We love superheroes. Whether you like DC, Marvel, or some other superhero group, we love that they have abilities and powers that can impact many. To call Jesus a superhero would be minimizing who He is and what He can do. Unlike superheroes and other gods, Jesus is 100% human and 100% divine, and he isn’t 50/50 or a combination of both.
There is a temptation to filter God into what we want Him to be because it can be challenging to understand who He is. One of the best ways to get to know God is through Christ.
When we believe that Jesus is both divine and human, we experience a close and authentic relationship with our Creator.
When we see Jesus for who He says He is, we get someone who will guide, heal, and help us through life.
John 11:3-7,17,20-27,33-45 NLT THE RAISING OF LAZARUS
We see that Jesus is fully human when he arrives at Lazarus' house and is told that he has died. The Bible says:
JOHN 11:35 NLT Then Jesus wept.
Even though Jesus knew what would happen next, He was still sad. What Scripture is showing us is that Jesus cries with us. God knows how you feel because He's experienced it Himself.
There are several areas where Jesus shows His humanity:
Jesus does not sin but experiences the same emotions and feelings that any human would face. At the same time, we see in this Gospel that Jesus is divine.
John 11:43 NLT Then Jesus shouted, "Lazarus, come out!"
Lazarus comes out of the tomb dressed in full burial bands. Jesus, who shows He cries like the rest of us, also shows He has power that no other being possesses.
To embrace this Truth takes faith. Notice what Jesus tells Martha:
JOHN 11:40 NLT Jesus responded, "Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?"
In other words, believing that Jesus is 100% human and 100% divine will take faith. What is faith? As the letter to Hebrews teaches:
Hebrews 11:1 NLT Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
To increase our faith, we need to increase our spiritual habits and participate in opportunities that teach us about the mercy and grace of God.
IF WE WANT TO INCREASE OUR FAITH, WE NEED TO REMOVE THE FILTERS THAT MAKE JESUS SOMEONE HE IS NOT.
Reading scripture, prayer, and being in worship are a few of the ways we remove those filters.