The Apostle Paul was what is sometimes called “a man’s man.” He was highly educated, a lawyer, and a member of a national ruling body. He led a force authorized to judge and execute judgment against national enemies. After his stunning conversion to Christianity, he was stoned, beaten, imprisoned, and ultimately beheaded for his faith.
Shipwrecked, he survived the sea for a day and a night—then gathered wood for a fire and helped those around him. He experienced near escapes from death, he uncovered plots of murder and insurrection. He was the cause of rioting in the streets, he confronted Roman military leaders, he testified before kings. Along the way, he planted churches in several cities on two continents, trained a number of Christian leaders, and wrote much of the New Testament. He was a man by any measure.

But he acknowledged another as “the Man.” In 1 Timothy 2:5, Paul wrote: For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus… The man, Christ Jesus.

At this time each year, we hear countless songs and stories about the baby Jesus. Born in a manger. Shepherds, wise men, cattle lowing, and angels singing. All true. All important. But, if we aren’t very careful, we perceive a wrong message about who Jesus is, and reap great misunderstanding about what He means to us.

Think carefully with me about Jesus. His life so changed history that our calendar numbers its years from his birth. We know that he was an amazing young man, able to lead intelligent discussions with the most learned religious and national leaders of his day at the age of 12. He labored with his hands in his father’s carpenter shop. He started and led a national movement that gained the attention of Israel’s leaders and of Rome’s local rulers. Large crowds gathered wherever he was found, attesting to his profound teaching and his humble care for even the poorest and most needy. Men and women, high and low, sought him out and implored his help. Soldiers were so moved by his teaching that they refused to carry out their instruction to arrest him. His message—always non-violent, always respectful even when confrontational, always personal rather than national—so threatened national leaders that he was falsely accused and unjustly killed.

Jesus was a force to be reckoned with. He was The Man.

As The Man, he was misunderstood. He was challenged, ridiculed, mocked, and questioned. He was lied about, maligned, and threatened. He was pressed, imposed upon, and pursued. He was often tired, hungry, sorrowful, and saddened.

The Scripture tells us Jesus was tempted in every way, just like you and I. Matthew 4 details three temptations, perhaps 3 kinds of temptations corresponding to those core unGodly desires (lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life) given by the Apostle John in 1 John 2:15. But the Scripture assures us that Jesus was without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

Think about that. The Man. Without Sin. Jesus’ life demonstrates that sin is not essential to humanity.
Regardless of our challenges and the pressures of life and all the world weighing in on us, sin is unnecessary. Excuses do not avail. Whining “I’m only human,” is an insult to Jesus.

John the Baptist announced Jesus as, “The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) Not the one who delivers us from the consequences of our continuing sin, but the one who delivers us from our sin.

If Jesus’ temptations were not real, the Gospel is a sham. If his temptations were not greater than ours, it might be that someone could say, “But he would have sinned if he were confronted like I am.” But we can’t say that. And he didn’t sin.

And he didn’t sin because he was led by the Spirit, like we are to be. He spent time with the Father, as we are to do. He had no agenda except the will of his Father, which should be our desire. He understood the consequences of sin. He understood that he could have life or death, God’s way or his; but he could not have both. God help us to understand.

This Christmas, hear the message of the Gospel. Turn from your sin, and begin living. Life is only in God. Real Life is demonstrated for us and made available to us in The Man, Christ Jesus.