Understanding Jesus: Divine Nature and Human Limitations

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus' Humility in Limiting His Divine Attributes

During His earthly ministry, Jesus chose to limit the exercise of certain divine attributes, such as omniscience, to fulfill God's redemptive plan. This decision was not a relinquishment of His divine nature but a demonstration of His humility and willingness to embrace humanity. By experiencing hunger, fatigue, and other human conditions, Jesus fully identified with the human experience while remaining fully divine. This profound act of humility underscores the depth of His love and commitment to God's plan for salvation. [04:51]

Hebrews 2:17-18 (ESV): "Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."

Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate humility in your life by choosing to limit your own rights or privileges for the sake of others?

Day 2: Understanding Kenosis and Jesus' Divine Nature

The concept of "kenosis," as described in Philippians 2:7, highlights Jesus' self-emptying during His incarnation. It is crucial to understand that this self-emptying did not mean Jesus ceased to be God. Instead, He willingly accepted human limitations while maintaining His divine nature. Any teaching suggesting that Jesus stopped being God is incorrect and dangerous. This understanding of kenosis emphasizes the depth of Jesus' humility and His unwavering commitment to God's redemptive mission. [07:16]

Colossians 2:9 (ESV): "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily."

Reflection: How does understanding Jesus' self-emptying challenge your perception of power and authority in your own life?

Day 3: The Incarnation: Addition of Humanity, Not Subtraction of Deity

Jesus' incarnation was characterized by a voluntary limitation of divine attributes, not a subtraction of His deity. By adding humanity to His divine nature, Jesus fully experienced human life while remaining fully God. This profound mystery of the incarnation reveals the depth of God's love and His desire to be intimately involved in the human experience. It also serves as a reminder of the lengths to which God will go to fulfill His redemptive plan. [09:12]

John 1:14 (ESV): "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Reflection: In what ways can you embrace the mystery of the incarnation in your daily walk with Christ, allowing it to deepen your relationship with Him?

Day 4: Jesus' Glorified State and Divine Wisdom

In His glorified state, Jesus likely no longer operates under the self-imposed limitations of His earthly ministry. While the Bible does not explicitly state His current knowledge of His return, believers can trust in His divine wisdom and sovereignty. This trust in Jesus' glorified state encourages believers to rely on His wisdom and guidance in their own lives, knowing that He is fully capable of leading them according to God's perfect plan. [14:25]

1 Corinthians 15:25-27 (ESV): "For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For 'God has put all things in subjection under his feet.' But when it says, 'all things are put in subjection,' it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper trust in Jesus' wisdom and sovereignty in areas of your life where you feel uncertain or anxious?

Day 5: The Unique Nature of Jesus and the Holy Spirit

The belief that believers can do everything Jesus did because they are filled with the Holy Spirit is a dangerous concept. While the Holy Spirit empowers believers, it is essential to recognize the unique nature of Jesus' relationship with God and His divine attributes. Understanding this distinction helps believers appreciate the unique role of Jesus in God's redemptive plan and encourages them to rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance in their own lives. [18:04]

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (ESV): "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone."

Reflection: In what ways can you seek the Holy Spirit's guidance to understand and embrace your unique role in God's plan, rather than comparing yourself to others?

Sermon Summary

On this beautiful day, I am thrilled to share some exciting developments and delve into a profound theological question. Recently, I received a Burmese translation of my Gospel of John commentary, thanks to the dedicated efforts of Aaron Moon and his team in Myanmar. This translation is a testament to the power of God's word reaching diverse communities, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the spiritual growth of Burmese-speaking believers.

Today, we explore a thought-provoking question from Junebug regarding the nature of Jesus' knowledge during His earthly ministry. Specifically, we consider whether Jesus was all-knowing or if He had limitations on His knowledge, as suggested by John 16:30 and Matthew 24:36. This inquiry leads us to reflect on the nature of Jesus' incarnation and the self-imposed limitations He accepted.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus did not relinquish His divine attributes but chose to limit their exercise. This is evident in His experiences of hunger, fatigue, and other human conditions. The incarnation was not a subtraction of deity but an addition of humanity. Jesus, fully God and fully man, chose not to access certain divine attributes, such as omniscience, for the purpose of fulfilling God's redemptive plan.

The concept of Jesus' self-emptying, or "kenosis," as described in Philippians 2:7, emphasizes His humility and willingness to embrace human limitations. However, it is crucial to understand that Jesus never ceased to be God. His divine nature remained intact, and any teaching suggesting otherwise is both incorrect and dangerous.

As we consider Jesus' current glorified state, it is reasonable to believe that He no longer operates under the self-imposed limitations of His earthly ministry. While the Bible does not explicitly state whether Jesus now knows the day and hour of His return, we can trust in His divine wisdom and sovereignty.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus' incarnation involved accepting human limitations without relinquishing His divine attributes. He chose not to exercise certain attributes, such as omniscience, to fulfill God's redemptive plan. This demonstrates His humility and willingness to embrace humanity. [04:51]
2. The concept of "kenosis" in Philippians 2:7 highlights Jesus' self-emptying, but it is essential to understand that He never ceased to be God. Any teaching suggesting that Jesus stopped being God is incorrect and dangerous. [07:16]
3. Jesus' earthly ministry was characterized by a voluntary limitation of divine attributes, not a subtraction of deity. His incarnation was the addition of humanity, allowing Him to fully experience human life while remaining fully divine. [09:12]
4. In His glorified state, Jesus likely no longer operates under the self-imposed limitations of His earthly ministry. While the Bible does not explicitly state His current knowledge of His return, we trust in His divine wisdom. [14:25]
5. The belief that believers can do everything Jesus did because they are filled with the Holy Spirit is a dangerous concept. While we are empowered by the Spirit, we must recognize the unique nature of Jesus' relationship with God and His divine attributes. [18:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:15] - Introduction and Weather Update
[00:44] - Exciting News: Burmese Translation
[01:41] - Ministry Overview and Resources
[03:01] - Lead Question Introduction
[03:14] - Jesus' Knowledge and Limitations
[04:32] - Jesus' Self-Imposed Limitations
[06:07] - The Concept of Kenosis
[09:12] - Incarnation: Addition, Not Subtraction
[12:51] - Jesus' Glorified State
[14:57] - Dangers in Misunderstanding Jesus' Nature
[18:04] - Believers and the Holy Spirit
[19:51] - Greater Works: Magnitude vs. Spectacle
[22:40] - Closing Remarks and Prayer Requests

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

John 16:30
Matthew 24:36
Philippians 2:7

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Observation Questions:

According to John 16:30, what did the disciples express about Jesus' knowledge? How does this relate to the question of Jesus' omniscience during His earthly ministry? [11:46]
In Matthew 24:36, what specific knowledge did Jesus say He did not have? How does this statement contribute to the understanding of Jesus' self-imposed limitations? [09:27]
Philippians 2:7 speaks of Jesus "emptying Himself." What does this mean in the context of His incarnation and acceptance of human limitations? [07:16]
How does the sermon describe the nature of Jesus' limitations during His earthly ministry? What examples are given to illustrate these limitations? [04:51]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of "kenosis" in Philippians 2:7 help us understand the nature of Jesus' incarnation and His acceptance of human limitations? [07:16]
What are the implications of Jesus choosing not to access certain divine attributes, such as omniscience, during His earthly ministry? How does this choice reflect His humility and purpose? [04:51]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that Jesus' glorified state differs from His earthly ministry in terms of knowledge and divine attributes? [14:25]
How does the sermon address the potential dangers of misunderstanding Jesus' nature and the belief that believers can do everything Jesus did? [18:04]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on the concept of Jesus' self-emptying. How can embracing humility and accepting limitations in your own life lead to spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with God? [07:16]
Consider the idea that Jesus chose not to exercise certain divine attributes to fulfill God's redemptive plan. Are there areas in your life where you need to trust God's plan and let go of control? [04:51]
The sermon warns against the belief that believers can do everything Jesus did. How can you recognize and appreciate the unique nature of Jesus' relationship with God while still being empowered by the Holy Spirit? [18:04]
How does understanding Jesus' acceptance of human limitations during His earthly ministry impact your view of His empathy and relatability to our struggles? [04:51]
In what ways can you apply the lesson of Jesus' voluntary limitations to your own life, particularly in areas where you feel the need to prove yourself or rely on your own strength? [04:51]
Reflect on the idea that Jesus' incarnation was an addition of humanity, not a subtraction of deity. How does this understanding influence your perception of Jesus' dual nature as fully God and fully man? [09:12]
How can you cultivate a deeper trust in Jesus' divine wisdom and sovereignty, especially in areas of uncertainty or when answers are not immediately clear? [14:25]

Sermon Clips

Jesus never gave up any of his divine attributes but he did limit the exercise of them and we know this just simply from reading the Gospels the gospel tell us that Jesus became tired hungry thirsty that Jesus experienced stress and pain he developed from being a newborn to an infant to a toddler to a boy to a teen to a grown man. [00:04:34]

The Bible tells us that God never sleeps he that keep his Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps Jesus became tired and slept he didn't stop being God no we got to stop and we need to know this this was not the loss of these attributes please remember that Jesus was and is God. [00:05:30]

Jesus could never stop being God and I want to emphasize this idea if you can stop being God who were never God to begin with because divine nature is is unchanging now Jesus added a human nature to his divine nature and there were several situations many times in his life where Jesus refused to draw upon. [00:05:57]

Jesus did not deny his omniscience he did not reject his omniscience is all knowingness but he set aside for a purpose and God's redemptive plan his access to that omniscience or the exercise of it there's an illustration I've used before I'll use it again and I don't know if this illustration connects with you or not. [00:09:56]

Jesus still retained his omniscience even if there were times when he chose not to access it now you give a second part of this question that says this also now that Jesus has ascended to the Father in his glorified State does he now know the day in the time of his return I would just simply say this. [00:12:34]

When Jesus added humanity to his deity in the Incarnation he retains in remains the god man forever how do we know this well there's many places we know this but let me just give you one example in first Timothy chapter 2 verse 5 this is what Paul wrote for there is one God and one mediator between God and men. [00:13:06]

There's every reason to believe that whatever limitations Jesus accepted during the years of his earthly ministry he's no longer under those self-chosen limitations now I'm gonna admit the Bible doesn't tell us at least from my knowledge as much as this as we wish so we can't say definitively but I would say that Jesus would have set aside. [00:14:22]

Jesus accepted human limitations during his earthly ministry we already talked about that he became hungry thirsty tired faced stress and pain all these things that God never faces in his deity Jesus accepted these human limitations during his earthly ministry that's number one number two some people say that Jesus never drew on or operated out of his divine. [00:14:49]

Jesus mostly did not draw on or operate out of his divine nature as ministry I'm not so sure if I can say never but but mostly okay no problem there but here's the danger to ever teach that Jesus stopped being God that's a huge danger folks Jesus can never stop being God and if there's anybody who teaches that. [00:16:44]

Jesus could never stop being God so yes we understand that Jesus accepted human limitations but never gave up his deity now there's we'll also go on the point that Jesus drew on or operated out of the power of the Holy Spirit in his mission okay we can understand that but then they make a dangerous point from that this is the dangerous point. [00:17:39]

You have corruption in you that was never present in Jesus Christ and Jesus had a level a relationship with God a communion with the Holy Spirit a wisdom in in his communion with God the Father that honestly you and I don't have and never will have because Jesus is Jesus and we are his followers so we're not here to say that we can do everything. [00:18:40]

Jesus did not mean greater in the sense of more sensational but greater in the sense of magnitude Jesus is telling us that he would leave behind a victorious working family of followers who had spread his kingdom to more people in places than Jesus ever did in his life in ministry now if you think greater works is impossible. [00:19:42]

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Understanding Jesus: Divine Nature and Human Limitations

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus' Humility in Limiting His Divine Attributes

Day 2: Understanding Kenosis and Jesus' Divine Nature

Day 3: The Incarnation: Addition of Humanity, Not Subtraction of Deity

Day 4: Jesus' Glorified State and Divine Wisdom

Day 5: The Unique Nature of Jesus and the Holy Spirit

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Understanding Jesus: Divine Nature and Human Limitations

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