He was fully man and fully God.

Before reading this close your eyes and try to imagine the struggles Jesus endured for me and you. Really think about it,then read what I came up with. When you're done share your thoughts. Jesus's whole life was a sacrifice not just that day at calvary. It brings tears to my eyes thinking about how much God loves us.

As a boy...

1. He was different than his peers and most likely they noticed and poked fun at him.
2. He was misunderstood by his very parents, who not having the spirit of God, did not understand God's ways. All they knew was their history from the Torah and the law of Moses. They did not know what it meant to have a relationship with God, but this is exactly what Jesus had. How could they possibly understand him?
3. He was from a poor family. The Bible says Joseph offered doves for their sacrificial offerings. In Leviticus ch 5:7 the Jews were instructed that only the poor could offer a dove or pigeon instead of goat or lamb.
4. Being poor did not stop the Romans from taxing his family. Jesus lived amidst constant fear. History records that time under Rome's rule as nothing less than tyranny. It was this very issue that drove every Jew to believe their Messiah would come to conquer their enemies. (Oh, how very wrong they were)
5. His mother and father's reputation were soiled due to his miraculous conception. If people did not believe Jesus was their Messiah, why would they believe Mary and Joseph did not sin and conceive. It is very likely Jesus lived under the eyes of misplaced judgement and ridicule. In everyone's eyes He was the result of sin not God.
6. He faced new challenges everyday which include: his own siblings who were jealous because his mother most likely favored him, he shared the responsibility of providing for his family, and the hardest of all his own mother probably pressured him to hurry God's plan, which she thought was to conquer Rome and establish His kingdom.
7. He lived everyday knowing He was sent as a sacrifice, granted we don't know if he knew this exactly, but we do know at 12 years old He was about His father's business while His family searched for him. If at 12 He knew God's business then surely He knew the God's ultimate plan, the cross and resurrection. Imagine living knowing everything you did for people would only get you killed. Yet, He still gave of himself.

As a man...

1. The time is not known but we do know that Joseph, Jesus' earthly father, died leaving his wife a widow and his first born, Jesus, to take care of his family. Jesus faced the responsibility of protecting, providing, and comforting His family. He felt the pain of Joseph's death for they were very close. He also faced guilt for not being able to heal him for it was not His time because He was obediant to God's plan at all costs.
2. When Jesus' time came and his ministry began, it is noted that his own city did not accept him. Sadly, this included his own siblings. Even Mary, his mother, did not become one of his followers right away. This is my own belief, but I believe Mary was confused since Jesus' preaching and miracles were not stopping the powers of Rome. It was perhaps that very reason that Jesus broke away from His earthly family to reach out to God's people. Jesus lived praying that his family would one day believe.
3. His message was not flowery or sugar coated. He preached truths that made the pharisees and sadducesse hate him. He entered every city with the intention of showing God's love, mercy, and forgiveness, but they had to first look at their sins. Like in today's world, they did not like it. Ultimantely, Jesus was despised and rejected by the world He came to save. Yet, when the time came He still obeyed the will of His father.
4. At the time of his death his disciples didn't stay awake to pray with him one last time, Peter denies him, the other disciples go in hiding, his dying words were father forgive them, and he died knowing that still his people rejected him.
5. The end of the story is that Jesus rose again conquering death, hell, and the grave. He was and is still not accepted by all men, but on the day of pentecost 120 were filled with his spirit, and it was on that day his church began. God came, robed himself in flesh, was born to a virgin in a manger, and paid the price so we could have a relationship with him and live eternally! What kind of God but the one and only true God would sacrifice so much.

He did it all for me and you!!!!