Some people have a difficult time relating to Jesus, because somewhere they have gotten the idea that He was specially protected, and shielded from the difficulties of life as we experience it.  Nothing could be further from the truth of the matter.  Jesus experienced all the aches and pains, trials and pressures of this life that we do, but more so, and with greater intensity.

Upon coming to Earth, He emptied himself (Philippians 2:7 ASV).  He came in the likeness of man (Philippians 2:7; Romans 8:3; Hebrews 2:17).  He was born of a woman (Galatians 4:4).  He was born in a stable.  His first crib (or basinette) was a manger, that is a feed trough for animals (Luke 2:7).  He was circumcised on the eighth day as other Hebrew boys (Luke 2:21).

He was reared in Nazareth (Luke 2:39, 51).  Nazareth was a very insignificant place.  It was a very, very small village.  It never once is mentioned in the Old Testament; Neither, is it mentioned in the Talmud; Nor does the historian Josephus make mention of it, though he mentions 204 Galilean towns by name.  It was not a famous or important place (John 1:46).  He was in subjection to His earthly parents (Luke 2:51).  He evidently grew and developed mentally, intellectually, physically, socially, and in every other way as normal boys grow (1 Samuel 2:26; Luke 1:80; Luke 2:40; Luke 2:52).  He grew up the Son of a carpenter (Matthew 13:55).  He, Himself, evidently learned and practiced the trade as well (Mark 6:33).

So far as His appearance is concerned the Bible says, “He hath no form of comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him (Isaiah 53:2).  Homer Hailey wrote of Isaiah 53:2, “There will be no beauty, no royal adornments such as people desire, But only an unimposing peasant carpenter from a small obscure village in Galilee.”  He did not appear with a halo around His head or any special beauty to attract people to Him

He grew tired, or weary (John 4:6).  He needed sleep (Mark 4:38).  He experienced hunger (Matthew 4:2) and thirst (John 4:6-7; John 19:28).  He experienced sorrow (John 11:35; Luke 19:41).  He saw one disciple betray Him (Luke 22:48) and another deny Him (Luke 22:60-61).  Isaiah 53:3 says, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.”  He had physical limitations as a man (Luke 23:26; Mark 15:20-21).  He tasted death (Hebrews 2:9), the most terrible, horrible death imaginable.  The very word ‘excruciating’ literally means ‘out of the cross.’  The cross is synonymous with pain, great pain.

He was tempted (Matthew 4:1; Luke 4:2, 13).  The Bible says that He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).  He “did no sin” (1 Peter 2:22).

What about His miraculous abilities and His inspiration?  Jesus, indeed, worked miracles and was inspired.  But there are a few things which we should remember: #1 – Jesus emptied Himself.  His special powers came not because He was “God in the flesh” (which He was), but His powers came through the anointing of the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:38; Luke 4:18-19; Matthew 12:26-28).  Jesus preached a perfect message by the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:18-19; Acts 1:1-2).  The apostles did their mighty deeds through the same power.  #2 – The Holy Ghost did not come upon Jesus until He was 30 years of age (Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3, John 1 – see especially Luke 3:22-23).  It is not until after this that one finds words like “(He) needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man” (John 2:25 cf. John 1:47-48).  It is not until after this that we have any record of Jesus working miracles (cf. John 2:11).  #3 – Miraculous abilities and inspiration did not keep or shelter one from the potential of sinning (for example: Moses, Balaam, Samson, David, Solomon, the prophet of 1 Kings 13, Jonah, Judas, Peter, those of the churches of Galatia and Corinth, etc.).

The next time that you are tempted to feel sorry for yourself read the words of Hebrews 12:2-4, “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross; despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.  Ye have not resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”