Who Is Jesus: The Last Adam
Today, we are exploring the name attributed to Jesus, The Last Adam. Starting in Genesis, we will learn how Jesus fulfilled and completed what Adam was intended to do. We will see the parallels between Adam and Jesus in that they both had God for their Father, and both had the Spirit of God empowering them, but Adam failed to live faithful to what God commanded, and Jesus lived in complete obedience to God and competed the mission.
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for Breath, Spirit, and Wind is the single word, “ruach”. All through the Old Testament, we see how God breathed “ruach” into Adam and others who he wanted to use for a special purpose.
God Breathed Life into Adam
“Then the Lord God formed a man (Literally, Adam) from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Gen. 2:7
When Adam and Eve sinned, they really did die. The Spirit that God put in them was removed. Throughout the Old Testament, we find multiple examples of how God did give his Spirit to certain individuals to empower them for a certain task or purpose. The most prominent examples are Joseph, Joshua, Samson, Saul, and David.
Sin and the Spirit (breath) of God cannot reside in the same place.
The Prophets prophesied that a Messiah would come to redeem Israel. They assumed that the Messiah would restore the Nation of Israel, but God’s plan was much bigger. He was actually restoring, through Jesus, for all humanity, what was lost in Eden.
“I will pour out my spirit (ruach) on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants, in those days, I will pour out my spirit (ruach).” Joel 2:28
The Spirit “ruach” would rest on the promised Messiah
“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit (ruach) of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit (ruach) of wisdom and of understanding,
The Spirit (ruach) of counsel and of might, the Spirit (ruach) of the knowledge and fear of the Lord.” Isaiah 11:1-2.
In the New Testament, which was written in Greek, the word for Breath, Spirit, and Wind is the single word, “pneuma”.
The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus
“When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit (pneuma) descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21-22
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit (pneuma), left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit (pneuma) into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. Luke 4:1
The Garden of Eden and the Baptism/Temptation of Jesus are parallel stories
But where Adam failed, Jesus did not fail.
Adam and Eve were filled with the Spirit of God, but they failed to resist the Temptation to Sin.
Jesus was filled with the Spirit of God, and he did not sin.
Satan triumphed over Adam in the Garden.
But Jesus triumphed over Satan in the Wilderness and would ultimately triumph over death and hell as well.
This is the beginning of the end of Satan’s power over people.
Jesus explains what being filled with the Spirit is all about to Nicodemus
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit (pneuma). Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit (pneuma) gives birth to spirit (pneuma). You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind (pneuma) blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit (pneuma).” John 3:4-8
WHAT IS THE NEW BIRTH – IT IS THE RESTORATION OF THE BREATH OF GOD THAT WAS FIRST GIVEN IN CREATION, BUT LOST IN THE FALL.
Jesus breathes on his disciples after his resurrection
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit (pneuma).” John 20:19-22
The Spirit of God is restored to his people
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit (pneuma) and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit (pneuma) enabled them.”
The violent wind (Greek: pnoe – breath wind) was the breath of God like when He breathed into Adam.
The tongues of fire “rested” much like the Spirit rested on Jesus in the form of a dove.
All of them were filled with the Spirit (pneuma).
The Apostle Paul recognizes that Jesus is the fulfillment of Adam’s failed mission
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:12-19
“For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. I Corinthians 15:21-22
Jesus is the Last Adam – Here’s a recap of what we’ve learned
1. God Breathed Life into Adam in creation.
2. When Adam and Eve sinned, God’s Spirit (breath) was withdrawn from them.
3. The removal of this Spirit (breath of God) caused their spiritual death that we all inherited.
4. God desired to restore man to his original design and sent Jesus to reverse everything that happened in the Garden of Eden.
5. Jesus was tempted just like Adam, but he overcame the temptation to sin and became the worthy sacrifice that pleased God and now we are the recipients of God’s grace in salvation and his breath (Holy Spirit) that regenerates us and gives us new spiritual life like what Adam and Eve knew in the Garden.
6. When God breathes his Spirit into us, we are Born Again (spiritually).
7. The Holy Spirit living in us is what makes us spiritually alive and what guarantees us that we will have eternal life in Heaven.
This is just the tip of the iceberg on How Jesus is the Last Adam. Let me just mention a few parallels.
1. Both Adam and Jesus did not have a human father. God was their Father.
2. Adam’s sin brought us death and destruction, but Jesus’ obedience brought us immortality.
3. Adam was the progenitor (father or source) of the human race, but Jesus is the progenitor of a new creation which is the church, the body of Christ.
4. Adam was the Ruler of the World and lost it, but when Jesus returns, he will rule over the earth, and he will be King of kings and Lord of lords.
Response: I have some questions for you to consider:
Are you simply a child of Adam, or have you been born again, and now a child of God?
Has God breathed his Holy Spirit into and made you alive in Christ, or are you still dead in your sin?