Jesus The High Road Leader: “Jesus Acknowledged His Humanness”

Jesus The High Road Leader

“Jesus Acknowledged His Humanness”

Pastor Mark England

10/6/24

High-road leaders embrace and .

They are willing to be known for who they , not for who others want them to be.

High-road leaders display self-awareness and reflect .

Jesus was fully , and fully .

Jesus never His .

His .

John 11:33-35 (CSB) When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, he was deeply moved in his spirit and troubled. ³⁴ “Where have you put him?” he asked. “Lord,” they told him, “come and see.” ³⁵ Jesus wept.

His .

Matthew 21:18-19 (CSB) Early in the morning, as he was returning to the city, he was hungry. ¹⁹ Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, he went up to it and found nothing on it except leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again! ”At once the fig tree withered.

His .

Matthew 26:40-45 (CSB) Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me one hour? ⁴¹ Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

⁴² Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” ⁴³ And he came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. ⁴⁴ After leaving them, he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. ⁴⁵ Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? See, the time is near. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Seven statements of Jesus’ humanness from the Cross.

1. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Luke 23:34 (ESV)

Jesus teaches us to others no matter how brutal the .

2. “Today, you will be with Me in paradise”.

Luke 23-43 (NIV)

Jesus teaches us to others who are experiencing our same .

3. Woman, behold, your son!”

John 19:26-27 (ESV)

Jesus teaches us to of those to us.

4. “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Matthew 27:46 (NIV)

Jesus teaches us to direct our hard questions to .

5. “I thirst.”

John 19:28 (ESV)

Jesus teaches us the importance of acknowledging our .

6. “It is finished.”

John 19:30 (NIV)

Jesus teaches us that in every struggle there is a and an .

7. “Into Your hands I commit My Spirit.”

Luke 23:46 (NIV)

Jesus teaches us to .

Why are we reluctant?

“If people really , they wouldn’t .”

When we the of others above what God thinks of us, we set ourselves up for .

Proverbs 29:25 (CSB) The fear of mankind is a snare, but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected.

We go through the of our faith rather than truly daily.

Stop hiding the .

To be a high-road leader like Jesus, we must learn to drop our fear-based façade and stand in .

“Sincerity”: Greek artisans were known for making pottery that rarely cracked.

Roman pottery, however, would often crack and need to be covered up and sealed with wax.

“Sincere”: “Without ”

Sincere means not only , but without covering up and imperfections, without hiding and rough edges.

2 Corinthians 4:2 (CSB) Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth.

Jesus is God with us, and exactly what you’re going through.

Hebrews 4:15-16 (CSB) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

If you believe He understands you, then you will be willing to Him.

As a result of acknowledging His humanness, Jesus understands us in three distinct ways…

1. He understands .

Mark 6:3 (CSB) Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended by him.

Mark 3:21 (CSB) When his family heard this, they set out to restrain him, because they said, “He’s out of his mind.”

Jesus understood what it was like to be . And He also understood what it is like to be – to the Church, “The Bride of Christ.”

Jesus knew what it was like for His on Him.

He feels this every time we choose to .

2. He understands .

Hebrews 2:17-18 (CSB) Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

He understands life because He is .

3. He understands .

He experienced the emotional pain of , , and .

Isaiah 53:3 (CSB) He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him.

Isaiah 53:5, 7 (CSB) But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds… He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth.

Jesus felt the pain of and the sting of .

Jesus is God with us… and there is nothing you have been through, going through, or can go through that’s beyond .

If was willing to acknowledge His , why shouldn’t you?