Jesus came to us in human form for many reasons. Here’s a list of many of the reasons as to why Jesus came to live among us:
JESUS FULFILLED PROPHECY AND VALIDATED THE OLD TESTAMENT
The Old Testament made numerous claims as to a Messiah who would come. Written hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, the Old Testament contains over 300 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled. A few of the prophecies were quite specific:
Micah 5:2: Jesus would come out of Bethlehem
Zechariah 9:9: Jesus would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey
Zechariah 11:12; Jesus would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver
Psalm 16:10: Predicted Jesus would rise from the dead
Ps 22, Isa 53, Numbers 21 Predicted Jesus would die on a cross
These prophecies of Jesus dying on the cross are particularly intriguing - especially when you consider the exacting detail these 3 scriptures report on Jesus’ crucifixion yet to come hundreds of years in the future. Death by crucifixion would almost certainly never have occurred to the Old Testament Hebrews, so why would anyone even think to prophesy it? Rabbinical law specified that executions were carried out in one of 4 ways: burning, stoning, decapitation, or strangulation. Crucifixion was virtually unknown in Old Testament times.
Numbers 9:12: Jesus legs would not be broken on the cross
It was pretty much standard operating procedure during the horrific crucifixion process to break legs so that the victim would die more quickly. When the legs were broken, the victim could no longer use the legs to help breathe, thus bringing on death quicker as the lungs filled with blood and water. Jesus was exempt from such treatment. What makes this particular prophecy so intriguing is that, again, why would the Old Testament prophet would have even thought in these terms?
JESUS PROVED THE EXISTENCE OF THE ONE TRUE ETERNAL SUPREME GOD.
Jesus often talked of His Father and who He was. Jesus proved via His miracles and His teachings that His claims about His Father were absolutely true,
JESUS CAME TO TELL US OF HIS FATHER’S KINGDOM AND HOW IT OPERATES.
Jesus instructed us in the operation of the supernatural and how we could interact with it. The Kingdom is mentioned several dozen times in the book of Matthew alone. Jesus spoke many times of how contemporary His Father’s Kingdom was. in Matthew alone, Jesus specified 10 times:”The kingdom of heaven is like…”
JESUS PROVED THAT THE SPIRITUAL CONTROLS THE NATURAL.
Jesus proved that there is a supernatural realm that’s far above anything we can even begin to conceive of by performing miraculous acts. He disappeared and reappeared elsewhere. He walked on water. He changed the very nature of substances. He raised people from the dead. He manipulated the weather. He cured people of various infirmities. He spoke it and it happened.
JESUS PROVED THE EXISTENCE OF THE TRINITY
Jesus told us that He must go to the Father so that the Holy Spirit could come and inhabit us. Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit would come to guide us into all truth.
In Matt 3:16-17 - Jesus baptism - we are given a picture of the trinity:
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
JESUS PAVED THE WAY FOR HOLY SPIRIT TO COME TO US.
The habitation of the Holy Spirit gives us the experience of the spiritual. Jesus had to leave so that we could have the Spirit. Only in that way could experience the supernatural in a personal and intimate way. If Jesus hung around, they would have continued to look at Jesus. Without the Holy Spirit, you cannot experience the spiritual by faith and faith alone. We need the direct habitation of the Spirit in order to experience the spiritual realm by faith and faith alone
JESUS PAVED THE WAY TO MAKE SALVATION AVAILABLE TO US. JESUS PROVED GOD’S INFINITE LOVE BY SACRIFICING HIMSELF SO THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.
Jesus chose to die via unimaginable torture and and the agonizing horrors of crucifixion. Jesus proved that He was willing to go thru anything to prove His unlimited love for us. By dying in the most horrific way imaginable, Jesus proved that there must be something amazing to die for.
JESUS PAID THE PRICE WE COULD NEVER PAY FOR OUR SIN.
God decreed that the price of our sin is death and that blood would have to be shed. Only the perfect sacrifice would do to pay the terrible price required to cover Man’s sin. Jesus was that perfect sacrifice.
JESUS SHOWED US HOW TO DEAL WITH TEMPTATION.
In Matthew 4, we read of how Jesus was tempted 3 times. Jesus’ response to the tempter is essentially “Temptation 101”. We note that in all 3 instances, Jesus never acknowledges the object of the temptation. Jesus answers the tempter with scripture, and in doing so, Jesus does not engage his nemesis. Thus, Jesus further instructs us in how we “take captive every thought” (2 Cor 10:5).
It’s also worth noting that Jesus faced every temptation. (Heb 4:15): " [Jesus] was tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin".
JESUS IS COMING BACK FOR HIS BRIDE
The Bride is the reason for all of this existence. In eternity past it was decreed that Jesus would take a bride. We don't know the purpose or reason why Jesus would need a Bride; we only know that we who are saved will participate in the marriage supper of the Lamb.
JESUS CONFERRED AUTHORITY ON US AS BELIEVERS
In Matthew 28 - The Great Commission - Jesus authorized us to go and make disciples. In other words, Jesus wanted us to influence others who would listen. It’s important to remember that that when Jesus told us to go and make disciples, it did not necessarily mean that we would have to establish an ongoing relationship with them. Many times, even the simplest of comments can serve to change the direction of someone’s life.
In Acts 8, Phillips’ obedience to the “…an Angel of the Lord…” to go south on the Gaza road leads Phillip to a divinely-ordered confrontation with the Ethiopian Eunuch (actually, he is the Treasurer of Egypt!). The short meeting leads to the eunuch being saved, and, we presume, the evangelization of Africa. Phillips’ willingness to allow himself to be put in the right place at the right time is a sterling example of how God can use us to disciple others in way we never thought possible.
JESUS PROVED THE EXISTENCE OF THE DEMONIC AND SHOWED US HOW TO DEFEAT THEM
Jesus dealt with demons on numerous occasions. He demonstrated that the name of Jesus and prayer overcome the forces of evil.
JESUS COMMANDED US TO GO AND HEAL
(Matt 10:1): "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons."
JESUS COMMANDED US TO GO INFLUENCE OTHERS
(Matt 10): "Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message:
‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Jesus intentionally invested himself in 12 men for over 3 years. 11 of them subsequently went out and changed the world
72 followers of Jesus went out to witness and disciple carrying nothing and came back with all kinds of stories. Discipleship happens any time you allow the Spirit to work thru you to influence another to draw them closer to Jesus
JESUS PROMISED HE WOULD ALWAYS BE WITH US
(Matt 28): " Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Rev. Dr. N. Patrick Marica contributes incisive Christian commentary on this blog on a regular basis. He is the Dean of Academics here at ATS. He has been the Director of Godly Training Ministries since 1993. He received his D.Min from ATS in 2018. He has his MA from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy. He is the author of the new book: "The Walk Applied". He has been married to Kathy since 1985. They have 2 adult daughters and an extraordinary son-in-law.
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Contact Nick at gtm@godlytraining.org or www.godlytraining.org.