Monthly Archives: September 2026

32 BY THE WAY…WHY DID JESUS THE MAN COME OUT OF THE TOMB?

Bible Study, ,

Now, that’s an interesting question! Why didn’t Jesus go straight back to the Father when He died? Why did He tell the thief on the cross, 

…“I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭43‬ ‭NLT‬‬

…if He didn’t intend to remain with the Father. 

Why did He come out of the grave as a man?  Is Jesus still a man after He ascended to heaven?

The answer to this question opens up the whole purpose of creation. Why did God create humans in the first place if He knew that they would rebel against Him? 

Look at all the terrible things His people did in defiance of His covenant! They disobeyed Him, insulted Him, and disgraced Him in front of the surrounding wicked nations. In the end, they were worse than the people to whom they were supposed to show the nature of their God by the way they lived. 

However, none of this wickedness derailed God’s plan. He always intended to have a family of humans, created in the image of His Son, who would live and reign with Him forever. 

God created humans to live on the earth.  He also planned to have heaven …the unseen spiritual realm, and earth…the visible and physical realm…united as one, so that He could live with His people. 

God kept showing His people, first through the tabernacle, then through the temple, and finally through Jesus Himself, that He wanted to be with them…to live among them and be their God. 

“So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The only way God could finish what He started was to send His own Son to earth as a human…first to reveal the true nature of the Father…and then to deal with the obstacle to His plan…sin!

Something amazing happened when the human Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb. God and man became one in a single person!

“Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”…You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus…“Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭28‬, ‭31‬, ‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Charles Wesley captured this miracle in one sentence in his magnificent hymn…”Let earth and heav’n combine…” (hymnary. org)

…”Our God, contracted to a span,

Incomprehensibly made man.“ 

So, for thirty-something years, Jesus was a real human, living and dying as a human. Why?

Clearly explained…

“Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the pivot on which the whole gospel turns. Jesus had to return from the dead as a human…

To prove that He was alive…

“He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

To show, by His physical resurrection, that He had overcome death…

“But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.”

‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

To prove that He is the Son of God…

“and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

To return to heaven as our eternal high priest…

“But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

To be our mediator in the presence of the Father…

“For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭6‬

To prove that the resurrection of all people is true…and the climax of God’s rescue plan. 

“And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭16‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

To fulfil our hope that we shall be raised from the dead into an immortal and perfected body…

“But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man. It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭49‬, ‭52‬-‭53‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is, then, the truth of the gospel…that Jesus took on a human body…lived and died as real human…rose from the dead in an immortal human body…reigns with the Father as Lord…represents us to the Father as our high priest…will raise us to be like Him…and is coming again to set up His eternal kingdom on restored earth. 

This is the amazing truth of the incarnation. Jesus, the second person of the trinity, took on humanity forever, like us, and we, in turn, shall be, forever, like Him. 

“Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT

31 BY THE WAY…WHY DO WE FEAR?

Bible Study, ,

A newborn baby reacts to a sudden sound or movement with fear.  It’s present at birth and indicates a normal, healthy nervous system.  It’s called the “Moro reflex”. 

“The baby throws both arms out wide with fingers spread, then quickly pulls them back in toward their chest, sometimes with a little cry. Their legs might extend too….”

“What triggers it: A sudden loud noise, a sudden movement, or the feeling of falling (like when a baby’s head isn’t supported for a second).” (Meta AI)

From where does this fear come?

“He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It seems that the very first reaction of Adam towards God when he sinned was fear. Why was Adam afraid? Afraid of what? 

Let’s unpack this thought. 

Adam and Eve became aware of their nakedness. Their eyes were opened. They saw themselves as they really were…uncovered and vulnerable. They had lost the covering of God’s glory…the full weight of who God is…because their sin had stripped them of His Spirit in them. 

Adam and Eve knew that they were accountable to God. They knew that they were guilty of disobedience. They knew that they would be punished. They foolishly thought that they could hide from God. They tried to cover their nakedness with fig leaves but…their efforts didn’t work. 

His love, His joy, and His peace, which has encased and protected them, gave way to fear. They were exposed to all the influences of their new master, themselves without restriction, slaves of sin and Satan…and they had no idea where this would lead.

Fear, then, not only for the first pair, but also for everyone who came after them, is rooted in the disconnect from God. Every person is born with fear already present inside them because they are dead…alienated from Him by sin. 

Fear is there but…we don’t like to show our fear. 

Our reactions to adverse circumstances are the ways we hide our fear.  Most of the time, fear doesn’t look like fear. It looks like a variety of emotions that mask the real issues. 

Take anger, for example. I was taught, in counselling classes, that anger is a secondary emotion. People are not angry by nature. Angry people hide deep-seated experiences of rejection. They cover up emotional pain by anger…keeping others away by building a wall of rage because they fear either the exposure or the repetition of their pain. 

People with deep hurt inside explode in a way that is far in excess of what triggered the anger…called “emotional overload”. They live inside the protective walls of their anger so that no one can see their vulnerability. 

Anger also protects insecurity. Insecure people cover their fear of losing control by controlling others. A controlling person dominates others, especially those nearest to them, through various forms of cruelty, threats, demands, and overbearing behaviour. Spouses, children, even learners at school are bullied into submission to pacify the fear of the controller. 

No matter what the emotion might be that people manifest when stuff happens, fear lies at the root of that reaction… and the underlying fear is the fear of punishment…in whatever form the punishment may take. 

Isn’t it a fact that, when things go wrong in our lives, we think that God is punishing us! An accident, illness, a loss, a catastrophe of one kind or another…” Why is God punishing me? What did I do wrong to deserve this?”

Everything that goes wrong in our lives increases our suspicion of God. This is one of Satan’s tactics to alienate us from Him.  The world’s favourite excuse for not believing in God is…”If God is a loving God, why does He allow evil?”

John gives us the answer. Fear is not the opposite of faith. We are afraid, not because we don’t trust God….We don’t trust God because we are unsure of His love.  Fear is the opposite of love. 

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What is perfect love? Whose love is John referring to…God’s love for is or our love for God?

The answer to that question lies in the meaning of the Greek word,  “ballo”, translated “drives out” or ”casts out”, which implies a violent action. Fear is an intruder. It has no place in a believer’s heart. How does one deal with an intruder?  Not politely or gently! One drives him out, purposefully, violently if necessary. 

Therefore, we must take the initiative to “drive out” fear. 

Whatever the reaction that hides fear, drive it out with the assurance of God’s love. Fear will not go of itself. Only God’s love, His promise of unconditional love has the power to replace fear. We take the initiative by forcefully replacing fear with love…our love for God responding to His love. John calls it “perfect” or “mature” love. 

…” Perfect love drives out fear…”

How can we love God with the love that does not give way to fear?

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God tells us not to be afraid, not to fear, in the Bible, at least between 70 and 100 times, depending on the translation. This instruction must cover every kind of situation that makes us afraid. The bottom line is…

“Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If humans can do nothing to us in any circumstance…and God will never punish us because He has already punished Jesus for us…

“Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Then it’s the confidence in God’s love that will send fear packing! Through our experience of God’s love…recognising and acknowledging His love, time and again, as we navigate life…we grow a confidence In Him that outweighs fear.  Our love for God matures over time through experience until we learn to “drive out” fear by dwelling in and on  His love. 

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me….I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬, ‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.”

‭‭Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do you get the picture? Fear, in all its subtle forms and ways of operating in our lives, will be forcefully evicted by staying in the Word, acting on the Word, keeping contact with God through prayer and trust, and remaining in His love… leaving no room on our minds for fear to take hold. 

What will be left when fear has vacated our hearts?

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

30 BY THE WAY…WHAT IS GOD’S MYSTERY?

Bible Study, ,

“The Greek word musterion (“mystery”), when used in the New Testament, refers to the things of God that were once hidden but were later revealed through Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). A mystery is that which can only be known through the revelation of God (Romans 16:25–26; Colossians 1:26–27). It is something that in times past had been hidden but is now revealed to God’s people.”

“…The apostle Paul used the word mystery 21 times in his epistles: the mystery of God(Colossians 2:2), the mystery of faith(1 Timothy 3:9), the mystery of iniquity(2 Thessalonians 2:7), etc. In each case, the “mystery” involved a declaration of spiritual truth, revealed by God through divine inspiration. The New English Translation of 1 Timothy 3:16 speaks of the mystery of godliness as an “amazing revelation” concerning our faith…”(Source: GotQuestions.com – article “What is the mystery of godliness?”)

The “mystery of godliness” is, in essence, Jesus, because He, in His life, death, and resurrection, is the way to God and to godly living. 

“Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He (Jesus) appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“As He walked this earth, Jesus was the embodiment of pure godliness, which led Him to lay down His life for unworthy sinners (John 10:18). His life was dedicated to the glory of the Father, and He always did what pleased Him (John 8:29). Christians pursue godliness when we follow the example of Jesus in dedicating every decision to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Godliness is not a suggestion; it is a command (1 Peter 1:15–16; Hebrews 12:14).”

(GotQuestions.com)

Jesus’ entire life, from conception to resurrection, had one purpose…to restore sinful humans to fellowship with God. 

God’s “mystery” was hidden in the Old Testament, the promise given, in a prophecy, first, via the serpent in Eden…

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…then building momentum through the history of God’s people…culminating in Isaiah’s prophecies…

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…and, finally, fully revealed in God’s Son. 

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

However, God’s revelation didn’t stop there. It had a conclusion in His plan, not only for the Jews but for all nations…through Abraham. 

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Much as the Jews in Paul’s day hated the Gentiles, even persecuting Paul because of his mission to the  non-Jewish world…

“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭22‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…Paul concluded that God’s mystery was only fully revealed  when the Gentiles also came into the kingdom and had a share in the blessings promised to Abraham. 

“Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬, ‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God’s “mystery” was not something unfathomable and unknowable…but a truth concealed until the right moment for it to be revealed. He had planned, from before the foundation of the earth, before the first ray of light shone in the darkness, to redeem His fallen human family. 

God’s daring plan centred in His own Son. He, the human Jeshua, would become one of us. He would live among us and die for us to pay our unpayble debt. The redemption price He paid would include every living thing, all humanity and creation itself…everything ruined by sin. 

“For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus did all this for one all-inclusive purpose…godliness!

“Godliness in the Bible means a lifestyle of deep reverence, devotion, and practical obedience to God.” (Google AI)

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Outside of Jesus, godliness is impossible. What He did…

“Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…made the impossible possible. Through Him, now, heaven is populated, and the whole earth is peppered with godly people, made holy through His blood. 

29 BY THE WAY…IS JESUS STILL A MAN IN HEAVEN?

Bible Study, ,

There is another question the Bible needs to answer for us. Did Jesus shed His humanity when He returned to the Father? Is He still a man in heaven?

We know that Jesus took on humanity when He came to earth but…there were also many occasions, before His incarnation, that He appeared to people in the form of an angel. He is called “the Angel of the Lord” as distinct from “an angel”. He spoke as God, for example, as He spoke to Abraham…

 “But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭22‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

However, these appearances were temporary and for a specific purpose…and not as a man. 

Jesus, the man, was sent by the Father. He came to earth…His advent planned before creation,  predicted, in great detail, by God through the prophets…at God’s appointed time. He was conceived in the womb of a woman. He was born in the natural way. He accomplished the Father’s purpose…He died as a man…and then He returned to heaven to fulfil His role as Lord but…

Is Jesus still a man now? What does the Bible say?

There is no specific Scripture that tells us that Jesus retained His humanity as Lord, but there are hints…description of Him that suggest that He is still a man in His deity and unity with the Father and the Spirit. Let’s look at two examples. 

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The present tense is clear…”There IS one mediator…(not WAS), the man, Christ Jesus.“

Jesus’ role as our eternal High Priest also suggests that He fulfils that role as a human being…His experience as a man who overcame temptation…qualifying Him to be our representative.

“For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he IS able to help those who are being tempted.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The second example is a description of Jesus as the mighty warrior-conqueror in John’s vision. 

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and Lord of Lords.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭19‬:‭11‬-‭13‬, ‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is a vivid picture of Jesus in very human terms…not an angel or a spirit…but a human…a warrior who conquered by shedding His own blood…a man who rules by the power of His word. 

John also saw Jesus, in his vision on the Isle of Patmos, as a glorified man…

“When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Daniel saw this “son of man” in a vision, approaching the Ancient of Days, and receiving an everlasting kingdom over which He ruled with authority and sovereign power. 

“As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened….“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭7‬:‭9‬-‭10‬, ‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We can conclude, then, with a measure of certainty, that Jesus is still the God-man in heaven, who rules as Lord…but also stands in the presence of the Father as our human representative, forever making intercession for us, presenting His own blood, as our eternal High Priest. 

28 BY THE WAY…WHY DID JESUS COME TO EARTH?

Bible Study, ,

If I were to ask you this question, 

“Why did Jesus come to earth?”…your answer would most probably be…”To save us from our sin…”Your answer would be correct but…far short of the many reasons for His coming. 

Included in Jesus’ commission to save sinners, a variety of spinoffs of His coming emerge….

A. He came to reveal the Father. 

“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus’ life on earth, as a perfect human, was God’s way of showing us what He is really like… in a way that we can understand. 

God’s people, the Jews, had developed a distorted idea of God after centuries of disobedience and rebellion, and the consequences…war, enemy occupation, and exile. God had become, to them, a strict disciplinarian who had punished them for every infringement of His law. The truth of His love had been buried under a mountain of rules, regulations, and rituals in an effort to protect them from His wrath. 

Jesus, in His humanity, was God with a face. 

“If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus showed us, not only the nature and character of the Father, but also the Father’s glory…the “weight”…the meaning, significance, implications, of who He is. He summed up the core of the Father in one sentence…

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”

Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

B. Jesus came to “fulfil” the law. 

“Do not think that I have come to abolish (to throw down or overthrow) the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil (accomplish or make complete) them.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God’s law…His instructions for living in covenant with Him…had become a burdensome duty…not a delight, as it was for David…

“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…and a way of life to follow…

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭105‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus was not only the only man who perfectly obeyed the law to the letter and in the spirit of what it meant…He was also the Word of God in person. 

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…a perfect reflection of who God really is, in human form. 

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV

Jesus is the embodiment of everything God said….as Creator and as God’s voice to the world. 

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

C. Jesus came to be our high priest and the mediator between the Father and the human race. 

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬ ‭

Why do we need a high priest and a mediator like us?

We need a person like us…a real man… to stand in our place and represent us to God. We can never approach a holy God without a qualified human being to speak for us. Jesus is the only human being who, by His sinless life and sacrificial death, is able to represent us to the Father. 

“For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus came…so that we, through Him, can approach the Father without fear…

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭19‬-‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Among the many other reasons for Jesus’ coming, let me mention one more…

D. Jesus came to make us the sons and daughters of His family.

Jesus is the blueprint…the prototype…of a perfect human. God created us in His image. The image was spoiled through sin but…through His sacrificial and  substitutionary death, He made it possible for His image to be restored in us. 

Jesus became our elder brother. We are His family. 

“In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬-‭11‬, ‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.””

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Hallelujah! What a Saviour!