PRACTICAL BENEFITS OF UNDERSTANDING JESUS AS A MAN

Many Christians interpret the biblical passages concerning Jesus differently, leading them to conclude that Jesus is both fully God and fully man. Others find this formulation difficult to explain logically. For example, while a cloth may be 100% cotton or 100% nylon, it cannot be both at the same time, although both cotton and nylon are fully cloth. Cotton and nylon would be equal, independent of each other and each able of itself, to do what the other can do. This is not true about God and Jesus Christ. Holding the view that, according to careful biblical exegesis, [Matthew 16:13-18; 1 Timothy 2:5; Acts 17:31; Acts 3:26; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28] Jesus is not the Supreme God but the human Messiah, Prophet, Teacher, and God's appointed Representative—whose authority, greatness, and mission rest entirely upon God's appointment—has several practical benefits. 1. It Promotes Godly and Responsible Leadership This understanding inspires political leaders, community leaders, church leaders, and believers to pursue the kind of leadership that Jesus demonstrated and that His future reign will perfectly embody: humility, righteousness, justice, compassion, servant-heartedness, and complete obedience to God. It reminds us that God alone is the Supreme Authority. Every leader is therefore accountable to Him, should seek His guidance through His Spirit, and should recognize that leadership exists not for personal gain but for the good of others and the fulfillment of God's purposes. The highest calling of leadership is to seek the welfare of creation and humanity in accordance with God's will. 2. It Encourages Respect for Legitimate Human Leadership This understanding also encourages respect for human leaders when they exercise their responsibilities with justice, wisdom, and integrity. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly appoints human beings to positions of authority to accomplish His purposes. Moses, Joshua, David, the prophets, the apostles, and ultimately Jesus Himself were all appointed by God for specific missions. Recognizing this biblical pattern encourages respect for lawful authority while reminding every leader that they remain accountable to God for how they exercise their stewardship. 3. It Encourages a Consistent Reading of Scripture and Rational Reflection This position seeks to harmonize the whole testimony of Scripture while remaining consistent with sound reasoning. The Bible repeatedly declares that God is not a man (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Hosea 11:9). It also consistently presents God as appointing human representatives to carry out His purposes on earth. This understanding therefore maintains a clear distinction between the Creator and His creation, just as human beings do not become angels by nature, nor angels become human beings by nature. It also fully recognizes the reality of Jesus' humanity. He was born, breastfed, grew from infancy to adulthood, increased in wisdom and stature, worked as a carpenter, became hungry and thirsty, grew tired, slept, prayed, suffered, was tempted, and experienced the ordinary realities of human life. His greatness was not found in self-exaltation but in perfect faithfulness, unwavering obedience, complete dependence upon God, and total commitment to the mission entrusted to Him. For believers, this understanding reinforces the truth that greatness in God's kingdom is achieved through faith, obedience, humility, perseverance, and submission to God's will—qualities that Jesus perfectly demonstrated throughout His earthly life. His example therefore becomes not only an object of admiration but also a practical pattern for every disciple to follow. ~ Rev. Elijah Mutua Kirima THE WORD OF GOD IS THE WILL OF GOD. JULY 23, 2026.