This is my final post in this series on the humanity of Christ. It's an odd topic to discuss because depending on your theological background, it may not be an issue for you. Then again, depending on your stance, some may consider you a heretic.

When I was growing up, a strong emphasis was placed on the divinity of Christ. So much that His humanity was seen as an "added bonus." It was hard for me when I got to seminary to wrap my mind around his humanity. But, as I've discussed in the previous two posts, I struggled through my understanding.

Those in this society who aren't necessarily conservative and tend to place emphasis on Christ's humanity, a strange thing often happens. Some of the more conservative bloggers seem to paint them as liberal or even heretical. There has to be a happy medium that is soundly biblical.

Honestly, the first few times I heard my extremely conservative professors discuss the humanity of Christ, I thought it sounded heretical. But that was because of my preconceived notions and held beliefs. What I needed to do was understand the bible better.

It all came into view for me in my Theology II class when my professor was discussing Christ coming as the second Adam. Christ had to be fully human to be the sacrifice for our sins. He had to live completely as we did, without benefit of what he called "the divine trump card." Was Christ still fully divine? Yes, but He was fully human and lived out this life in His full humanity. He used a great illustration.

<a href="http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/swim.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2952" style="margin-left: 6px; margin-right: 6px;" src="http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/swim-300x132.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="132" /></a>Imagine a swimmer who desires to swim the English Channel. He has trained for this moment for years. He sets out to do it, but behind him is a rescue boat. If the swimmer cramps up or needs help, the boat is there. Our swimmer makes the swim successfully. But was it successful? I mean, the guy had a rescue boat behind him. Wasn't that cheating? Of course not. He didn't use it.

Christ came in His humanity to love, teach, and die for us. He could have, at any moment, used his "divine trump card," His "rescue boat." But He didn't. Imagine His great human suffering at Gethsemane, praying for the cup to pass from Him - "but not my will, but Thine."

Thankfully, we have a Savior who was fully human. The one who Paul describes as leaving His glorious riches to become poor as we are. The King came to live amongst the poor - so that we might be made rich in Him.

He desires us to live as He did. Compassionately, giving all we have to others, full of love, sacrificially, building the Kingdom. Now that I understand the humanity of Christ, I can understand my own humanity even better.