"After Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on Him. And there came a voice from heaven: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him!" — Matthew 3:16–17
How could God be both human and divine at the same time? This is an impossible question to answer from a purely human perspective, but the Bible provides us with all the answers we need as the Holy Spirit applies it to our hearts and minds. Understanding great truths like the incarnation and the Trinity is impossible for us. We often try to find ways to explain what God is like, but our explanations are never complete since our minds cannot grasp how amazing God is.
God the Father has always existed with God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. In the time predetermined by God, the Father sent the Son to earth to save us. Jesus set aside all the rights of His divinity and took on human flesh in order to become our perfect representative in every way. He lived a sinless life for us and then died a sinner’s death in our place, and when He was raised to heaven, He brought us with Him in terms of securing our eternal destiny. The truth about Jesus can be understood only as the Holy Spirit illuminates us to know it. To everyone else, the message is foolishness.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called…Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom, because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength” (1 Co 1:23–25).
As coaches, we are often called on to help our players or colleagues understand Christian truths. We are best prepared for such occasions by studying the Scriptures and meditating on all they teach. God’s Word is sufficient for every occasion.
1. Do you spend time reading and praying over God’s Word?
2. If someone were to ask you why you love Jesus, how would you answer?
Extra Reading: Psalm 119:105–112; Matthew 7:17–20; Acts 1:4–8
Lord, help me take in all that You are in order for me to be all that You want me to be. Amen.