Jesus Humanity The basis of our identity Jesus
Jesus’ Humanity The basis of our identity
Jesus restoring the divine image It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified: What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honour and put everything under their feet (Psalm 8). In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not [yet] see everything subject to them. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour… (Hebrews 2: 5 -9).
The divine image Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. ” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground” (Genesis 1: 26 -28).
Jesus the restored Adam/humanity Jesus, once anointed by the Spirit, exercised authority (rulership) over: sin, sickness, demons, death and creation/nature Here is the true Adam, in the image of God, ruling as God’s vice-regent. The coming of the kingdom in Jesus is the coming of the new humanity, restored to authority under God. Jesus performed signs and wonders from his anointed humanity
The key ideas • Image=authority, • identity, • ministry, in that order.
Jesus the Son of Man/New Adam 1. The Son of Man in Daniel 7 (Daniel 7: 13 -14, 27). The Son of Man = the “saints of the most high. ” 2. Son of Man was Jesus’ chosen self-designation = the new humanity. 3. All of humanity was taken up into him on the cross (John 12: 32) as the Day of Judgment took place. 4. All who are “in him” have already been judged. The person who believes in Jesus, has eternal life and will not be judged, but has crossed over from death to life (John 5: 24).
Jesus, the first fruits of the resurrection Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever (Daniel 12: 2). 1. The phenomenon of Jesus risen body. 2. His body as our prototype. 3. He “breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (John 20: 22). 4. The echo of Genesis 2: 7, therefore the new creation of humanity. 5. “He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1: 3).
Jesus, bringing many sons to glory In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family (Hebrews 2: 10 -11). To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne (Revelation 3: 21). Humanity finally restored to rule under God as vice-regent
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