From various writers in the New Testament we learn that Jesus was made various things. John says, "The Word was made flesh" (John 1:14). Paul says, "He was made sin; He was made of woman, under the law; and he was made a curse" (2 Cor. 5:21; Ga1. 4:4-5; Ga1. 3:13). The Hebrew writer says, "Made like unto his brethren" (Heb. 2:17). Luke proclaims, "He was made alive" (Acts 1:3). Peter declares, "Whom God raised up, having loosed the. pangs of death: because it was not possible that he be holden of it. Let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified" (Acts 2:24, 36).

In these passages of Scripture three revelations are made concerning the person of Jesus Christ. The first pertains to his incarnation, "He was made flesh." God was manifest in the flesh. John tells us, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" (Jn. 1:18). Jesus fully revealed the Father unto men. He said himself unto Philip, in answer to his request, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us, "Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father" (John 14:8-9). If one would know what the Father is like, he can learn such by studying and knowing the Christ for he is the full and complete revelation of the Father. "The express image of his substance" (Heb. 1:3).

The second revelation of the Son pertains to the sacrifice of himself. "He was alive" (Acts 1 :3). Jesus died to become king, he conquered by surrendering. The death of Jesus was Satan's greatest victory, it became his greatest defeat when Jesus was made alive on the first day of the week. Let us now develop these three revelations concerning Jesus Christ.

"The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth" (Jn. 1:14). The Word made flesh was Jesus Christ incarnated in a human body. This Word was God, deity. He was "with God" or in communication with Jehovah. He was in the beginning with God, the Creator of all things. The Word is the Christ of eternity. This eternal Word became flesh, born from the womb of the Virgin Mary. He was made of woman, made under the law (Gal. 4:4). When he became flesh, "He was made in all points like unto his brethren" (Heb. 2:17). A body was prepared for the "Me." God had no pleasure in sacrifices and whole burnt offerings. "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body didst thou prepare for me" (Heb. 10:6-9). The "Me" existed before the body did. The body was prepared for the "Me." The virgin Mary became the mother of the human body of Jesus Christ. She WAS NOT THE MOTHER OF GOD! The "Me" or "God" is eternal. She was not the mother of deity but the mother of the human body in which the Word or deity resided.

To deny the virgin birth of Jesus Christ is to impeach the witness of sacred historians and to call in question the honor of one who affirmed her unbroken, unsullied virginhood. Was the sinless Son of God born of a base mother who was disflowered of her virginity and who spoke falsely to cover her disgrace? Jesus Christ was born from a virgin's womb and when he died he was placed in a virgin tomb.

Jesus was both a comrade and a brother. We are "Heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ" (Rom. 8:17). He entered into the experiences of men in order to qualify himself to be our high priest. He is the "Captain of our salvation, made perfect through suffering" (Heb. 2:10). He is qualified to be a faithful and a merciful high priest in things pertaining to God, for in that he suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.

Jesus was perfect man and God at the same time. God was in the flesh and he "Did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth" (I Pet. 2:22). He affirmed his own moral perfection when he challenged the Jews saying, "Which of you convicteth me of sin?" Let us look at Jesus from his human side and his divine side. He became thirsty and asked the woman at the well for a drink of water and yet he said, "If any man thirst let him come to me and drink." He became hungry but was able to multiply five loaves and two fishes and feed five thousand men. He became weary and dropped on a well curb to rest and yet he offered to give rest to all who are weary and heavy-ladened. He needed sleep but when the storm arose on the Sea of Galilee, he awoke, stilled the tempest and calmed the sea! He yearned for sympathy and felt the pangs of loneliness in the garden of Gethsemane, yet he could have called twelve legions of angels to his side. Many times in his life he felt the need of prayer and resorted to a secluded place and engaged in fervent prayer but never in his life did he have to confess sin! He grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man, and yet, in HIM dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:9, 3). He was made flesh that he might be made the sin bearer of the human family.

Jesus was sinless but he was made to be sin on our behalf! "Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteous of God in him" (2 Cor. 5:21). He was the sinless Christ. John the Baptizer condemned sin in his day, especially the sins of the religious leaders. He said to Jesus when he came to be baptized in the Jordan, "I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?" Pilate's verdict was, "I find no fault in him." Judas cried out in anguish, "I have betrayed innocent blood!" Christ himself challenged, "Which of you convicteth me of sin?"

Even though he was sinless, he was made the sin-bearer for the sins of men. "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our Peace was upon him; and with his stripes were all healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Is. 53 :4-6).

He who was never a curse to anybody was made a curse for everybody. "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" (Gal. 3:13). Jesus became a curse for us in order to lift the curse from us. Our sins were placed upon him and for that time God turned his face from Jesus. By becoming our sin bearer he did for the time of his death separate himself from God. His cry on the cross was, "My God, my God, Why hast thou forsaken me?" ( Matt. 27:46; Isa. 59:1-2.)

From the cross Jesus uttered the statement, "It is finished." He was made to be sin that he might be sin's destroyer. He was made a curse to lift the curse from us. He was made flesh in order to be made sin. The world's hope, its one lone, trembling hope lay cradled in that lowly stable in Bethlehem. That hope rose in steady ascent until it reached the summit of the skull shaped hill called Golgotha. That hope appeared shattered and broken as the Son of God bowed his head and died. But not so! On the first day of the week, at early dawn, that hope broke in splendor from Joseph's garden tomb! Christ brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. He is not here, he is risen! The world's hope was fulfilled.

He is not a dead king! No, he died to become king! Luke declares, "He was made alive." The death of Jesus caused the Jews to smart. The impostor is dead. The Romans will not come and destroy our country and the whole world will not believe on him. The scribes were glad. The soldiers were hardened and gambled for his clothes. The disciples mourned, were scattered in dismay and finally returned to fishing. The beloved form had stiffened. The hands that had toiled and had been extended in mercy were now motionless.

The eyes of pity, sympathy and understanding were glazed. Satan, who had the power over death, had won his victory. His greatest victory! The reason for this effect of the death of Jesus on his disciples is given. For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that he must arise again from the dead.

Jesus was made alive! The tomb was empty and the stone was rolled away. The linen clothes were lying in one place and in another place was the folded napkin which was about his head. The body of Jesus had been so marked that it could be easily recognized. He appeared unto his disciples for the space of forty days and was then taken up into heaven. He had spoken the things concerning the kingdom of God and then ascended to become king! God promised David he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne. Peter tells us that he spake of the resurrection of Christ. "Being therefore bv the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear. For David ascended not into the heavens; but he saith himself,

Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified" (Acts 2:33-36). David's statement could well have been uttered, "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors: And the King of Glory will come in" (Psa. 24:7). Jesus became the coronated King and this Peter announced in Acts 2. He did no sin, he bore the guilt of sin and arose victorious over death and the grave. Satan he conquered, took away his power of death and arose with the keys of death and hades (Heb. 2:14; Rev. 1:18). He is now king, possesses all authority and must reign in heaven until all enemies are destroyed, and the last enemy to be destroyed is death (I Cor. 15:24-25 ). His first mission into the world was to be its savior. All who through faith in him, repent of their sins, confess his name before men and are immersed in water to remit their past sins call be saved (Mark 16:16; Acts 17:30-31; Rom. 10:10; Acts 2:38).

The second mission of Christ at his second coming will be in the role of a judge. He was judged of men once-an unrighteous judgment. He shall judge men at the last day-a righteous judgment. Will you take your stand today under the banner of King Jesus? Obey the truth and be prepared to enter into the eternal kingdom, the place he has prepared. Jesus was made flesh that he might be made our sin-bearer. He was made alive that he might become our king and savior.

Truth Magazine IV:4, pp. 16-18
January 1960