We all know that Jesus didn't commit a single sin in the 33 years He lived on Earth. He had to be sinless in order to be that perfect sacrifice for all our many sins. If He had sinned even once, even so much as something little like jealousy, a little white lie, a wrong motive, looking twice at an attractive woman, etc. Just something we would consider small. Just one sin and He would have been disqualified as the sacrifice.
But could He have sinned? Some say no because He was God in the flesh. But I disagree and I think Scripture backs me up. If He could not have sinned, why did Satan tempt Him for 40 days in the Wilderness? Why does it say that after he failed, Satan went off to come back at a more opportune moment? Why bother if Jesus could not have sinned? In fact, I'll go so far as to say that if Jesus could not have sinned, He would not have been that spotless lamb. Why? Because Freewill is a prerequisite for righteousness. All of us, from Adam and Eve to the present have the ability to choose God or reject Him, to live in sin or to resist it. Otherwise we are all robots, and God wants children who love Him, not robots who have no choice.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21
Just for a minute try to imagine what it was like for Jesus. Satan and his demons knew who Jesus was. They knew that if they could get Him to sin, it would be all over. We think we are constantly being tortured with temptations, but can you imagine what Jesus endured? The Bible doesn't tell us, but I'm sure Satan threw every trick and temptation he could at Jesus... every opportunity to get angry without cause, hate someone, lose His temper, think a bad thought, complain, criticize others, be selfish, lose his patience, and even lust. You don't think Satan didn't flash a scantily-dressed attractive woman in his path? This went on every minute of every day for His 33 years.
That was on top of wandering around from place to place with no home, sleeping on the ground, putting up with people who only wanted something from Him, dealing with His ignorant disciples, going hungry, thirsty, being too hot and then freezing at night, and then having the religious leaders of the day constantly questioning Him, mocking Him, trying to trap Him! He was constantly being rejected, misunderstood, abused, and abandoned. And all the while Satan is lingering in the shadows, tempting Him in every way possible.
Yet He did not sin.
We often think of His suffering under the Roman whip and then the cross, but His 33 years up to that point were no picnic. Too many times, we just shrug and say, "Well, He was God. Of course He didn't sin. It was easy for Him not to sin." But I don't think so. He was human also. The sin nature passes down through the Father, but Jesus inherited His fleshly nature from Mary. Unlike us, He didn't Have to Sin. But He very well could of. Remember Adam and Eve in the Garden? They didn't have to sin either, but they chose to. I don't know about you, but that He resisted every temptation (and they must have been really bad ones) that makes me stand in awe of Him even more, makes me want to praise Him more and more. He is truly an amazing God!
Here's something I found really interesting.
Once a year on the Day of Atonement the High Priest, after much cleansing and preparation, would enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of the people. Once inside and past the veil, here is what he was required to do with first a bull and then a goat.
He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. Leviticus 15:14
Notice the Seven Times he had to sprinkle the blood. Did you know that Jesus Also shed His Blood for us Seven times: Here's the list.
- Jesus sweat blood in the Garden of Gethsemane before He was arrested (Luke 22:44)
- Jesus was beaten with rods (Matthew 26:67)
- Jesus was scourged, whipped (Matthew 27:26)
- They plucked out His Beard ( Isaiah 50:6)
- Crown of thorns (Matthew 27:28-30)
- Crucifixion (Matthew 27:35)
- The Spear in His side (John 19:34)
Take a moment today to ponder all our Savior did for us and thank Him!!
Greetings Precious daughter of the King,
ReplyDeleteI had to stop and think about this before I answered. My immediate thought was no, Jesus couldnt have sinned, but the Holy Spirit cautioned me to think.
The scriptures and your thoughts I believe are correct and sufficient, to prove that Jesus was indeed tempted like us in every way.
Hebrews 4: 14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.
Here is another script I bumped into that we could incorporate here. Slightly off point but yet incouraging; 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Somewhere the scripts say ; He, Jesus had victory over death. Victory implies a battle took place !
This kind of borders on something I'm studying from the x pastors book, he states: It was necessary for Jesus to be baptized in the Holy Spirit before He could start His ministry.
I say no on the basis of the many scripts I have to back this up. One such is in Matt 3 where John Baptizes Jesus. But Johns baptism was one of water to repentance, right ? Many will say yes to this using the argument the latter part "I saw the Spirit descend upon Him".
I cant put all this here, but to me, Jesus was very God "and" very man. I think a yes answer would be lending itself to the Christ Conscienceness theory, that Jesus had to grow into, or attain to the Christ. But if we believe in the Trinity, then we know that Father Son and Holy Spirit are One, We cant seperate them. Ihavent quite completed this study yet. But I'm not sure I believe that Jesus gave up His Divinity. I would rather say, Jesus laid down His will, and became obedient to the will of the Father. I imagine the baby Jesus lying in a manger, being full of the Godhead. Because in that manger the Angels declared His glory.
I think its a good conversation to have, something to ponder. What are your thoughts here Sister.
The Lords grace and peace in abundance.
I think this has been a debate between theologians for years? How much of Jesus was God? And no, I don't believe He had to be baptized to get the Holy Spirit. That's insane. That baptism was part of the Jewish rituals that a rabbi/priest had to go through before they started their ministry. Same with Jesus. He was always filled with God's Spirit from birth. But how much of His divinity did he lay down when He came here? The Scripture isn't sure. But He had to lay down enough so that He would be ABLE to sin if He chose: Here's some verses I found:
DeleteLet this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 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 Philippians 2:5-8
Here's verse 7 in the Amplified
But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.
And also here: But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9
Lower than the angels? Seems like He laid down much of His divinity. Only God knows.
Blessings, Brother!
Hello Sister in Christ,
ReplyDeleteWonderful post on Christ’s symbolism as the perfect sacrifice as the sinless Lamb. Since He had a human nature due to being born of a woman, He managed to resist even the worst temptations, which puts me in amazement and awe of His status as the One who paid for all our sins. How we long to see Him in person very soon!
Since Jesus lived for 33 years, does it confirm that his years were 2 BC - 32 AD? I saw in a history book long time ago that said 4 BC - 29 AD, which I now know was likely inaccurate otherwise we would be in the Tribulation for nearly halfway already. It is funny now that I realize this since that time was when I did not know Christ and neither the Rapture and Tribulation that I now know wholeheartedly.
I have a few side questions:
I remember reading in Revelation 13:3 about the Beast receiving a fatal wound that would be miraculously healed to deceive the world into thinking the true Messiah has appeared. That made me think of two scenarios: would the “resurrection” of this Beast be when the Antichrist possesses him to start the final 3.5 years of the Tribulation, or will the Antichrist possess the individual who goes into the Third Temple to proclaim himself to be God and start the Abomination of Desolation?
I noticed that the recent news have been covering the Russia-Ukraine War lately, which I wonder if it is prophetically significant considering that yesterday the 24th was exactly 3.5 years since the War started and it is now gaining momentum again. I have always felt that this war may have some bearing on the Gog-Magog War that might happen sometime soon based on the signs and tensions between Israel and the counties hostile to it.
If the current Rapture theory is true about it possibly being next month, then we should continue to praising Him and looking up, for I could only hope the time is finally near. Speaking of which, I remember hearing that it may be possible that some people who are Raptured may have a chance to proclaim the Gospel to those left behind before ultimately ascending to Heaven. Is this true Sister? If yes, is it only those God designates per some criteria or could it be random? Anyways, we should also continue to praise and thank Him for the ultimate sacrifice and for bringing us home very soon. Peace and Blessings from a Brother in Christ.
Brother, there is debate on the actual date of Jesus's Birth. I've heard anywhere from 4bc - 2 bc. And don't forget to add the 0 year.
DeleteI believe that it will be when the Beast resurrects that the Devil will possess him entirely. But that's just my opinion based on what I see in Scripture. And yes, I believe the Ukraine war is really the key to the coming WW3 and the Gog-Magog War. Russia is heavily involved in both!
I have heard from reliable prophets that yes, some of the raptured saints will be left behind for a short amount of time so they can tell the world what happened and proclaim the Gospel There's not really anything in Scripture that speaks of this, but there isn't anything that says it won't happen. It sounds like something our wonderful God would do.. a last ditch effort to get people saved. I imagine those chosen to remain for awhile are those who are fully committed to Jesus and are skilled in evangelism.
Yes, if indeed our time is short, we should spend it in praise and adoration of our Lord and be in constant communication with Him as we await His arrival! Blessings!