What could the “fleshly” Jesus do that God could not do? The answer is in these two verses: 1) “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man”(James 1:13); and 2) “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of oaur infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). This is no small point but a major issue in understanding Jesus!
It took sinless blood to be offered for our sins! That is that our sins could be forgiven! Clearly, it being the case that the blood of animals could not take away even one sin: “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Heb. 10:4). But why was it the case, or reason, “that the blood of bulls and of goats” could not take away sin? At least one reason is clear, though there might be more than one; but the blood of animals is less than human blood. For instance, animals are for man, not man for animals! What does this mean? This is a major mistake that many make today; as some believe that animals are on the same level as man! However, God made it very clear, that animals were to be eaten; thus, they would be killed and eaten: “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things” (Gen. 9:3). However, the words in regard to man reveal that killing is forbidden: “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man” (Gen. 9:6). This also proves that the blood of man is greater than that of animals; as it was/is lawful to kill, it fact, God makes it most clear that this is one of the reasons for animals; but it is forbidden that one shed the blood of man!
Now, what about the blood of man in general? Was there ever, a case where the blood of man in general, that it might be shed in behalf of man and the forgiveness of sin? No! But why is this? Is there a reason that the blood of man, in general, would not be able to be offered for the forgiveness of sin? Once more, Yes! No man, save one, had blood that was without sin! Read Paul on this subject: “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10) Paul continued with: “They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Rom. 3:12). Then, Paul concluded: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Here Paul is writing of both the Jew and the Gentile; as this is the way the world was divided. Therefore, no blood of man was fit to be the sacrifice for sin! Now, it is imperative that we understand it was for this reason that “the Word was made flesh” (John 1:14). Read with great care these words: “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” (Heb. 2:9). The subject is Jesus in the flesh, as he “was made a little lower than the angels (heavenly angels, frw).” But why was Jesus so made? It was for “the suffering of death” that he “should taste death for every man.” Here the writer continues the subject: “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood.” Let us stop right here for a moment. Did you get it? “The Word was made flesh” in as much as “the children are partakers of flesh and blood!” Why was it necessary that “the Word” be made flesh? Let the inspired writer put the point, so powerfully to us: “he also himself likewise took part of the same” (verse 14). Please read with care these words: “that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (verses 14-15). “The Word was made flesh” so “he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” It took flesh and blood to “destroy him that had the power of death!” Animal blood could not do it and neither could angels, as they have no blood, but “the Word” who “was made flesh and blood” could do it. Therefore, it took the blood of man but not just any blood of man! It took the blood of one who was temped in all points as we are; yet without sin!
This one is Jesus! God has no blood, therefore, “the Word” (God, John 1:1) “was made flesh (and blood, frw), to be temped like as we are but this one had no sin (1 Pet. 2:22). Here is a good place to read the heart wrenching words of Jesus, as he faced death on the cross: “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:44). Now let Luke descried the agony Jesus suffered as he prayed: “and more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (verse 45). There is “the Word” that “was made flesh (and blood, frw), “a little lower than the angels; that our sins can be forgiven!
Frank R. Williams