The Bible depicts Jesus as both God and man. He was divine (God) and He was human (man). This article will examine the New Testament teaching concerning Jesus’ humanity. His childhood was largely that of any other Jewish child in first-century Palestine. He spent time with Joseph learning the trade of a carpenter. Matthew records an event at the synagogue in Nazareth where it was ask "Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?" Mark 6:3, recording the same event reads concerning Jesus, "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him." There is no contradiction in these two verses. No doubt some knew and referred to Jesus as the carpenter’s (Joseph) son, while others knew Jesus as a carpenter also while growing up in Nazareth. Until starting His work of preaching at age 30, Jesus was employed as a carpenter.
He also was subject to His earthly parents as any other child was. Insight into this part of His childhood is found in Luke. Luke there records that after returning to Nazareth after traveling to Jerusalem for one of the major feasts, "And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them" (Luke 2:51). The young man Jesus was required, as all other young Jewish men, to obey His parents. God does not require of children today anymore than Jesus was required to do as a child.
Jesus also knew what it was like to be physically tired and thirsty. In John 4 Jesus traveled to the Samaritan city of Sychar and "Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink" (John 4:7,8). Jesus sat down by this well wearied from walking. He was physically tired and thirsty.
Jesus also knew the sadness that comes with the death of someone close. John 11 records the death of Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha. "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, and said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!" (John 11:33-36). He saw and felt as they did.
Because Jesus was human, He experienced life much like we do. He understands life as we do. The Hebrew writer understood this and wrote, "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18). What a comfort to know we serve a God who understands us and knows how we feel because Jesus lived and died as a human being. Since Jesus lived as we do, He knows what we need and offers help to live as we should in this life.
Denton Landon