"The Word" was God. He became flesh, just a man, Jesus of Nazareth. Christian tradition teaches that as a man, Jesus of Nazareth has kept the status of God throughout his earthly life, which Jesus of Nazareth has denied many times.

As a man, Jesus of Nazareth did the will of God until his death on the cross. God cannot die. Jesus of Nazareth died as a man and as the Lamb of God. According to the Bible, Jesus of Nazareth could not have died if he were God.

Jesus of Nazareth said that he could not do any miracles as a man if God were not with him doing them. Jesus said that his disciples also will do the miracles, which they did. As Moses spoke the commandments, Jesus of Nazareth also preached the commandments of God and did the miracles.

As God created Eve from the ribs of Adam, God and the Holy Ghost created the baby boy in the womb of the Virgin Mary, the baby being the man Jesus of Nazareth. So, by birth Jesus of Nazareth was not God, but only a man, which is flesh.

Christian tradition with its sentiment believes that Jesus of Nazareth was a God-Man, meaning he was full God as well as he was full man. The Word of God says that Jesus of Nazareth was only a man, as long as he lived on the earth.

John 4:24  God is a Spirit...  Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Rev 19:6 --- Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

The Scripture cites God as a Spirit.  As the creator of all existence, the Spirit God is evidently the source of all others—he is omnipotent, able to do all things.

Heb 10:38 --- but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Matt 12:18 -- my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased.

According to the above passages, God is a Spirit, which has soul where as man has flesh body and soul. Therefore, God is not a man. From the beginning of time to when God ‘the Word’ became a man, who was Jesus, God ‘the Word’ was still God, a Soul in the Spirit.

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.

Then breaking through the barrier of divinity, he became flesh, a mere man.

Phil 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. 

At this point, ‘the Word’ ceased to be God and he became just a man. Most Christians think that God ‘the Word’ has maintained the status of God in the flesh, but God says that he did not keep any power or status.  He became human.

The Scripture indicates in various ways that ‘the Word’, who was immortal God, became a mortal man, Jesus of Nazareth, without the divine powers that he possessed in his Godhood when he was ‘the Word’.

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

God is not “a little lower than the angels”; he created the angels.  By telling us that Jesus was created lower than the angels, the Scripture lets us know that he was without divine power.  If God the Word became the man, Jesus of Nazareth, with Omni spiritual powers, Jesus of Nazareth could not have fully experienced the persecution and sacrificed as a human being would.  The Scripture makes clear that Jesus of Nazareth was perfected through his sufferings—he had to endure what ordinary humans endure, and yet remain perfect.  He had no shortcuts.  In order to fulfill God’s mission of the great sacrifice, it was necessary for him to become a man Jesus as a defenseless and ordinary human being.

“Well then,” Christians ask, “How did Jesus perform miracles on earth if he didn’t keep his power as God?”  It is true that humans do not have the power to defy physical laws, and manifest that supernatural works that Jesus performed.  As ‘the Word’, we know he had powers of omnipotence, omnipresence and omniscience.  If he left his divinity behind, how did he perform miracles such as healing the sick, raising the dead and casting out evil spirits?

Jesus tells us himself.  He confessed that he could not perform supernatural works by himself, but God ‘the Father’ does the work through him so that people could witness.  

John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.--- 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

His disciples and other workers of God have also performed miracles granted in heaven with the gifts and power of God.  Warning:  even false prophets will perform miracles to deceive believers.  Hence, performing miracles is not an indicator of divinity, or even that the person follows God the Creator, who inspired the Bible.

Matt 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her (Mary), The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Christians interpret the above passages as evidence that Jesus was part human and part divine, similar to the many part-mortal, part-immortal gods of Greek and Hindu mythology.  They read that the Father and Holy Spirit jointly became the father with Virgin Mary being the mother.  This understanding is not correct.  

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed (Jesus Christ); it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

The child was the seed of Mary, but not of ‘the seed’ of God. 

Heb 10:5 …when he cometh into the world, he saith…a body hast thou prepared me:

Conception occurs when the seed of the father fertilizes the seed of the mother.  This fertilized seed then incubates in the mother’s womb until it is ready for independent existence.  God the Father and God the Holy Spirit were involved in the conception of Jesus, but they provided neither seed, nor substance of themselves.  God, being Spirit, did not have physical seed to place in Mary’s womb. Their role was to create a body in Mary’s womb from her own body, much like the creation of Eve from the ribs of Adam.  

John 1:14 …the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…

Matt 1:21 …she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS…

Because God prepared the body from Mary’s flesh, Jesus was of the seed of Mary. That is, Mary conceived with the substance of only her body, as well as brought forth, the baby.  In other words, Virgin Mary was both the father and the mother of the baby. God ‘the Word’ entered the body as a human soul, to be born as a baby boy, as the son of only Virgin Mary. God was not the father of the baby, but he was the creator.

Jesus of Nazareth needed to grow in the spirit and needed to receive the grace of God, as any other human child.

Luke 2:40 …the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

However, even as a boy, he remembered that he was here to do God’s work, but he called God as his Father.

Luke 2:49 …he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

He was not born from God, but Jesus followed the leading of the Holy Spirit and became the Son of God, as indicated by the context of the following Scripture.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Christians think that God became a man in order to die for the sins of the world.  As it is true, the mission of Jesus Christ is also to preach the truth, show the way and to give eternal life to his obedient people.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus had a strong sense of duty towards the purpose for which he came, from his childhood onwards.  He never presented himself as either a free agent, or a philosopher/revolutionary thinker of his time.

Heb 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come --- to do thy will, O God.

John 6:38  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Since Jesus pleased the Father, the presence of the Father was always with him.

John 8:29 …he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Matt 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water…17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

The Father’s presence was not extra help and attention given to Jesus because he came to earth to fulfill the Father’s mission.  Jesus was required, as we are required after conversion, to look to the will of God in our daily lives, seek to please him, and speak his truth. According to the requirement, Jesus kept the commandments of his Father.

John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

John 15:10 …I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

However, being a conscious human being with physical and emotional awareness, he struggled. He needed, and asked for the support of his disciples. We could see his agony and human frailty. Nearing the final moments leading to his painful death, he even prayed that if it were possible that ‘the Father’ would remove the cup placed before him to drink.  In the same breath, he surrenders his will to God.

Matt 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

In the Old Testament, God had given the children of Israel a ritual to receive forgiveness from the sins they have committed.  The ritual required them to find the choice lamb—one with no “spot or blemish”, no imperfections—and transfer their sins upon it ceremonially, then spill its blood by killing it as a sacrifice.  These sacrificial lambs are the shadow of the sinless Lamb of God, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus lived a perfect holy life in order to be the sacrificial Lamb of God without blemish and without spot.

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him…

1Pet 1:18 …ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

1John 2:2 …is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Another interesting point is that the intent of this supreme sacrifice was ONLY to forgive the past sins of his people. If some of us knowingly and willfully sinning repeatedly, taking the sacrifice of the Lamb of God for granted, then the wrath of God will be upon them.

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past…

Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:  29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

How exactly did he bring salvation?  This great gift is too valuable to offer blindly.  Many Christians upon hearing of God’s love for the whole world then misunderstand that surely he must not really object to the sin that made them sinners, and that with such great generosity God would not require anything in return.

However, the path to salvation is rigorous.  In order to obtain the benefits of this great sacrifice:  the Salvation, the grace of God and the Holy Spirit, we must also follow in obedience.

Obedience to God is the key requirement for salvation.  There is no salvation for those who do not obey the teachings of Jesus Christ. Obedience was not an easy task even for Jesus. The Scripture says that he learned obedience through his sufferings. By doing so, he became the author of salvation—he accomplishes this, thereby making it possible for us.  He became the Savior of all who follow.

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;---.

Only those who obey him are his people, who God will save. God will reject those who call Him Lord without obeying him.

Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Matt 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Jesus Christ did not give sermons and seminars on how to receive healing, wealth and other miracles.  However, he healed the sick, cast out demons and performed miracles to glorify God. He did not advertise his services; rather, he preached the gospel. The gospel that Jesus Christ preached is still the true gospel today.  All the gospels built around obtaining prosperity, political power, healing and eternal security from God are false and self-serving gospels.

Matt 4:23 …Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Jesus’ disciples taught the same gospel as Jesus Christ, healed people and cast out the devils as their master did.

After his resurrection, Jesus Christ told his disciples to continue his message and doings in the world.  He granted them power to teach and perform miracles when he was alive, and said that they would have even greater power once he returned to his Father with his mission accomplished.

Luke 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick… 6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere

Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Please notice that Jesus Christ authorized only his disciples, who followed his commandments, to preach his gospel.  He did not issue general instructions, or permission, to whosoever would like to preach the gospel.

Before his ascension, he instructed his disciples to tarry for the Holy Spirit because they would receive power after the Holy Spirit had come upon them.  When Jesus was with his disciples, the spirit through him led them.  After his departure, none had the sanction to teach or preach without receiving of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

With the power of the Holy Spirit and by the presence of God the Father and God the Son, his true disciples will carry on the ministry until the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The purpose of the true ministry is to perfect saints as Jesus Christ was perfect.

Eph 4:11 …he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…

Christ’s purpose went beyond the forgiveness of sin, which the symbolic sacrifices at the time still accomplished.  He wanted to bring about a change in the hearts and consciousness of human beings, and to show humans how a perfect life could be vigilantly lived through the grace of God and continual presence of the Holy Spirit.

God the Father says that his righteous servant would justify many. Justify means to make a person just, which is righteous.

Is 53:11 …by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Acquittal of a criminal offence does not make a criminal a just person. If God justifies a person, he declares him as righteous according to the obedience of his commandments.  Righteousness means rightness—pure, clean, with integrity, lacking hypocrisy or crafty intent.  Jesus, the righteous servant of God, will justify many. That is, he will save his people from their sins, not by only forgiving their sins but by converting them to righteousness.  He will introduce a way for them to live righteous lives, and declare them as righteous people, who live them.

Jesus lived a perfect and holy life as an example so that the people would follow his steps.  He had no resources at his disposal that are not available to us through his sacrifice: 1) the grace of God, and 2) the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  With nothing more than these and his human flesh, he lived a life perfect in thought and deed for man to see and follow.

1Pet 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:  23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:

When Jesus of Nazareth, the servant of God, came to the temple of God, he said that the house of God—that should have been the house of prayer—had become a den of thieves. He accused the temple merchants of being thieves and reviled them.  Regarding the life of the Scribes and Pharisees, he decreed woe to them.  Regarding the city of Jerusalem, he pronounced destruction. He was very displeased with the temple.  He shows himself to be not the servant of the temple, but the servant of God.  Also important, he shows that those who were servants of the temple were often not servants of God.

Matt 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

You may read Matt 23:13-38. Here is a selection:

Matt 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. … 16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides…

Many times in Jesus’ ministry, he called attention to the self-serving, hypocritical behavior of the clergy who were primarily concerned with establishing themselves as morally superior to others, rather than being concerned with the purity of their own hearts and intentions, and those of others.  He set the pattern of a true servant of God.

1Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

God created human beings. God wants human beings to live a holy life in obedience to him.  God will glorify those successful in this endeavor as sons of God who inherit the eternal Kingdom.  In order to show a way for humans to live a holy life, God ‘the Word’ became a man, and made his life an example for all.  This is the grace and gift of God.

2Cor 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

God ‘the Word’ left the glory of God and became a mere man so that an ordinary human can inherit the glory of God.  God calls every one of you to follow him.  If you follow him, you will be able to overcome, as he overcame.  You will then sit with Jesus Christ in the throne of God forever.  You shall be the son of God to inherit all things.  This is grace that God became a man to make a man the son of God.  Praise the Lord.

God bless you.