Page 32 - Christology - Student Textbook

Confirmation of Jesus Humanity in the OT
Isaiah 7:14-17
Isaiah, in his prophecy in chapter 7, references Ahaz who was under the attack of both the king of
Israel and Syria. Instead of trusting in God, he paid tributes to the king of the Assyrians,
Tiglathpileser so that he would rescue him (2 Kings 16:7-8; 2 Chr. 28:16). Isaiah gave Ahaz a sign of
salvation, not in a pagan king, but in His coming as King.

Initially, Isaiah noted that the virgin was going to conceive and give birth to a
son. The key word here is “virgin.” A woman who had not ever had relations
with a man was to conceive the son of God.

In ancient Hebrew, the word ‘alma’ could mean ‘youth’ or ‘adolescent’ or
someone who is of marriageable age and has not had relations with a man.
According to Matthew, the latter meaning appears to be the correct
interpretation. Theologically, that is significant because Jesus Christ was born with no sin nature.
We now know that Adam is the representative of all humanity. As a child of Adam, every child born
alive today is born with that nature to sin.

Isaiah had a reason for sharing the sign to Ahaz. God through Isaiah wanted
Ahaz and all Judah to focus on that child because if they trusted in Him,
complete freedom from all their enemies and the penalty of sin was
possible.

Confirmation of Jesus’ Humanity in the NT

Growth in Wisdom, Stature, and Favor (Luke 2:52)
In Luke 2:41-52, we find a story of Jesus at age 12 staying behind in Jerusalem. Verse 52 is very
interesting because woven in it is the unraveling of the humanity of Jesus Christ. It says Jesus
“increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” Jesus was both God and
human. The growth of Jesus reflects His humanity, for as God He did not need alterations in His
quality and quantity. Both His deity and humanity agreed concerning His growth in those three
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aspects.

Life Experiences (Matt. 2:13-14; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 2:22-24; Heb. 2:14; 4:15; 1 John 4:2-3)
While in Bethlehem, Herod sent the Magi to find Jesus Christ in Bethlehem (Matt 2:3-8). His
intention was to kill Him for fear that if He grew up, He would inherit his throne. The Jews were
looking for a political Messiah. As we know, an angel instructed Mary and Joseph to go to Egypt.
(Matt 2:13-15). If Jesus was not human, why were His parents warned about Jesus‘ safety [Matt
2:16-18; cf. Jer. 31:15])? The warning suggests that Jesus Christ was fully a human, capable to being
killed or harmed.

Mark 4:35-41, describes the flight of Jesus and His disciples from one side of the Sea of Galilee to the
other. There was a furious squall which hit and nearly deluged the boat. Jesus was sleeping and was
woken by His disciples. Obviously humans sleep. God does not sleep (cf. Ps 121:3-8) This indicates
that Jesus Christ was also fully man.

Jesus was also circumcised just like any other boy in that time could have been circumcised in
accordance with the Law of Moses (Luke 2:22-24).

87 Darrell L. Bock, Luke: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, ed. Moises Silva (Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1994), 1: 274.

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