What you call yourself, Luke vs. Lucas

Recap

  1. Jesus, Son of David ∙ Messiah ∙ Anointed One ∙ everlasting kingdom
  2. Jesus, Son of Joseph ∙ obeyed ∙ adopted ∙ ordinary
  3. Jesus, Son of Man ∙ his preferred name for himself. (84x)

This is what we celebrate at Christmas, the Incarnation.

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity.

Philippians 2:5–7

form = morpheus = refers to inner form, not outer like we would naturally think about the word.

Jesus was God… but that’s not all he was. He was also man. 💯 both

How?

Brand new car, showroom, test drive through the mud.

When the salesman sees you and his car, he comes over and exclaims, “What have you done to my car?!?” You calmly reply,
“I haven’t taken anything away from your car;
I’ve only added to it!”

The beautiful shine of the car is still there. Its luster and beauty haven’t been removed. But what has happened is that something else has been added to the car that prevents these qualities from being able to shine through.

Christ’s deity, while fully possessed, could not be
fully expressed due to his having taken on human nature.

Even though Christ is fully God in the incarnation, he cannot express the full range of his divine qualities or attributes owing to his having also taken on full human nature.

This is the miracle of all miracles…

Prophets had foretold it, a mighty King would come
Long awaited Ruler, God’s Anointed One
But the Sovereign of all looked helpless and small
As God gave the world His own Son

And who would have dreamed or ever foreseen
The Giver of Life is born in the night
Revealing God’s glorious plan
To save the world

Who Would’ve Dreamed, Sovereign Grace

1. There’s nowhere you’ll go He hasn’t already been.

It was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God.

Hebrews 2:17, NLT

Whatever you are going through, Jesus has gone through in one way or another.

A. He went through it perfectly as your example.

Ben asked me about WWJD bracelets. Even better question is WDJD—What Did Jesus Do?

B. He went through it perfectly as your substitute.

Whenever you fail the test you’re going through, you can rely on the fact that he went through the same thing perfectly, and his perfection is applied to your imperfection.

  1. There’s nowhere you’ll go He hasn’t already been.

2. There’s no temptation you’ll face He hasn’t already conquered.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:15

Ever failed bigtime and the person in authority was unable to sympathize? I don’t know of too many feelings that are worse. That’s not the way Jesus is, because he’s the Son of Man.

  1. There’s nowhere you’ll go He hasn’t already been.
  2. There’s no temptation you’ll face He hasn’t already conquered.

3. There’s no condemnation you’ll feel He hasn’t already taken.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus… God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.

Romans 8:1,3 NLT

Jesus had to be a human being to take the condemnation for human beings.

This may well be the Christmas you need to hear most.

Ever need some reassurance of your forgiveness, that God really does love you, really did come for you, really does invite you to have a relationship with him?

What if I don’t feel better?

This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows all things.

1 John 3:19–20

Jesus’ blood is greater than your feelings. Lean on objective truth, the Truth of the Son of Man. Preach the gospel to yourself!

There’s more to the phrase Son of Man than just the fact that Jesus was a human. It’s a phrase from the Old Testament, and Jesus used it intentionally.

  1. There’s nowhere you’ll go He hasn’t already been.
  2. There’s no temptation you’ll face He hasn’t already conquered.
  3. There’s no condemnation you’ll feel He hasn’t already taken.

4. There’s no knee that will not bow.

I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.

Daniel 7:13–14

“You have said it,” Jesus told him. “But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Matthew 26:64

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5–11