LESSON 6
FULLY MAN
The Implications of Christ’s Humanity
TEACHING AIM: To understand the clear biblical teaching that Jesus was fully human and experienced suffering, temptation, and human emotions like we do; that He was like us in every way, in terms of His humanity, yet without sin.
WHY STUDY THIS LESSON: The Bible teaches that Jesus was fully human and shared in all the characteristics of humanity, except that He was without sin.
DESIRED OUTCOME: To present Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, who has experienced suffering, temptation, and the wide range of human emotions, so we can come to grips with the God-Man who can fully relate to our lives in this broken world. Only Jesus, God in human flesh, has the power to represent all of humanity and be sinless to pay for the sins of humanity.
Background Passage: Hebrews 2:5-18; 4:14-5:10
Focal Passage: Hebrews 4:14-16
· Jesus is the Great High Priest who has made atonement for our sins (v. 14).
· Jesus was tempted just as we are, but He did not sin (v. 15).
· Because of what Jesus did for us, we are confident that we will receive mercy and grace from the Father (v. 16).
Memory Verses: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time (Heb. 4:15-16).
Preparing to Teach
If you have been a Christian for many years, you may have never questioned the dual role of Jesus as both Man and God. There have always been many who deny the divinity of Christ. It’s harder to grasp that there were people who insisted that Jesus was not human, but only appeared to be. This heresy spread through many of the early churches, threatening to destroy the stability of the established churches and the potential for growth.
Jesus’ humanity is a critical part of our faith. Without the human element, Jesus could not have accomplished the essence of His ministry—to lay down His life as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind. This lesson will examine the implications of Jesus’ humanity, allowing your learners to firmly grasp this vital truth.
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Teacher Helps
To learn about the role of the High Priest, go to www.mystudybible.com and enter Hebrews 4:14-16. Then click on Cross References and Dictionary Tool. Select a dictionary and scroll to “high priest.”
Study this lesson carefully and prayerfully. Consult commentaries to clarify your understanding, answer your own questions, and anticipate questions from your class. Before class:
· Write the headings High Priest and Great High Priest on two separate tear sheets.
· Locate an image of a biblical high priest. Check children’s Sunday School teaching pictures or locate and print an image from the Internet.
· Prepare silent testimonies. Cut 11-by-14-inch placards from cardboard or poster board. Using large, bold print, copy the testimonies from the “Hold Fast” section. (Do not include names.) Write the first part on one side and the part labeled “flip side” on the back, head to foot so the text is readable when the placard is flipped.
· Recruit three men and three women for silent testimonies. Each in turn will step forward, hold the placard long enough for the class to read, flip to the back side, then step back. No words should be spoken.
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Teaching Tip
If you are unfamiliar with silent (or cardboard), testimonies, type “cardboard testimonies” in your Internet browser to find a video example.
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Teaching Suggestions
HOLOGRAM OR HUMAN?
Greet class members and visitors. Ask them to share some things they heard or observed as they visited before class that showed the humanity of those around them, such as emotions, aches and pains, needs.
Say: We know the folks around us aren’t apparitions or holographic illusions, nor are they robots made to look human. We observe one another and, with all their strengths, weaknesses, quirks, and good qualities, we have no doubt they are completely human.
Introduce the lesson topic and explain why it is important to understand who Jesus is and His purpose. Explain that we will examine the implications of His humanity during our study time today.
Lead in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus as God Incarnate to all present.
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Teaching Option
Follow up on the Travelogue example of the holographic presentation of Michael Jackson. Research efforts to produce holographic images of Jesus by typing “Holographic images of Jesus” on your Internet browser. Explain these efforts to class members. Show some of the images; don’t present them as accurate, but only speculative. Impress on learners that we don’t need to see ghost-like images of Jesus to know who He is or why He came. The testimonies we have from God’s Word are all we need.
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TRUTHS OF JESUS’ HUMANITY
Say: The apostles and other leaders of the early church had their hands full. Explain that as quickly as the Gospel was carried from one region to another, false teachings sprang up, threatening to undermine the truth that Jesus is both human and divine. Using the lesson writer’s explanation in Venture In Travelogue, page 60, briefly share the teaching that Jesus only appeared to be human, but was actually a spirit. Comment: Imagine how the apostles would have responded to such an assertion. After all, they had spent three years living side by side with Jesus, observing everything He did.
Invite a volunteer to read 1 John 4:1-3. Respond to the question on page 60 of the Travelogue: What is a good test to discern whether someone is teaching God’s truth? Summarize: John wanted believers to discern truth from lies and recognize that a true teacher confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.
Call on nine volunteers to look up the list of Scriptures in the Travelogue (p. 61) that attest to Jesus’ humanity (Matt. 4:2; Matt. 8:10; Matt. 24:36; Mark 3:5; Mark 10:13-14; Mark 14:33-34; Luke 24:36-43; John 4:6-7; and John 12:27,13:21). As you write the answers on the board, suggest that learners record them next to the passage in their Travelogues.
When the list is complete, ask for other ways Jesus showed His human nature. Pointing to the list, summarize: Jesus had physical needs—to eat, to drink, to rest; He had emotions—grief, joy, indignation, anger, sadness, and pleasure. Discuss the implications of Jesus’ humanity and why it’s important that we believe it. Ask: Why does this matter? What would the loss of Jesus’ humanity take away from:
· His birth? (Though divinely conceived, He was born in a human manner and raised normally from infancy to adulthood.)
· His life? (Jesus experienced pain, needs, trials, and temptations, allowing Him to identify with the struggles of the people.)
· His death? (If He hadn’t been human, He wouldn’t have died. Without His brutal death on a cross, we could not experience His redemption.)
· His resurrection? (He overcome the grave so we can have eternal hope in Him.)
IMPLICATIONS OF JESUS’ HUMANITY
Discuss the role of a lawyer. He must know the law well enough to present his case before the judge. He must know his client’s case well enough to present the best defense. He literally stands between the client and the judge as a mediator or go-between.
Invite a volunteer to read Hebrews 4:14. While the passage is being read, attach the High Priest and Great High Priest tear sheets to a focal wall. Post the image of a high priest in the temple between the two sheets. Divide class into two groups. Group 1 will summarize the role of the high priest based on explanation from the Travelogue, page 62, and other sources. Group 2 will list the qualities that make Jesus the only Great High Priest, based on Hebrews 4:14-16. Each group will write key words on the sheet and be ready to explain.
Summarize: The high priest played the role of mediator between God and mankind, but the high priest was not perfect so he could not be a perfect mediator. There is only one Great—or perfect—High Priest, and that is Jesus.
Discuss the question: Could Jesus have mediated the case between a holy God and sinful people if He hadn’t been fully human? (Travelogue, p. 63). Include the following in your discussion: What is sin? How does our sin appear to God? What punishment is required for our sin? (death) Emphasize that we rely on Jesus’ willingness to stand between us and God. Jesus could not have done that if He hadn’t walked in our shoes, suffered as we have suffered, and experienced temptation.
Ask: When are you weakest and least able to resist temptation? (when tired, frustrated, hurt, disappointed, afraid) Wait for responses, then read Hebrews 4:15.
Ask: Would you resist going to someone and admitting you struggle with a certain sin? Would it make a difference if this person said, “I’ve struggled with this too”? Read Hebrews 4:16. Say: We can approach God because Jesus has paved the way. He stands with us.
Share a scenario about owing money and being unable to repay. Ask: Would you avoid the creditor? Probably. But what if someone said, “I’ll go with you and pay your debt.” Conclude: This is exactly what Jesus already has done for us with our debt of sin. He paid with His own blood.
Have volunteers read Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:24-25. Direct the class to record their responses to the questions in Travelogue, page 66: Where is Jesus now and what is He doing there? (He is at the right hand of God, interceding for us; He is able to save us because He intercedes for us.)
HOLD FAST
Call on the six volunteers you enlisted earlier. Direct them to stand in front of the class with the placards you gave them. Explain that these volunteers will stand in front of the class, holding his or her testimony long enough for class to read it, then flip it to the concluding side.
· Testimony 1: The angel Gabriel told me I would be the mother of the promised Messiah. Flip side: He was born in a stable. (Mary, mother of Jesus)
· Testimony 2: I was with Jesus at the temple when He turned over the greedy merchants’ tables and drove them out. Flip side: Jesus was angry. (Matthew or any of the disciples)
· Testimony 3: Jesus spoke to me, a Samaritan, while I drew water from a well. Flip side: He was thirsty. (Samaritan woman)
· Testimony 4: I was inconsolable with grief when my dear brother died. Flip side: Jesus mourned with me. (Martha)
· Testimony 5: Jesus told me to touch the wounds on His body. Flip side: Jesus suffered the pain of His whipping and cruel death. (Thomas)
· Testimony 6: I was with Jesus on a boat when He fell asleep. When a threatening storm came up, He did not wake up. Flip side: He was weary. (disciple)
Summarize that we can trust the testimonies of the witnesses who walked with Jesus and observed His human nature.
Conclusion
Challenge class members to spend time this week considering the implications of Jesus being both fully God and fully man. Encourage them to share the Good News with someone who doesn’t know why the incarnation is so important.
Close with prayer.
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Teaching Option
Follow up on the lesson writer’s illustration of “From a Distance” by Bette Midler (Travelogue, p. 67). Listen to the audio or watch the video version. Discuss ideas we may have about how God views and interacts with us based on the lyrics of this song. Stress that this “distance” has been closed by the sacrificial offering of our Savior.
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Follow Through
· Text or email the words “Hebrews 4:14-16” to class members as a reminder that they have Jesus Christ as their Great High Priest.
· Contact members who shared prayer requests to let them know you are praying for them.
· Prayerfully determine who needs your encouragement this week and reach out.
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