All Christians should take to heart this sentiment from the Apostle Paul, for the more we know about God's nature and purpose, the better we will be able to pursue this purpose in life.

It is a mystery to us how, in Jesus Christ, humanity and deity are co-mingled. Jesus is clearly God and claimed to be on many occasions (Colossians 2:9; Philippians 2:6-8). Yet, He allowed Himself to be humbled, voluntarily experiencing human limitations:

• He became tired (John 4:6)
• He experienced physical thirst (John 19:28)
• He knew physical hunger (Matthew 4:2)
• He experienced physical weakness (Matthew 8:23-25)
• He even allowed His body to cease functioning, as ours does when we die (Matthew 27:50)

The account of Jesus crossing the Sea of Galilee from Capernaum to the land of the Gadarenes with His disciples exemplifies that He simultaneously succumbed to human limitations and possessed God's omnipotence (Matthew 23-27). What could be more human than our Lord's total exhaustion in the boat, and what could be more divine than His stilling of the winds and the waves?

Jesus also faced temptation, as we do. Some people wonder if Jesus was truly vulnerable to temptation. This is a very important question, for the answer clarifies that incredible and never to be repeated blending of deity and humanity in one person (Luke 4:1-13).

Although Jesus could have met Satan's offers to sin with the full force of His deity, Jesus chose to meet Satan in meekness, withholding His vast supernatural power. He did not banish His tempter or remove Himself from its presence. He displayed power under constraint. To be sure, Jesus felt the presence and pressure of temptation like we do, but remember Jesus did not share our sinful nature, so the necessary element for temptation to succeed was not present (Hebrews 4:15, James 1 :14).

Jesus left us an example to follow as we face temptation. You may think that His temptations were not true, since, as God in the flesh, He did not really have the capacity to fall. But let me ask you this, Have you ever been tempted and resisted? Or do you believe the adage, The only way to get rid of temptation is to give into it? Is temptation only real if you give into it? Certainly not; it merely becomes resisted temptation. The presence and the pressure of temptation are quite real regardless of our response.

It was important for Jesus to be tempted. First, so that we could know that our God cares for us and can fully understand the pressures we face (Hebrew 2:1-7). Because He has faced the Devil's taunts and resisted, He is able to aid those of us who are likewise tested. Second, so that we could know, by His example, how to effectively resist temptations. He showed us how to use God's written Word to defend ourselves against the Devil.

When Adam sinned in the garden, he forfeited paradise and this world to Satan who became the god of this world (Ephesisan 2:2). Satan received dominion over the planet, and filled it with gross perversions. He is primarily responsible for the injustice, the violence and the rebellion against God. He has infiltrated politics, the media and even religion through the hearts of evil people.

When sin entered the world, God in His holiness could no longer fellowship with His creation. But God made provision for His beloved children. He sent Jesus to reverse the effects of humankind's sinful choice, and restore humankind to relationship with God. Jesus came to purchase back that which was forfeited in the garden. He came to bridge the gap between the holy God and the sinful man (Matthew 20:28; Revelation 5:2, 6-13; John 3:16).

For this reason all attempts to reform this world, culture and society through education, politics and economics are futile. The only change that can have any effect is a change of heart brought about by God when one follows Jesus Christ.

It is not true that "All truth is God's truth," because much of what we call "truth" is not God's truth.

Satan in his temptation offered Jesus an opportunity to bypass the cross and still possess the earth. That is precisely why Jesus responded to him so sharply. Satan could not offer Jesus the true deed to the earth. Only the "Lamb who had been slain" would be worthy to claim Lordship. The crucifixion was not a rude interruption to the otherwise wonderful life of a great humanitarian or moral teacher. It was Jesus' goal and destination from the very beginning of time.

Jesus spoke of the cross frequently and even gave vivid detail of His impending death. He knew exactly what was about to happen in His life. Yet Jesus resisted the temptation and chose to go to the cross in our place. This was Christ's act of love (John 2:19-23; Mark 10:32-34). God's just nature required that the penalty due to us for our sins would be paid. At the cross of Calvary, God's justice and love met (Romans 3:25-26).

Some people say, "All roads lead to God." This is a dangerous falsehood. The Bible clearly teaches that the sacrifice of Jesus was the only way to settle the issue of sin.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless not as I will, but as you will" (Matthew 26:39). Jesus had complete foreknowledge of what lay ahead, including the betrayal by Judas, the denial by Peter and the fact that He would be largely abandoned for a time by His own disciples. He also knew well about the cruel and horrendous physical pain He was about to endure—the torturous whipping and the merciless crucifixion.

It is my opinion, though, what gave Him the most pain was his foreknowledge that all of the sin of the world would be dumped on Him on the cross. This, for Jesus, was a fate worse than death for He had never in any capacity sinned, and now He would suffer and be apart from the Father.

In this prayer, Jesus did say, "If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. . ." But the fact of the matter is, if the salvation of humankind was to be purchased it was not possible to avoid the cross. Even after His resurrection Jesus again pointed out that it was necessary for Him to "suffer these things and enter into His glory" (Luke 24:25, Acts 4:1-2).

Jesus' life had purpose along the way to the cross, as well. He served humankind in ministry. He healed the broken hearted. He freed the oppressed. He returned sight to the blind and He delivered the captive.

Jesus is still ministering to humankind in these ways today from His heavenly throne. He cares for those who have lost loved ones, whose hearts ache from separation, and whose souls throb with the pain of failure. He lifts up those crushed with life, those who are shattered, broken down and mistreated. The same Jesus who walked this earth, who calmed the seas with a word, also loves you.

Likewise He opens our eyes to our sins, shows us God's glory and delivers us from evil. This Jesus, who was crucified, bore the sins of the world and rose from the dead, wants to forgive you of your sins right now.

God dropped a lifeline to you in the form of Jesus Christ. Take hold of Him. Receive His love and forgiveness. He is"the Way, the Truth, and the Life."

Part III