Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.”
“Behold, I bring you good news of great joy for all the people, for unto you is born…a Savior who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). This Good News of Jesus shapes the whole of the New Testament. Paul leads with this in his magnum opus, the letter to the Romans. This letter contains theological insights and implications of the incarnation, life, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus.
In these opening verses of Romans Paul speaks of Jesus as both man and God. Jesus’ earthly life was in every way a testimony of his human nature. He never sinned, but he did sleep, weep, eat, teach, suffer and die. That is the stuff of human existence. It seems to me that we can easily swing from an over-emphasis on Jesus’ humanity to an over-emphasis of Jesus’ divinity. Truth is we need both.
The Bible is clear about this: We do not have a high priest who cannot empathise with our weaknesses, but one who was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). God knows our frame. He knows that we are dust (Psalm 103:14). Jesus tasted the fullness of the human condition. And while he was without sin in his nature, he constantly rubbed up against sin in the people around him. Whether by the disbelief and mockery of his enemies, or the weight of human brokenness in people’s illnesses, or the failures even of his closest companions: Jesus knew the realities of sin.
But thousands of good men and women have come and gone who have lived exemplary lives, and made incredible sacrifices. Think Mother Teresa. Martin Luther. Paul himself. But none had power over death. None could raise the dead. None came back to life on the third day. None sit at the right hand of God. The best people who ever live have great limitations to their ability to help us in our hour of greatest need. But Jesus is God and has all power to help us in our greatest need.
Jesus is God. He lives to comfort, heal, bless, and save. He does that because he loves us. He is the Good News of God.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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