He Had To Be One Of Us!

“Puppies for Sale,” the sign said, and a young boy came to inquire. “I’d like to buy one, if they don’t cost too much.” “Well, son, they’re $25.” The boy was crushed. “I’ve only got $2.05. Could I see them anyway?” “Sure,” said the kind gentleman. The boy’s eyes danced at the sight of 5 little fur balls. “I heard that one has a bad leg,” said the boy. “Yes, I’m afraid he’s going to have a limp for life.” “That’s the puppy I want. Could I pay for her a little at a time?” “But she’ll always have a limp,” he said. Smiling bravely the boy pulled up his pant leg revealing a brace. “I don’t walk too good either,” he told the man. Then, looking at the puppy, “I guess she’ll need a lot of love and help. I sure did. Its not so easy being handicapped.” ”Here, take her,” the man said, “I know you’ll give her a good home.” (Our Daily Bread)

This boy had a special ability to love and care for that little puppy. He knew, firsthand - what it was like having a limp. He’d lived his life with the same problem and had learned how to deal with it. And, because of this he could give that puppy just what she needed.

We’re like the puppy with a limp that needed someone to help her who personally understood her needs. This is why Jesus had to be one of us. He couldn’t do what we needed done for us long distance.

"Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it’s logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil’s hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death.  It’s obvious, of course, that he didn’t go to all this trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of Abraham. That’s why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people’s sins, he would have already experienced it all himself—all the pain, all the testing—and would be able to help where help was needed." Hebrews 2:14-18 (MSG)

He Had To Be One Of Us . . . To Save Us

The Bible tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), and that "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  (Romans 6:23)   Because of sin a relational chasm exists between God and us. Our choice (sin) results in separation from God! And, it is impossible for us to save ourselves!

But "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)  God laid a Cross across the gulf! Jesus had to be one of us to (1) “Destroy” Death (render it inoperative) and to;  (2) “Liberate us” - those once held in the devil’s death grip now freed by Jesus’.

 “Honey,” the girls father to his daughter in the Limo following behind her mom’s hearse on the way to the cemetery as truck passes, “Would you rather be run over by that truck or its shadow?”  Those who’ve received Jesus no longer fear death because it can no longer run over us.

“The Cross was appropriate for it balanced God’s Holiness with His Love; to perfectly accomplish His Plan to redeem people.”  (NIV Commentary)

Our response is to,  “... confess (agree) with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

He Had To Be One Of Us . . . To Represent Us

The fact that Jesus was THE High Priest to end all high priests is a major theme in this Book. The High Priest (1) represented the people before God and (2) was chosen from among the people - He had to be one of them to have any standing as their representative.

Don’t you want a pastor who is like you? Who faces the same life struggles, temptations and problems as you; who can represent you when he prays to God and preaches to you as one with compassion; who can relate because he too has “been there and done that?”

We have a High Priest Who can and does represent us well to the Father because He was one of us.

Max Lucado in, "When God Came Near," writes about our discomfort in imagining that the “exalted Lord of glory” was one of us. ”Angels watched as Mary changed God’s diaper. The universe watched with wonder as the Almighty learned to walk. Children played in the street with him. Jesus may have had pimples. Perhaps a girl down the street had a crush on him or vice-versa. It could be that his knees were bony. One thing’s for sure: He was, while being completely divine, completely human. For 33 years he would feel everything you and I have ever felt. He felt weak. He grew weary. He was afraid of failure. He was susceptible to wooing women. He got colds, burped, and had body odor. His feelings got hurt. His feet got tired. And his head ached. To think of Jesus in such light is - well, it seems almost irreverent, doesn’t it? It’s not something we like to do; its uncomfortable. It is much easier to keep the humanity out of the incarnation. Clean the manure from around the manger. Wipe the sweat out of his eyes. Pretend he never snored or blew his nose or hit his thumb with a hammer.”