Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over Me at all, if it had not been given to you from above; for this reason the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.” (v. 11)

Many theologians and ministers explain that Jesus died as a man but did not die as God. But I am not sure if this is the right explanation.

Christ is from heaven while we are from the earth. Yet, Christ is the head of the church. Christ has clothed with humanity and became God-man. The invisible church is clothed with Christ and became man-God. The church has become like Jesus Christ although her beginning is a sinful human.

and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (Romans 8:17)

Christians around the world focus on Christ’s humanity because they want a god who is a human. This idea can be found in many fictional stories and movies. People want a human savior. People reject Christ because he is not entirely like them.

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

Some people ask: Can a man who does not sin represent mankind? The Bible tells us that Christ did not even think of sinning because sinning from the heart is also sin. Adam had the intention of sinning before he ate the fruit. This means that Christ is not like Adam before the fall. I do not think Paul was preaching that Christ died for all people as everyone fell because of Adam. Many people misinterpret Romans 5.

I think that Christ came to the earth as the church completed and perfected when He became a man. Therefore, the church died when Christ died. This event is linked to the Lord’s Supper before His death.

I do not completely disagree with the idea that Christ died as a man, not as God. But I’d like to warn people when understanding this. Significant errors and confusion came when people separated Christ’s two natures.

It is more accurate to say that Christ died as the head of the church and His death and resurrection apply only to those who are chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. The Israel nation in the OT was a shadow of the church but many Israelites rejected Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

He came to His own, and His own people did not accept Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God. (John 1:11-13)

Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” (John 18:37)

Christ did not die and resurrect for all mankind but only for the invisible church. As the head of the church, Christ could not share His suffering with other people. No one could die for Christ.

Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times. (John 13:38)