Did Jesus Ever Get a Stomach Virus? (My Response.)
Dr. Russell Moore responds, "Yes," based upon Jesus' full humanity.
I say, "No," for reasons mentioned by some in the "comments" section of Moore's post:
1. Sickness is not a necessary element of humanity; Adam, before the Fall, would not have gotten sick.
2. Human weaknesses of Jesus are specifically mentioned in the Gospel accounts; He hungered after fasting, He was sleepy, etc. But the Gospels never mention Jesus being sick, which, if He had gotten sick, would have been similarly notable.
3. Sin, sickness, and death appear to be related in the Bible (for example: Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 8:17); just as Jesus, being sinless, would not have "naturally" died as we "naturally" die-- rather, He laid down His life on His own accord (John 10:18)-- Jesus wouldn't have "naturally" fallen ill.
4. In so emphasizing the Incarnation, I fear we run the risk of under-estimating the uniqueness of the Cross. We may miss the idea that Jesus, at a specific point in His ministry, began to bear the sins of His people upon His own body and endure divine wrath on our behalf. Jesus did not experience the wrath of God against sin throughout His entire life; He would not have cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" at His baptism.
I say, "No," for reasons mentioned by some in the "comments" section of Moore's post:
1. Sickness is not a necessary element of humanity; Adam, before the Fall, would not have gotten sick.
2. Human weaknesses of Jesus are specifically mentioned in the Gospel accounts; He hungered after fasting, He was sleepy, etc. But the Gospels never mention Jesus being sick, which, if He had gotten sick, would have been similarly notable.
3. Sin, sickness, and death appear to be related in the Bible (for example: Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 8:17); just as Jesus, being sinless, would not have "naturally" died as we "naturally" die-- rather, He laid down His life on His own accord (John 10:18)-- Jesus wouldn't have "naturally" fallen ill.
4. In so emphasizing the Incarnation, I fear we run the risk of under-estimating the uniqueness of the Cross. We may miss the idea that Jesus, at a specific point in His ministry, began to bear the sins of His people upon His own body and endure divine wrath on our behalf. Jesus did not experience the wrath of God against sin throughout His entire life; He would not have cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" at His baptism.
Labels: personal
posted by Andrew Lindsey | 11:44 PM
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