Many people, even those who have believed for years, pause before this question: Was Jesus truly both God and man? It’s not merely a theological puzzle—it is a question that reaches into the mystery of God’s heart. As a priest, I have often seen this question arise not in classrooms, but in hospital rooms, in times of grief, or in quiet prayer. It is asked by those who long to understand how deeply God entered our human story.
In the Gospel of John, we hear the words that changed history: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). These words tell us something astonishing—God did not remain distant. The eternal Son, through whom all things were made, became one of us. Jesus Christ was not pretending to be human. He truly walked our path—He grew tired, He felt hunger, He wept. And yet, at the same time, He forgave sins, stilled storms, and rose from the dead—things only God can do. In Him, the divine and human are perfectly united.
For centuries, the Church has reflected deeply on this truth. The Council of Chalcedon, in the year 451, expressed it beautifully: Christ is “one and the same Son… acknowledged in two natures, without confusion, change, division, or separation.” This means Jesus’ humanity was as real as ours, and His divinity as perfect as the Father’s. He didn’t stop being God when He became man, and He didn’t hide His humanity to remain divine. Both natures coexist in perfect harmony within the one Person of Christ.
Why does this matter to us today? Because it means that God truly understands us. When we suffer, we can turn to a Savior who has felt pain Himself. When we are tempted, we remember that He was tempted too. When we wonder whether God cares, we look at Jesus—who chose to share in our weakness so that we could share in His strength. The mystery of the Incarnation is not just about who He is—it’s about how much He loves.
If Jesus were only God, He might have saved us from afar. If He were only man, He could have shown us goodness but not divine grace. But being both, He lifts us to God while standing beside us as a brother. In Christ, heaven and earth are no longer apart—they meet in a Person who loves us completely.
When we kneel before the manger or gaze upon the Cross, we behold the same mystery—the eternal God made flesh for our salvation. May this truth draw us to deeper faith, tender love, and quiet awe before the One who is both our Lord and our Friend.
“For in Him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Colossians 1:19).
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
