Just how human was Jesus?

Question

He didn't fall in love, get married, make love, have a child or raise a child.

He wasn't born a woman, so he didn't have any experience with a period, menstrual cramps, PMS, nor did he conceive a child and nurture it within the womb.

He didn't grow old enough for the body to begin to fail, his hair never fell out, neither did his teeth (no dentistry back then)

Granted, there are a lot of people walking around today who have not experienced many of those things, but most everyone has fallen in love and I suspect most everyone has made love.

Without any of these, how complete is the human experience?

Yes, I am familiar with the DaVinci Code.

But since becoming a father, I am well aware of how much the human experience has changed for me: to no longer make choices just for myself, or for myself and a beloved, but to now make decisions for the benefit of my young son no matter how difficult it might make life for me.

And as I am a recent widower, Jesus never lost a Beloved to cancer.

It does make me wonder just how much of the human experience Jesus lived.

Eating, drinking, breathing, crying, even animals do this much.

But to be fully human, to have real stakes in the experience of life and not be living like a nomad without responsibilities for anyone and -then- give up his life...seems to me Jesus barely scratched the surface of the human adventure.

It is an interesting statement about the state of education that so many who read "Without -any- of these, how complete is the human experience?" translated it to mean "Without -all- of these, how complete is the human experience? (emphasis added).

Answer 1

The only purpose Jesus was in this world was only to died for us so we can have life i great his that man God send Jesus and Jesus was the holy spirit

Answer 2

Are you saying that Jesus couldn't have been fully human because He never fell in love, had a menstrual cycle or had sex? That would eliminate a lot of real human beings from the equation. What do you say about SIDS babies? They don't have a chance to fall in love, have sex, marry, grow old or anything else. Were they any less human? Jesus spent some 33+ years with us. And as much God as He was, He was human. He got hungry, tired, thirsty, experienced pain and suffering, had family, friends, enemies, ate, drank, felt alone, and most human of all, died. If you look at His life closely and sincerely, you may find He had a more complete human experience than most of us could ever expect to have.

Answer 3

CS Lewis has a statement that I always thought was excellent. He said, "If you want to know how powerful a temptation is in your life, resist it." While it appears that Jesus never had the experience of marriage, he struggled with the same emotions and physical needs that lead most people into marriage. But he made a choice to forego marriage for a higher calling. A "temptation" (if you will) that most of us will never experience.

The idea that Jesus never loved a Beloved to death is not supported by the scriptures. He appears to have had a close relationship with his cousin John, whom he lost when Herod had him beheaded. With something like cancer, you have some time to adjust and accept before death. (When through it 5 years ago with my sife) But to suddenly have someone's head taken off has to be a shock as well as a lose. His father Joseph, by his absense from the adulthood of Jesus' life, appears to have died while Jesus was a child or youth. The death of parent, especially when you are still a child, has to be as heart-wrenching as the death of a mate. Many people have been scarred by that for life.

So the Bible would appear to support the idea that Jesus did experience the pressures of sexual desire, and the lose of a Beloved during his lifetime.

Answer 4

He didnt shoot drugs, get drunk, or beat up children either. There are millions of "things" He didnt do. How many different experiences does a person have to have experience to have a "complete" human experience? The point is: NOBODY experiences EVERYTHING. So nobody has a "complete" human experience. As far as experiences that pertain to the female gender of the species go; Since He is the One who Created women in the first place, dont you think that He might have an idea of what they go through, without having to "experience" it personally?.....theBerean..P.S.---After reading your additional detail remarks, its obviouse that you have an ax to grind. Which would be ok, if you at least got some basic facts right. For instance: How do you know how may loved ones Jesus lost to cancer or any other type of sickness. He obviously lost Joseph, His adoptive father. And probably others as well. As for "falling in love", how do you know what kind of feelings He had as an adolesence and knew that He could not act upon them. Knowing that His purpose in life was in a different direction. Knowing that He could never experience marriage and children probably caused Him great distress early in life. He was fully human with all of the regular wants and desires common to all men. But without sin. For you to denigrate Him without having any facts at all is really despicable. God has told us just what He wants us to know. The rest is none of our business. ........theBerean

Answer 5

I haven't jumped off a bridge, but I have a pretty good idea what it would be like.....Men don;t have PMS or periods and are considered human.
People who die early.....are they not human just because they died???
You can be complete as a human in experiences that are important to you. People who truely beleive in God and follow his ways (eg celebate religious people) don't "make love" and have a pretty full, complete and satisfying life for them....some things are more important to some people than others......and that view is why you ask that question.

Also the fact the WAY Jesus died would be a pretty human experience if you ask me...getting nails hammered into his wrists and feet and hung up..........

Answer 6

Despite your lengthy list, there were a few things that showed Jesus' humanity. He wept over the loss of Lazarus. He could eat, thought it wasn't necessary, being God and all. He had the capacity to love as showed at the Sermon on the Mount as he said "Suffer the little children to come unto me" in response to the disciples trying to "shoo" them away since they assumed Jesus didn't want to be bothered. He walked, talked, breathed, knew FEAR in Gethsemane along with doubt, felt the pain of crucifixion (You can't get any more human than that!), showed compassion to the thief hanging with Him who recognized Him and etc. Though He didn't do a lot of the things you mentioned, His human experience was still VERY much real and full!

Answer 7

There is good argument which supports the idea that Mary Magdalene was the wife of Jesus. Bachelorhood was very rare for Jewish males of Jesus' time. Mary Magdalene appears with great frequency in the bible and is shown as being a close follower of Jesus.

In the scene of the wedding at Cana, the names of the nuptial couple are not mentioned, but Jesus acts as a groom would be expected to act at such a wedding.

Mary's presence at the Crucifixion and Jesus' tomb is consistent with a role as grieving wife and widow.

Answer 8

Jesus was born perfect in order to sacrifice his perfect life for us, because Adam was also perfect. God is also perfect and his Justice is perfect. That is why a perfect man needed in order for our sins to be whipped way with the help of Jesus's sacrifice. Jesus was raised by humans and in his lifetime saw many things: From people to be sick, die and many others. He sure couldn't fully understand a womens side...but, he created the first couple..so he could understand it more than a man does.

Answer 9

Define "human"

I believe the Lord Jesus had his share of "human" experience. He cried (John 11:35) meaning he has feelings and compassion / love. He eats, he sleeps, he drinks and he socialize too (wedding in Cana).

He became a man, he was the ultimate offering for our sins, because God the father loves all of us (John 3:16)

Answer 10

JESUS didnt simply came to earth to involve in earthly activities.He came for a more great purpose than the regular human cycle we all go through.JESUS knows that he came to earth to die for our sins.If u know u are going to die early would u marry and have children and put them in sorrows.I dont think so.But JESUS had surely his share of experience.He worked as a carpenter.He was moved with compassion for people.He has brothers and sisters just like many.But he has a far great call on his life than u and me.A life that he has to fulfill in order for us to be reconciled back to GOD.A life he sacrificied for u and me.

"For GOD so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoso ever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life".Ask JESUS to come into your heart and forgive ur sins and cleanse ur past with his blood.