Jesus upon coming to earth, took upon him the nature of man. “The word was God … And the word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1, 14). “God was manifested in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16). He came in the likeness of man (Romans 8:3; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14, 17). What an amazing thing!

Here is another amazing thing, which is often missed. The nature of Jesus seems still to be connected with the nature of man. He is still referred to as “man” (Acts 17:31), and “the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:4-5; cf. Hebrews 9:15). How can such be? (1) Jesus was bodily resurrected (John 2:19-21; Luke 24:39-40; Acts 2:25-31; 13:34-37). True, Jesus sometimes did things in post-resurrection that physical bodies can not naturally do, such as appearing in a room with closed doors (John 20:19, 26). However, the explanation is found in miraculous workings, and not in denying the physical resurrection. Remember, Jesus did similar feats in his pre-crucified state (cf. Luke 4:28-30). (2) At some point, perhaps at the ascension Jesus’ body was changed. This is evident because “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 15:50). Yet, it is clear that Jesus in post-resurrection had flesh (Luke 24:39). (3) The glorified body to come is related in some way to the earthly body. This is illustrated with the relationship between seed and plant (1 Corinthians 15:35-37). I do not claim to fully understand this. Even John, did not fully understand this (1 John 3:2; cf. Philippians 3:21).

It seems that Jesus will forevermore be linked with man. “He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brethren (Hebrews 2:11).

We should each sing “Oh, what love/matchless love/Oh, what love for me was shown” (song: In Gethsemane Alone by Samuel E. Reed) and “I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how he could love me, a sinner condemned unclean/when with the ransomed in glory his face I at last shall see, ‘Twill be my joy then in heaven to sing of his love for me’” (song: I Stand Amazed in the Presence by Charles H. Gabriel).