It's funny...I was just thinking about this very question only a moment ago! We know Jesus was born into a male body...and we know after His resurrection He had a perfected body, no longer vulnerable to sickness or death...and that He even now has that perfect body.
But does the bible talk about how he 'dwelt' before His incarnation? We know that He made appearances in the OT...but so do angels, who we are told are also spirit beings. Its entirely possible Jesus was just Spirit...as is God and The Spirit, before His incarnation...
Teamventure...can you go into more detail? Where does it show Jesus dwelling in a different body? And yes...it is fascinating! Pretty much anything to do with God is!!
Different dimensions folks, dimensions.
One of the 'three men' that appeared to Abraham at his tent door per Genesis 18 was our Lord Jesus. Two of those three went into Sodom and Gomorrah to get Lot. There's several obvious clues given there as to Who was in Abraham's direct presence.
Gen 18:1-8
1 And
the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
2
And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
No question about it, Christ The LORD appeared directly in Abraham's presence. "LORD" there is Yehovah in the manuscripts.
Our LORD appeared as one of the 'three men'. Abraham prepared food and drink for them and they did eat, just like our Lord Jesus did after His Resurrection.
Gen 18:9-16
9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
13
And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
16
And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
(KJV)
Sarah laughed at what The LORD said to Abraham in his tent about her having a child, and He called her on it; showed a bit of doubt on her part, yet the matter reads like a normal family conversation and rebuttal between a Father and His children. Then The LORD and the other two men rose up to go to Sodom and Gomorrah.
Gen 18:16-21
16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
17
And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
20
And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21
I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
(KJV)
So they're on the way to Sodom and Gomorrah? No, wait a minute...
Gen 18:22-23
22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom:
but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.
23
And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
(KJV)
That means Abraham was able to approach The LORD, but how? Because The LORD was standing right there next to Abraham. He revealed Himself as one of the "three men" which Abraham saw at his tent door. So now, The LORD is still there with Abraham while the two angels go to Sodom and Gomorrah to bring Lot and his family out. Abraham pleads with Him to not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if at least ten righteous are found there. Then The LORD departs from Abraham's camp.
Gen 18:33
33 And the LORD went His way, as soon as He had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
(KJV)
And the very next event...
Gen 19:1-2
1 And there came
two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
2
And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
(KJV)
The phrase "my lords" Lot called the two angels is Hebrew 'adown', not 'Yehovah'.
Pretty amazing, huh? How is it that you all missed reading that from The Old Testament?
