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by Wayne Blank
"For we have not a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one Who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15 RSV)
"Made like His brethren in every respect"
Jesus Christ, as a human, was completely human (see What Did Jesus Look Like?). He could not have been killed, and been completely dead for 3 days and 3 nights, and resurrected from the dead otherwise. During His human lifetime He knew hunger, thirst, weariness, joy, grief and temptation. The only difference was that He never sinned (see Could Jesus Have Sinned?).
"In the morning, as He was returning to the city, He was hungry." (Matthew 21:18 RSV)"Jacob's well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as He was with His journey, sat down beside the well." (John 4:6 RSV)
"And He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan" (Mark 1:13 RSV)
And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but He was asleep. And they went and woke Him, saying, "Save, Lord; we are perishing." (Matthew 8:24-25 RSV)
"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in Spirit and troubled; and He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept." (John 11:33-35 RSV)
"And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:44 RSV)
Where Did Jesus Get His Miraculous Power?
How did Jesus Christ live a life completely free of sin? How did He perform the miracles that He did?
"And when Jesus was baptized [see Baptism], He went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on Him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17 RSV)"And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit" (Luke 4:1 RSV)
"And Jesus returned in the Power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning Him went out through all the surrounding country" (Luke 4:14 RSV)
"by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons" (Matthew 12:28 RSV)
"Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of His own accord" (John 5:19 RSV)
"And Jesus answered them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and never doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will be done. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." (Matthew 21:21-22 RSV)
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My Name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:12-13 RSV)
"In that same hour He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank Thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was Thy gracious will. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father; and no one knows Who the Son is except the Father, or Who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him." Then turning to the disciples He said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see!" (Luke 10:21-23 RSV)
Fact Finder: What happened just before Jesus died?
See Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani?
