Of all 12 characteristics of Jesus’ humanity that Dr. Willmington listed a clear
understanding that Jesus was born in the same world we live in. the first 4 are direct references to
God’s creation of us. The last 8 are very distinct ways in which Jesus taught us to understand and
live our lives as He did, with 4 of them we take for granted or ignore; 1. “He was limited in
knowledge.” 2. “He prayed” and 3. “He was tempted” and 4. “He learned obedience.”1 Dr.
Willmington is talking about Jesus, but of these four I will illustrate two characteristics that we
struggle with. The first being “He was tempted.”1Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high
priest wo is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but on who in every respect has been
tempted as we are, yet without sin.”2 the second being “He learned obedience.”1 In Hebrews 5:8
“Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.”2
By studying the He of Jesus in these characteristics and we takes the place of the
he like we are tempted. We should understand that Jesus suffered all of the temptations to sins
in this world for us. This is an area that effects our world today where people say that the good is
bad and the bad is good. Most people have taken the sacrifice Jesus made for all of us and
determine that temptation is more of advancement in getting their wants over God’s provision in
their needs. “We are tested to see if we will remain faithful when there is nothing to win (for
example, Job 1–2). We are tested to see if our hearts are truly for God or whether we are trying
to serve two masters (Jas 1:14–15; compare Jas 4:3–4). Jesus experienced all of these things.”3
James 1:14-15 is very clear on learning how to understand an area in our lives for us to learn and
apply to understand that Satan will attack us by deceiving us. The second characteristic that we,
needs to be added to as we learned obedience, God’s word is the manual for us on how to live
our life here on this earth. Throughout the history of Israel in the scriptures is a lesson for us all
what happens if we do ignore what God has taught us in His glorious word. Paul guided by the
Spirit said in Romans 5:19 “For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners,
so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous”2 and Hebrews 5:8 “Manser
states that “The gospel demands an obedient response to all that God has done for humanity in
Jesus Christ. This includes faith in God, trust in the work of Jesus Christ, the repenting of sin,
being baptized, and becoming like Christ through discipleship.”4
References:
1. Dr. Harold Willmington, Great Truths from God’s Word;2011.
2. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001.
3. Walter C. Kaiser Jr. et al., Hard Sayings of the Bible (Downers Grove, IL:
Intervarsity, 1996), 678.
4. Martin H. Manser, Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive
Tool for Topical Studies (London: Martin Manser, 2009).
