Life-long citizens of the Bible Belt would find the title to this commentary somewhat uncomfortable if not down-right blasphemous. In order to maintain some degree of intellectual honesty, one has to see the scarlet thread that runs throughout the sacred book of the Christian community: the Bible. It takes a great deal of CREDULITY to run with the mindset that Jesus was fully God; at least it does for me.
I have HOPE because Jesus was fully HUMAN!
Yes, he like I carry the divine spark, and LIGHT of God. We are all cut from the same cloth (might I better use the metaphor of light or energy?) which does not mean that we are all of the same frequency or vibration: that’s more than obvious. But, Jesus had the “learn the ropes” as we all do. Hebrews 5:8 says that Jesus learned obedience through the things that he suffered.
>Jesus studied the Bible.
>Jesus spent a great deal of time in prayer and meditation.
>Jesus worked for a living
>Jesus repented and changed his thought patterns when he saw he needed a higher view.
>Jesus DID IT! Jesus successfully made the journey of living as a human and therein showed me how!
He’s my model, my man, my inspiration.
Luke 2:40 shows him maturing and growing in favor with God. Later (vs. 52) Luke speaks of Jesus gaining favor and standing with mankind. Do we all need to follow this model or what? And when Jesus said (I guess he initially thought this) that he was just sent to the house of Israel (Matthew 15), he was so moved by the compassion of the Syro-Phonecian woman that he repented of his thinking and learned yet a new tolerance.
It’s near impossible for literal or fundamental Christians to read these verses in such light because Jesus is to them “God in disguise”.
Listen, we are ALL “God in disguise”. We are all spiritual beings working our way through life and trying to be the best humans we can before we return to our original and eternal state. Thank you Jesus for showing me how LOVE CONQUERS ALL: for showing me that God is LOVE, that you became the poster child for that love, and for encouraging me that I too (all of us) can do the same if not “greater works” (of love).
Dang, that’ll preach: at least in my world!
PS. Happy St. Patrick’s Day y’all! 
Thank God we are learning to love what a different world this would be if we could teach children from the beginning of this life here in this world that they are love instead of teaching that they have to earn love.
Love Dan
Excellent post. Good insight. Comment: I think Jesus was “sent to the house of Israel” because He is the (Jewish) Messiah, a Jewish promise, though it blessed the whole world. “To the Jew first and also the Greek.” (Romans 1:16) I’ve always wondered if there was a moment when young Jesus realized, “I am the Messiah.”
Steven: The cocnept of a Jewish “Messiah” was much different than that of the Christian ‘Christos”. Jesus didn’t fulfill the “Messiah role” as (A) He didn’t bring back a natural Kingdom as David had, and (B) He didn’t save Israel from their enemies: in fact their enemies totally decimated Isreal as a nation in 70CE.
Perhaps Jesus came to show us that we’re all saviors, who ironically first undergo a profound “salvation” experience via the human journey. Jesus called upon a new understanding of Consciousness (which he referred to as “Father”) to free him from the limiting beliefs that paralyze society. In so doing, he became the saviour of his world. Being one with Jesus, the archetype of this expanded God Consciousness, we are fully embraced by and incorporated into the Body of Love, which both includes and transcends our human form. Jesus is the man! But he says that we are too, and even greater!