He worked at the carpenter's trade until he
was thirty years of age, at which time he began his ministry. At that
time he went to John to be baptized in the Jordan. (Luke 3:21-23)
Immediately following that he spent forty days and nights in the
wilderness, fasting and studying Jehovah's plan. (Luke 4:1-14) If he
were God incarnate, this experience in the wilderness would seem wholly
unnecessary.
[174]Jesus was not an angel or spirit being, because we have the
positive statement of the Apostle to the effect that, "We see Jesus,
who was made a little lower than the angels". (Hebrews 2:9) And again:
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also
himself likewise partook of the same". (Hebrews 2:14) Furthermore, he was
at one time rich in heavenly power and glory and became poor for the sake
of mankind by taking upon himself the nature of man. (2 Corinthians 8:9)
He was made in the nature and likeness of man. (Philippians 2:8) The
Apostle, writing under inspiration, speaks of Jesus as the man: "For
since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the
dead.... The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the
Lord from heaven."--1 Corinthians 15:21,47; see also 1 Timothy 2:5,6.
[175]Had Jesus been merely an incarnated being it would not have been
necessary for him to be born as a babe and grow to manhood's estate.
Pages:
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116