Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.
2 corinthians 5:16
Paul is saying, “I thought of Jesus as a man born into a poor Jewish family, raised in an obscure village, a carpenter who hung out with some embarrassing friends and died early in life.” And in the Gospels, many people dismissed Jesus because they regarded him according to the flesh:
In Matthew 13, when Jesus came to his hometown of Nazareth they said, “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” And they dismissed Him. Why? Because their view of Him was based on His work: “Why should we give weight to someone who has such an ordinary job?”
In Mark 2, the Pharisees said, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Their view of Him was based on His friends: “Look at the company this man keeps; he couldn’t possibly be the Messiah.”
In John 19, Pilate placed a sign above Jesus’ head, on the cross, that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” This was a racial slur, and it is the reason why the Jews objected to it.
As long as Paul regarded Jesus according to the flesh, the idea of one man laying claim to the loyalty, worship, and obedience of every person was preposterous and offensive to him. This is still the conclusion of many people today.
The Christian has come to a new opinion about Jesus in the light of the resurrection: “We no longer regard Him according to the flesh. We have come to worship Him as the risen Lord!”
If you believe that Jesus rose from the dead, why would you continue to resist His claim over your life?
