The Humanity of Christ

[I prepared, but never delivered, the following Bible study for the pre-work prayer meeting we used to have when I worked for UPS.]

I. Jesus was a man, suffering the same physical weaknesses of all people, such as:
A. Hunger (Matt 4:2)
B. Thirst (John 19:28)
C. Sleepiness (Mark 4:38)
[I've argued elsewhere that this does not extend to weaknesses, such as death or sickness, which are specifically related to Original Sin.]

II. As a man, Jesus also suffered emotional turmoil: "Then He said to them, 'My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death, remain here and keep watch with Me.'" (Matt 26:28)

III. Furthermore, Jesus suffered spiritually through temptation: "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." (Heb 4:15)
A. Because He was truly human, Jesus can sympathize with us in our weaknesses.
B. The one way in which Jesus differed from all other people is that He was without sin: 1 Pet 2:2; 1 John 3:5.

IV. Because Jesus was a human free from sin– not needing atonement for any sin on His part– He was uniquely qualified to take away the sin of humanity: Rom 5.