Jesus Christ possesses both divinity and humanity so that He can be the Mediator between God and man and the Redeemer of all mankind. He must be a man to die for us, the sinners; He must be God to overcome death and make redemption possible.

Shalom brothers and sisters! Last week, we talked about Jesus Christ, the Redeemer who is not just a man, but is also truly God. In fact, it is impossible for us to know God if God had not come into the world. The Word becoming flesh and coming into the world is the noblest and most humble act of God – He was willing to humble Himself as a man, like us, having flesh and blood and in need food. Finally, Jesus Christ died on the cross for us and accomplished salvation. This is the humanity of Jesus Christ.

Moreover, Jesus Christ, is also God. He has divinity in His nature and came to the world. Therefore, we say “He is man”, and “He is God”.

In what ways can we prove that Jesus is the True God?

First of all, according to Romans 9:5, “of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.” Paul directly called Him “over all” and “the eternally blessed God!” The term used is very clear.

Second, Matthew 14:32-33 say, “And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” Brothers and sisters, Jesus accepts the worship of His disciples. This is worth discussing further, why? For the Jews knew very well that they should not worship anything created things but God. Hence, if Jesus is a created being, He would not accept the worship of the people. However, Jesus knew who He is, so as God, He accepted their worship.

Several Bible passages show that the Jews would not accept the worship of the people. In Acts 4:25-26, Peter was led by the Holy Spirit and went to Cornelius’ house to preach the gospel. Cornelius also saw a vision and knew that a man of God would come to him. When Peter entered Cornelius’ house, Cornelius knelt and worshipped him. But Peter quickly rejected him, because Peter knew clearly that he was a created being, a man but not God.

Other great apostles, Paul and Barnabas, went to Greece and Athens where they performed miracles and preached the gospel of resurrection. The people at the times noticed their greatness, they considered them as gods who came down to earth in human form and wanted to worship them by offering flowers. Paul and Barnabas stood in the crowd and tore their clothes then said, “Do not worship me, but worship the God who created heaven, earth and everything in the universe.” This is recorded in Acts 14:8-18.

An amazing example is recorded in Revelation 22:8-9, the Apostle John saw the angel that came on the island of Patmos with great glory and light. So John fell down on his knees naturally, but the angel quickly said, “Do not worship me. I am a fellow servant with you and was created like you.” In other words, even angels would not accept the worship of man. However, Jesus accepted the worship of His disciples. The reason is simple, He knows He is God, hence, He can be worshipped.

Thirdly, John 8:56-58 say, “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” When Jesus finished speaking these words, the Jews took up stones and stone Him because He blasphemed and regarded Himself as God.

What was Jesus endeavouring to express here? He says, “before Abraham was born, I am”. This is a pre-existence statement. The essence of pre-existence belongs to God, not to man. I existed only after I was born; I no longer exist once I am dead. However Jesus said to the Jews, Abraham’s descendants, “Before Abraham …” that 1500 years ago, he already existed. That’s beyond comprehension.

Fourthly, John 10:30 says, “I and the Father are one”. This is a short verse in the original text, the “one” is one in nature, implies that Jesus and the Father are of the same divinity. No wonder the Jews wanted to stone Him upon hearing this claim, for they thought: You blasphemed and being a man yet regarded yourself as God.  

Therefore, friends, “Who is Jesus?” Why would He say that He and God are of the same divinity? Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” What remains unchanged is perfection. We are constantly changing because we are not perfect, and we are constantly decaying because we are limited. Nevertheless, Jesus Christ is unchangeable; He is the same from eternity to eternity because He is God.

1 Corinthians 8:6 says, “Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” It is clearly stated that He is the origin of all things, and He is the Creator God.

Mark 2: 5&10 say, “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralysed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” … But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man … Who is Jesus Christ? It is a very clear example that He has the authority to forgive sins. He can acquit people from eternal punishment brought about by sin. This authority is not possessed by the created. No wonder the Jews were confused, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:6 & 7)

The Jews know too well that the authority to forgive sins belongs to God. So what Jesus Christ said to the paralysed man shocked the Jews. How did Jesus dare to say such words? He said, “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins, I say to the paralysed man, arise, and walk.” The man was paralysed but Jesus called him to arise and walk, the man got up and walked. It is wonderful because He is the Son of the Living God and came to this world in flesh.

Finally, in Revelation 1:18, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Jesus rose from the dead, He conquered death, and He held the keys to death and Hades. Who can control life and death? The keys to Hades and death are with Him. So when the people sent Jesus into the tomb, He opened the gate to Hades, came out, and was resurrected – because He is the Master of Life. Death could not hold Him.

Why must Jesus Christ possess both divinity and humanity?

Since Jesus Christ possesses divinity and humanity, it is the duality of God and man. How does this relate to His function as the Mediator or Redeemer between God and man? Or why does Jesus Christ, the Mediator or Redeemer, have to possess both divinity and humanity?

1 Timothy 2:5 & 6 say, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.”

Hebrews 10:19 & 20 say, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body.”

Jesus Christ must possess both the divinity and humanity so that He can become the Mediator between God and man and the Redeemer of mankind. Why? ① Because Jesus is God, He can come into the world in search of man on behalf of God, He is the outflow of God’s grace to man. ② Jesus is man, and He can come before God on behalf of man; only through Him, a man without sin, so that man is accepted by God. And He is also both God and man so that God and man ‘meet’ in Him – He brought God to us and He brought us, the sinners to God. Therefore, God and man meet in Jesus Christ, and He became the mediator or bridge between God and man.

We thank God for He is a man, and He can die for us - the sinners. The wages of sin is death, and He took upon Himself the full curse and as man’s substitution, died on the cross. On the other hand, He is God, hence He can overcome death and rise from the dead so that redemption can be completed. Therefore, Jesus, having both the nature of divinity and humanity, became the Saviour of mankind.

We thank God that Jesus is God and Jesus has eternal life; all sins were placed upon Him, and these sins were borne and undertaken. In the end, He was resurrected, as His life overcame death that was brought by sin. This is the amazing God, Jesus Christ in whom we believe.

How should we respond to the great redemption that Jesus Christ provides?

As a man, we acknowledge that everything we have today is given by this God, and importantly, our salvation comes from Him. Therefore we should be willing to dedicate ourselves to God, keeping God’s Word, and doing God’s Will to glorify Him; this is called commitment.

How should we let our redeemed body glorify God? According to 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies.” Let us glorify Him! He is our Saviour, He is our Redeemer.

Next week, we will discuss the Holy Spirit. Please stay tuned.