The Human Nature of Jesus

7.8 What evidence points to the human nature of Jesus?

The New Testament highlights the genuine humanity of Jesus. Although he is recognized as the One sent by God, he appears with human limitations: he grows in age and wisdom, experiences hunger, fatigue, sorrow, and suffering. His words indicate that he was not omniscient, that he received his teaching from the Father, that he prayed to God, and that he submitted himself to God’s will.

To gather these passages together, I consulted several Muslim websites¹, which emphasize the biblical verses that highlight Jesus’ humanity and his subordination to the Father.

Biblical testimony concerning the humanity and limitations of Jesus #

Theme	Passages	Comments
The disciples regard Jesus as a man, sent by God, and a servant of God	Acts 2:22: “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth—a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst…” Acts 3:26: “God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.” Acts 4:27: “For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel.” John 17:3: “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
Jesus grew in wisdom and had limited knowledge	Luke 2:52: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” Mark 9:20–21: “And they brought the boy to him… And Jesus asked his father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood.’”	Jesus is not omniscient.
Jesus acknowledges that his knowledge comes from God	John 7:16: “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.” John 8:28: “…I speak just as the Father taught me.” John 12:49: “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.”	Jesus passes on teaching received from the Father.
Jesus distinguishes himself from God	Luke 18:18–19: “A ruler asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.’”	Here Jesus refers all absolute goodness back to God. Some see in this an implicit challenge: if he is called “good,” that could imply recognition of his divinity. See note below.
God is greater than Jesus	John 14:28: “…If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.”	Jesus acknowledges a hierarchy in relation to the Father.
Jesus prays to God and teaches others to pray to the Father and ask “in his name”	Luke 11:2: “And he said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.’” Luke 6:12: “In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.” John 16:23–24: “…Whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you… Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
Jesus seeks God’s will rather than his own	Luke 22:42: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” John 5:30: “…because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” John 6:38: “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.”	Jesus clearly expresses his submission to the Father.
Jesus is subordinate to God	1 Corinthians 11:3: “…the head of Christ is God.” 1 Corinthians 15:28: “When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.”	Explicit subordination of the Son to the Father.
Jesus needs to be strengthened by God	Luke 22:41–43: “And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed… And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.”	Jesus shows his human frailty and receives strength and support.
Jesus experiences fatigue and physical needs	John 4:6: “Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well.” Matthew 4:2: “And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” John 19:28: “…Jesus said… ‘I thirst.’”	Jesus shares the physical limits of every human being: fatigue, hunger, thirst.
Jesus expresses human emotions	John 11:35: “Jesus wept.” Matthew 26:38: “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death…” Matthew 9:36: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them…”	Jesus experiences sorrow and compassion.
Jesus experiences temptation	Hebrews 4:15: “…one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”	Jesus truly experiences temptation, yet remains without sin.

Note: Luke 18:19 can be interpreted in two ways.

As evidence of his humanity
In this passage, Jesus responds to a ruler who calls him “Good Teacher”: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone” (Luke 18:19). Taken literally, Jesus distinguishes himself from God and refuses to claim absolute goodness for himself. Perfect goodness belongs to God alone. In this reading, Jesus shows humility and subordination to the Father: he does not claim a divine title for himself, but directs all attention back to God. This verse is therefore often used by those who emphasize his humanity and dependence on God.
As an implicit reference to his divinity
Other interpreters see these words not as a denial, but as a rhetorical challenge. Jesus confronts the man with the implications of his own language: if no one is good except God, and you call me “good,” then are you prepared to recognize that I am more than a mere man? In this reading, the verse does not contradict Jesus’ divinity, but rather invites the listener to reflect more deeply on his true identity.
The continuation of the passage reinforces this interpretation:
“You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.”
“And he said, ‘All these I have kept from my youth.’”
When Jesus heard this, he said to him:
‘One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ (Luke 18:20–22)
Here, Jesus does not merely point back to God and the Law: he places himself at the center of the response, calling the ruler to follow him personally. That is what strengthens the Christological reading of the passage.

Conclusion #

Taken together, these passages show that the New Testament strongly emphasizes the real humanity of Jesus: he learns, prays, grows tired, experiences hunger, thirst, emotion, temptation, and suffering. His words underline his dependence on the Father, from whom he receives his teaching, and his constant willingness to submit to God. The disciples themselves present him as the servant and messenger of God.

References #

90 versets affirment que Jésus n’est pas Dieu — IslamReligion. https://www.islamreligion.com/fr/articles/10454/90-versets-affirment-que-jesus-n-est-pas-dieu/
Jésus est-il Dieu ? — IslamReligion.

Articles consulted: ↩︎