Lesson 9: JESUS, AS THE MODEL OF BEING HUMAN
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, the student can;
Doctrine: Relate the mystery of incarnation and Jesus’ humanity
Morals: Demonstrate ways to live Jesus’ examples
Worship: Pray and reflect the Lectio Divina for the Solemnity of Christmas.
WHAT LANGUAGE GOD SPEAKS
There is a legend of an African boy called Emmanuel, who was always asking questions.
One day he asked the question, “What language does God speak?” No one could answer him. He
travelled all over his country to find the answer but did not get a satisfactory answer. Eventually
he set out for distant lands to find the answer. For a long time he had no success. At last he came
one night to a village called Bethlehem and as there was no room in the local inn, he went
outside the village in search of a shelter for the night. He came to a cave and found that too was
occupied by a couple and a child. He was about to turn away when the young mother spoke,
‘Welcome Emmanuel, we’ve been waiting for you.” The boy was amazed that the woman knew
his name. He was even more amazed when she went on to say, “For a long time you have been
searching the world over to find out what language God speaks. Well, now your journey is over.
Tonight you can see with your own eyes what language God speaks. He speaks the language of
love, that is expressed in sharing, understanding, mercy and total acceptance.”
In this lesson, we will look into the mystery of the incarnation and the humanity of Jesus,
the love of God made flesh.
GOD IS LOVE
God is Love, everything He does, both in Himself and outside of Himself, is a work of
love. Through love, God not only brought man out of nothing, but chose him and elevated him to
the state of divine sonship, destining him to participate in His own intimate life, in His eternal
beatitude. This was the first plan of the immense charity of God with regard to man.
But when man fell into sin, God, who had created him by an act of love, willed to redeem
him by an even greater act of love. See then, how the mystery of the Incarnation presents itself to
us as the supreme manifestation of God’s exceeding charity toward man.
By this, the charity of God appeared toward us, as He has sent His only-begotten Son into
the world that we may live by Him. In this is charity He has first loved us, and sent His Son to be
an appeasement for our sins” (1 John 4:9-10). He gave His Word made flesh, for our salvation.
The Incarnation not only shows God's infinite love for mankind, his infinite mercy,
justice and power, but also the divine wisdom shown in the way God decided to save man, which
is the way that was most appropriate to human nature: through the Incarnation of the Word.
In this mystery of incarnation, Jesus took a human body to save our bodies. And he took
a human mind to save our minds. Without becoming man in his emotions, he could not have
rescued our hearts. And without taking a human will, he could not save our broken and
wandering wills. He became man in full, so that he might save us in full. He related His
humanity to us;
Through His Human Body;
He was born (Luke 1:26-38)
He grew (Luke 2:40, 52)
He grew tired (John 4:6)
He got thirsty (John 19:28) and hungry (Matthew 4:2)
He became physically weak (Matthew 4:11; Luke 23:26)
He died (Luke 23:46)
He had a real human body after his resurrection (Luke 24:39; John 20:20, 27)
Through His Human Heart;
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus clearly displays human emotions. Here it begins to get a
little more difficult for us.
He marvelled (Matthew 8:10).
His “soul is very sorrowful, even to death.”(Matthew 26:38)
He is “deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled(John 11:33–35)
He weeps (John 12:27)
He is “troubled in his spirit.”(John 13:21)
Through His Human Mind
Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. (Luke
2:52)
“Concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven,
nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13:32)
Through His Human Will
“I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who
sent me.” (John 6:38)
Jesus prays to the Father, “Not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)
GOD MEETING US WHERE WE ARE
The mystery of the incarnation is the mystery of God meeting us right where we are at.
God steps into man’s mundane [Link]’s look briefly what the Catechism of the Catholic
Church teaches about the God who met us through the Incarnation of Jesus Christ:
[Catechism of the Catholic Church #479]
At the time appointed by God, the only Son of the Father, the eternal Word, that is, the
Word and substantial Image of the Father, became incarnate; without losing his divine
nature he has assumed human nature.
[Catechism of the Catholic Church #480]
Jesus Christ is true God and true man, in the unity of his divine person; for this reason he
is the one and only mediator between God and men.
[Catechism of the Catholic Church # 481]
Jesus Christ possesses two natures, one divine and the other human, not confused, but
united in the one person of God’s Son.
[Catechism of the Catholic Church # 482]
Christ, being true God and true man, has a human intellect and will, perfectly attuned
and subject to his divine intellect and divine will, which he has in common with the
Father and the Holy Spirit.
[Catechism of the Catholic Church # 483]
The Incarnation is therefore the mystery of the wonderful union of the divine and human
natures in the one person of the Word.
Jesus’ Incarnation is a model for our Humanity
God meeting us did not just stop during the birth of the incarnate word. The Gospel is full
of examples of Christ meeting the sick, the broken, the weak and many more. He meets them
first, and then exhorts them to conversion and healing, accompanying them along the way.
Just like Christ, who stooped down into humanity to raise us up to our full potential as
children of God, so too we must invite all those we encounter to move from weakness to
strength. This is the true meaning of evangelization, of mission, and of encounter.
Christ’s coming filled us with hope marvelling at the depth of His humility, entering our
world and our lives and challenges us to model all our encounter with others and inviting them to
do the same.
LET US LEARN MORE
Activity A: Meeting the broken
Direction: Ponder deeply the following questions below, then answer them based from your
experience.
1. What are the brokenness of people you have so far encountered in your life?
2. How might these brokenness be met with what you can do?
3. What do think is the role of the Church in meeting this brokenness of people?
Activity B: Lectio Divina for Christmas
Direction: Pray and reflect the Lectio Divina for Christmas
Open this link [Link]
[Link] make you prayer about
resurrection.
References:
Mathis, D. (2020). Jesus Is Fully Human. Desiring God.
[Link]
Hlavin, L. (2019). The mystery of the Incarnation: God meeting us where we are. Denver
Catholic. [Link]
where-we-are/
Burke, D. (2015). The Mystery of the Incarnation. Catholic Exchange.
[Link]
