Though Jesus is the Son of God, He didn’t live on earth in the glory of His divinity. He came as a man—fully human. That’s why He could be our substitute, but even more, our example. The Bible calls Him “the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). He was made in the likeness of men, just as our opening verse says. That’s also why He could be tempted (Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13; Luke 4:1–13).
Being a man meant it was truly possible for Him to yield to temptation—otherwise, it wouldn’t have been real. But He didn’t! Hebrews 4:15 tells us He was tempted in every way, just like us, yet without sin. Think about it: in the Garden of Gethsemane, He said, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39 NKJV). That’s real surrender.
He felt pain. He got hungry (Matthew 4:2). He ate like any man (Luke 24:42–43). He slept when tired (Mark 4:38). He fasted (Matthew 4:2). He kept His body under— He brought His flesh into submission because He chose to obey God. The first Adam disobeyed and fell. But the second Adam, Jesus Christ, was determined to obey the Father completely.
Philippians 2:8 NKJV says, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” He showed us how to live—pleasing God, walking in righteousness, ruling over circumstances and living in absolute surrender to the Father’s will. He rehearsed the God-life before us so we could walk in it too. Hallelujah!
Prayer
Dear Father, thank you for making it possible for me to live in dominion over circumstances, and to walk in alignment with your purpose at all times. By the power of the Holy Spirit, I live as Jesus did, in righteousness, pleasing you in all things, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
