Jesus Was Human

Today, we’re talking about: Jesus Was Human

Yep—He laughed, cried, got tired, felt joy, and probably got hangry a time or two! Sometimes we think of Jesus as floating through life with this holy glow, but He walked through real stuff—just like us.

Let’s talk about how knowing Jesus was fully human can change how we live, love, and lean on Him today.

Hebrews 4:15 (NLT) — “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin.”

Let’s start by looking at what it means that Jesus was both fully God and fully human. It's easy to picture Him healing and teaching, but He also needed naps, food, and friends.

We view Jesus as Lord—and rightly so—but because we weren’t there as He walked the earth, we can easily forget that He faced many of the same trials we do (and some we don’t).

We tend to compartmentalize who He was and what He experienced.

Jesus took naps. That alone makes me feel better about needing one! (Mark 4:38—He was asleep in the boat!) If the Son of God needed rest, we definitely do too. It’s okay to step away and breathe.

One of our defenses is to keep going—to push forward until the work is done. But we’re never really “done,” are we? Life keeps going. Jesus shows us that we must rest no matter what’s happening. We need to be refreshed by the Lord in order to continue on.

Jesus wept. Not just a single tear—He wept over Lazarus, over Jerusalem, over broken people. He also felt joy and compassion. When you’re feeling big emotions, know He’s felt them too. You’re not alone in the messiness of your heart.

We don’t always like to show or share our emotions unless it’s during happy times. But Jesus showed us that we can feel all the things—and that’s okay.

Jesus had a crew—12 close friends, and even within that, a few He was especially close to. He valued friendship. He went to weddings. He celebrated and sat around tables. That tells me people mattered deeply to Him.

The fact that Jesus was human means we don’t have to pretend with Him. He gets it. He really gets it. You don’t have to clean yourself up to come to Him—He already understands the struggle.

Now that we’ve seen how human Jesus really was, let’s talk about how that changes our everyday lives—from the grocery store to grief. Jesus walks with us in all of it.

Jesus knew what it was like to be misunderstood. His own family thought He was crazy at one point (Mark 3:21). So, if your relationships are messy—He gets that. He’s been there.

Hebrews 4:15 (NLT) — “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin.”

Ever feel overwhelmed?... I know, that’s a silly question.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was under so much pressure He sweat blood. He asked God if there was another way—and that moment alone shows His raw humanity. You can bring your anxiety to Him.

So many times, we can feel this kind of anxiety—maybe not to the point of sweating blood—but enough to feel like we’re drowning in panic. Jesus experienced this, and the first thing He did was cry out to God. That reminds us that in our anxiousness, we have a Savior who understands better than anyone—and we can follow His example by crying out to the Lord.

I firmly believe Jesus laughed. Think about it—He spent years on the road with 12 guys. There had to be inside jokes, laughter around the campfire, and maybe a prank or two. Joy is godly—it’s part of who He is.

I have two boys (and of course, my husband), and they do a lot of joking around. So, I can just imagine the jabs and random conversations Jesus and His group of friends had.

We need to remember, as we walk through this life, that Jesus didn’t just come to save us—He came to be with us. Because He lived a real, messy, fully human life, we can walk with Him through ours. Talk to Him like a close friend—He’s not far away; He’s right here.

Now we’re going to focus on what it means to follow the example Jesus set for us—not just as our Savior, but as someone who walked through life with purpose, grace, and heart.

Hebrews 4:15 (NLT) — “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin.”

Jesus didn’t ignore the hurting—He moved toward them. That means we can, too. When we feel overwhelmed or worn down, let’s choose compassion like He did—even when it’s inconvenient.

Imagine trying to teach a group of people who constantly misunderstood you—Jesus did that with grace. If He could be patient with them, He’s definitely patient with us. And we can ask for that same patience toward others.

Even with the crowds and chaos, Jesus stayed connected to God. He pulled away to pray and stayed rooted.

Life can be overwhelming. It can feel like complete chaos—like we can’t even get a minute to ourselves. But if we want to live like Jesus, we need that same rhythm of work, rest, pray, repeat.

Remember—Jesus knew what was coming, and He kept His focus on God.

Through the pain, the betrayal, and the crucifixion—He didn’t quit. He saw it through for us. And because of that, we can keep going too, no matter how hard the road feels today.

Here’s what I hope you carry with you today:

Jesus wasn’t—and isn’t—distant or unrelatable. He was human. He felt what we feel. And because of that, we can run to Him with confidence.

Whether you're having a great day, a bad day or something in between, know that you are known, seen, and deeply loved by a Savior who truly understands.