As Christians experience another Holy Week that reflects the passion narratives of Jesus Christ, BETTY AMUKPO brings to mind the human nature of Christ. She asked, “To you, is Jesus the ultimate example of what it means to be human? The children responded:
‘Jesus is an embodiment of humility and love’
Yes, He is. Jesus is an embodiment of humility and love. These He exhibited by washing the apostles’ feet and charged them thus, “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:15). To be really human, we must imitate Him.
• Bibiana Madudihe
‘He lived out obedience to God through our common humanity, providing a model for true human obedience’
Yes, to me, Jesus is the ultimate example of what it means to be human. Even though He is God, He came to be born like a child, He grew and developed like every human being (Luke 2:40), He hungered (Matt 4:2), thirsted (John 4:7; 19:28), grew tired (John 4:6), He was tempted, He suffered, died and was buried. In all these, He did not sin (Heb 4:15). As a true human, the last Adam, He lived in obedience to God through our common humanity and He also serves as our example, providing a model for true human obedience.
• Edeh Abigail
‘When the temple was used as a place for trading, Jesus was very angry and chased out the sellers’
Jesus, the Immortal Mortal. Jesus experienced all the normal stages of human development (Luke 2:40). Jesus had human senses and emotions. Jesus wept (John 11:35). Jesus was hungry and thirsty after fasting (Matthew 4:2). Jesus was tortured, suffered pain and abuse (Matthew 27:27-30). When the temple was used as a place for trading, Jesus was very angry and chased the sellers out (Matthew 21:12). Jesus died (Matthew 27:50) and reigns forever.
• Dorothy Onuh
‘Jesus is the ultimate example of what it means to be human’
To me, Jesus is the ultimate example of what it means to be human because Jesus in His infinite mercy healed those with ailments. In John 13:15, Jesus advices us to tread on the right path, the part of righteousness and holiness, so we being humans must heed to his advice.
• Obhankhan Theresa Ohin
‘Jesus in His human nature was to fulfill all righteousness which all humans should strive for’
Jesus is the standard of what it means to be human. The Bible teaches us that Jesus is true God and true man, united in one person. Christ’s human nature was truly and only human with a true body and soul, yet without sin. Jesus in His human nature was to fulfill all righteousness, which all human should strive for. Romans 5:19 says ” By one man’s obedience, many will be made righteous ” In order for Christ to present us to God, He needed to take the form of man. Also to sympathise with our weaknesses, though sinless, Christ felt all the struggle of human limitations. That is why we can always go to Jesus with our weaknesses and know He can understand us. Jesus is definitely what it means to be human, because He experienced it all as an example for us to follow.
• Victoria Okefe
‘Jesus showed us the way, the truth and the light of life’
Yes, Jesus is the ultimate example of what it means to be human because Jesus showed us the way, the truth and the light of life like in Luke 19:1-10 where Jesus met Zacchaeus on the tree while he was passing and told him to get ready, ‘I will be your guest.’ So, that means we should not discriminate sinners but preach the word of God to them.
• Osalumense-Ehigie Ivie
‘He suffered and experienced all the ordinary, non-sinful limitations that we experience as humans’
Yes, Jesus is the ultimate example of what it means to be human because He suffered and experienced all the ordinary, non-sinful limitations that we experience as humans. He was born of a woman; (Matthew 1:25.)”and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: And He called his name Jesus.” He experienced hunger and thirst: (Matthew 21: 18)”now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.” Jesus experienced weariness, pain and suffering. He also went through temptations just like us as can be seen in Matthew 4:1-11. He also went through the full range of other human emotions. Jesus also died on the cross. According to Matthew 27:50; “Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.” However, Jesus was more than a mere human. He is God, but only took our form as humans to share in our pains and redeem us from sin.
• Blossom Akalezi
‘Jesus allowed Himself to be scourged instead of using His power as God to stop the soldiers’
Yes, I think Jesus is the ultimate example of what it means to be human because during the Scourging at the Pillar, Jesus allowed Himself to be scourged (John 19:1). Instead of Him to use His power as God to stop the soldiers, He did not do so because He was humble. We too should be humble in our ways.
• Mercy Osalumense-Ehigie