OUR PERFECT SAVIOUR
Matthew 4:1-11
“Jesus is the son of God; of course he is without sin!” “He is God, it can’t be that difficult for him to be on the cross.” “Jesus is the son of God; surely he cannot be tempted.”
The notion that Jesus is God disguised as a man is very difficult for us, Christians in the 20th century, to shake off. In the days when Jesus walked on earth, the problem was the reverse. How can this man be God? Surely he is just a man through whom God is working miracles.
Hebrews 5:7-10 tells us that “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.”
Son though he was, Jesus the man “learned obedience from what he suffered”. He did not pretend to be a man and used his divine nature to coast through his humanity. And for the son of God, just being a man surely is suffering — the creator of the universe stuck in a human body. How much more to be a man in a sinful world?
Neither did he display spectacular miracles to convince the world of his divinity. Yes he performed miracles, but as a man by the power of God. And when the Pharisees asked for a sign, he alluded to the cross.
In being truly and perfectly man, and all that man is before the fall, in perfect fellowship with God, he became the perfect saviour, the perfect sacrifice, and thus the perfect high priest (mediator) for us mankind before God.
Satan tempted Jesus at the tension between his humanity and his divinity but Jesus stayed true to become the perfect human sacrifice for the sins of the human race. In a final toss of the dice, Satan offered a shortcut: worship me and I will let you win. But of course it was a lie. “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” and with that, the destiny of man changed forever.