaningful way.

We like the shallow end of the pool. Christ is calling us into the deep waters of his Spirit where he, and only he, can keep us afloat.

Where is the resurrection life and power of Christ today in the church at large?

Where is the teaching of Christ, his journey, his adventure, his becoming and perfection – dying to sin to walk in resurrection life?

Does the lack of our understanding of who Christ is, who he became, and what he accomplished in God influence the revelation of Christ to the church today?

There is yet more, much more, to be revealed by the Lord Jesus Christ of his “person” to his Saints in the days ahead.

Revelation

Revelation from God opens up the Scripture and ushers the recipient into the truth and spirit of God’s word.

You can only reveal what God has given you and experience the revelation of God to the extent it manifests in your life.

As I’ve noted in a number of posts, each new move of the Spirit unfolds more understanding and knowledge of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

You cannot tell a child about the birds and the bees until the time is right.

You do not give keys to a brand-new Corvette to someone who cannot drive and be responsible for the care, cost, and wear and tear of the vehicle.

And so, it is with the spiritual things of God.

It is through centuries and generations God reveals more and more of himself in the plan of God and in the adventure and journey he has for man in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The topic of Christ’s personal journey is not a hot topic of conversation that attracts viewers on television or other media.

It makes for poor viewing and ratings.

We want to hear, participate and experience, the outward visible manifestations of the Spirit of God.

We want to see the power of God manifested in healing and miracles.

We want to see the power of God manifested in deliverance, signs, and wonders.

But Jesus desires the cup to be cleaned from the inside first. The outflow of a cup overflowing with Christ will manifest the things of Christ.

Let’s focus on first things first – those that bear fruit, change lives, and advance the kingdom of God.

Clean the inside of the cup and the outside will shine the glory and love of Jesus.

The inside of the cup, you and me, need the care and love of Christ, cleansing and healing, just as Christ needed care and love from his Father.

Out of cleansing and healing, care and love, comes the manifestation of the Spirit and the gifts of God.

Let’s join with Christ in the cultivation of the soil of our heart and mind, that they might bear the richness and fullness of Christ in their appointed time.

Christ’s Personal One-On-One Ministry

Jesus loves one on one ministry.

Jesus waits decades for us to get to the place where we just want him, and him alone. Where we feel we are going to die unless we have him, and have him intimately in union.

Decades of striving in the things of God become but a faint memory when the Lord Jesus Christ shows up and begins a deep and profound work in one’s life.

Nothing compares to the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing compares to the revelation of his word and the gentleness of his discipline and kindness of his love.

Nothing compares to the softness of his voice and the leading of his Spirit.

Nothing compares to his commitment to see you through to the promise of God, the rest in Christ he has just for you.

Nothing compares to the unplanned and unimaginable surprises he has waiting for you.

And nothing compares to the kisses of his Spirit.

And yet, the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, his personal “coming” to individuals to take them unto himself, is not one we would naturally choose.

It is too fearful to the flesh, because we’re use to fleshly pursuits and the broken way of living handed down and embraced by us.

Our natural inclination is not to die to sin to walk in newness of life.

Our natural inclination is otherwise.

But thanks be to God, he does not leave us at the wells of bitterness and despair, destined to destroy our life and others.

He knows we are but dust and easily faint.

He intercedes again and again to take us unto himself. Jesus is determined and committed to you and me.

Being taken deep by the Lord is not something we would naturally choose. It is something the Lord graciously invites us into, to be gently wooed into the things of God, an easy yoke and a light burden.

The hour is late for the church. The hour is late in our own personal lives. We only have so much time. The Lord gives us a lifetime to experience Christ and the revelation of God.

The Lord is birthing forth a new move in our generations. Jesus is taking the church beyond Pentecost into the third and final feast of the church.

Many have experienced this through the ages but now Christ is coming to untold thousands and bringing them into the deep experience of intimacy and union with him.

This is what you deeply desire on the inside, to know Christ and to know him well, intimately, and to be joined with him as a wife is to her husband.

Blessings, Drake

(A) The New Greek – English Interlinear New Testament by Translators Robert K. Brown and Philip W. Comfort, Editor: J. D. Douglas. Copyright © 1990. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

(NIV) Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblical, Inc.™