The Humanity of Christ in the Gospel of John
The Gospel of John presents a robust understanding of the humanity of Jesus Christ, emphasizing his full participation in human experience while simultaneously affirming his divine nature. The apostle John's purpose in writing his Gospel was to declare the "Word of Life" and foster fellowship with the Father and Jesus Christ [4].
A foundational statement for Christ's humanity in John's Gospel is found in John 1:14: "And the Word was made flesh" [8]. This verse signifies that the divine Word, who was "from the beginning" and was "God" (John 1:1), took on human nature [7, 8]. The term "flesh" here refers to the entire human nature, encompassing both a true body and a rational soul, highlighting its frailty though not its sinfulness [8]. This act of grace, where Christ united human nature with his divine person, is known as the Incarnation [6].
The Gospel of John provides numerous examples of Jesus exhibiting human characteristics and experiences, which further underscore his humanity:
- Physical Needs: Jesus experienced hunger (Matthew 4:2; 21:18), thirst (John 4:7; 19:28), and weariness (John 4:6) [3]. He also slept (Matthew 8:24) [3].
- Emotional Responses: Jesus wept (John 11:35; Luke 19:41) [3].
- Development: Like any human, Jesus "increased in wisdom and stature" (Luke 2:52) [3].
- Physicality: John emphasizes that the apostles had tangible evidence of Jesus's humanity, having seen, heard, and handled him [7].
The necessity of Christ's human nature is tied to his mediatorial office [3]. As a mediator, he partook of "flesh and blood" (Hebrews 2:14) and was born of a woman (Galatians 4:4-5) [3]. This human manifestation was essential for him to "take away our sins" and make reconciliation [9]. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, notes that Christ's grace is evident in his state of humiliation, including his incarnation, sufferings, and death [10].
The Gospel of John, written later than the Synoptic Gospels, often supplements their narratives and aims to cultivate the spiritual life of Christians, bringing them into closer relation with the divine Savior [5]. The humanity of Christ, therefore, is not merely a biological fact but a theological truth central to the Gospel's message of salvation and fellowship [4]. The grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, are with believers in truth and love [1, 2].
Sources
- II John “II John 1:3 (BSB) — Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, will be with us in truth and love.”
- 2 John “2 John 1:3 (NASB) — Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Human Nature of Christ, The — Was necessary to his mediatorial office -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 2:17; Ga 4:4,5; 1Co 15:21; Ro 6:15,19. Is proved by his Conception in the Virgin's womb. -- Mt 1:18; Lu 1:31. Birth. -- Mt 1:16,25; 2:2; Lu 2:7,11. Partaking of flesh and blood. -- Joh 1:14; Heb 2:14. Having a human soul. -- Mt 26:38; Lu 23:46; Ac 2:31. Circumcision. -- Lu 2:21. Increase in wisdom and stature. -- Lu 2:52. Weeping. -- Lu 19:41; Joh 11:35. Hungering. -- Mt 4:2; 21:18. Thirsting. -- Joh 4:7; 19:28. Sleeping. -- Mt 8:24; Mr 4:38. Being subject to weariness. -- Joh 4:6. ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: John, First Epistle of — The fourth of the catholic or "general" epistles. It was evidently written by John the evangelist, and probably also at Ephesus, and when the writer was in advanced age. The purpose of the apostle (1:1-4) is to declare the Word of Life to those to whom he writes, in order that they might be united in fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. He shows that the means of union with God are, (1) on the part of Christ, his atoning work (1:7; 2:2; 3:5; 4:10, 14; 5:11, 12) and his advocacy (2:1); and (2), on the part of man, holiness (1:6”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: John, Gospel Of — This Gospel was probably written at Ephesus about A.D. 78. (Canon Cook places it toward the close of John's life, A.D. 90-100.--ED.) The Gospel was obviously addressed primarily to Christians, not to heathen. There can be little doubt that the main object of St. John, who wrote after the other evangelists, is to supplement their narratives, which were almost confined to our Lord's life in Galilee. (It was the Gospel for the Church, to cultivate and cherish the spiritual life of Christians, and bring them into the closest relations to the divine Savio”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Incarnation — That act of grace whereby Christ took our human nature into union with his Divine Person, became man. Christ is both God and man. Human attributes and actions are predicated of him, and he of whom they are predicated is God. A Divine Person was united to a human nature (Acts 20:28; Rom. 8:32; 1 Cor. 2:8; Heb. 2:11-14; 1 Tim. 3:16; Gal. 4:4, etc.). The union is hypostatical, i.e., is personal; the two natures are not mixed or confounded, and it is perpetual.”
- 1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 1 (introduction): In this chapter the apostle gives a summary of the Gospel, and the evidence of it, and from thence presses to a holy life and conversation, The sum of the Gospel is Jesus Christ, who is described both as God and man; his deity is expressed by being that which was from the beginning, the Word of life, life, and eternal life; his humanity by being the life manifested in the flesh, of which the apostles had full evidence by the several senses of seeing, hearing, and handling, and so were capable of bearing witness to the truth thereof, Jo1 1:1. And the ends h”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 1:14: And the word was made flesh,.... The same word, of whom so many things are said in the preceding verses; and is no other than the Son of God, or second person in the Trinity; for neither the Father, nor the Holy Ghost, were made flesh, as is here said of the word, but the Son only: and "flesh" here signifies, not a part of the body, nor the whole body only, but the whole human nature, consisting of a true body, and a reasonable soul; and is so called, to denote the frailty of it, being encompassed with infirmities, though not sinful; and to show, that it was a real huma”
- 1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 3:5: And ye know that he was manifested,.... This is a truth of the Gospel the saints were well instructed in and acquainted with; that Jesus Christ, the Word and Son of God, who is here meant, who was with the Father, and lay in his bosom from all eternity, was in the fulness of time made manifest in the flesh, or human nature, by assuming it into union with his divine person; in which he came and dwelt among men, and became visible to them: the end of which manifestation was, to take away our sins; as the antitype of the scape goat, making reconciliation and satisfactio”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 8:9: For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus,.... This is a new argument, and a very forcible one to engage to liberality, taken from the wonderful grace and love of Christ, displayed in his state of humiliation towards his people; which is well known to all them that have truly believed in Christ; of this they are not and cannot be ignorant, his love, good will, and favour are so manifest; there are such glaring proofs of it in his incarnation, sufferings, and death, that leave no room for any to doubt of it: that though he was rich; in the perfections of his divi”