Character of God Revealed in Christ

Taking humanity upon Him, Christ came to be one with humanity, and at the same time to reveal our heavenly Father to sinful human beings. Only He who had been in the presence of the Father from the beginning, only He who was the express image of the invisible God, was able to reveal the character of the Deity to humankind. In all things He was made like us. He became flesh even as we are. He was hungry and thirsty and weary. He was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep. He shared the lot of human beings, yet He was the blameless Son of God. He was a stranger and sojourner on the earth—in the world but not of the world, tempted and tried as men and women today are tempted and tried, yet living a life free from sin. Tender, compassionate, sympathetic, ever considerate of others, He represented the character of God and was constantly engaged in service for God and humanity.MHH 242.5

“‘The Lord has anointed Me,’” He said,
“‘To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,’”
“‘And recovery of sight to the blind;’”
“‘To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, ...
To comfort all who mourn.’”
Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18; Isaiah 61:2.MHH 242.6

“‘Love your enemies,’” He bids us; “‘bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;’” “‘for He is kind to the unthankful and evil.’” “‘He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.’” “‘Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.’” Matthew 5:44, 45; Luke 6:35; Matthew 5:45; Luke 6:36.MHH 242.7

“‘Through the tender mercy of our God, ...
The Dayspring from on high has visited us;
To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.’”
Luke 1:78, 79.MHH 243.1