“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:1-3). Jesus is the eternal Word. He was in the beginning. He created all things. “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whetherthey be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” (Col. 1:16). Jesus is indeed the eternal God. However, consider what verses 6 and 7 of Philippians 2 say about Jesus Christ: “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” He became flesh to dwell among men to declare the glory of God (John 1:14). Those who saw Him and His miracles in this sense saw the Father (John 14:8-11).
A virgin, named Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph gave birth to Him. She was told, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). He was named Jesus, meaning “savior,” for He came to earth to save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). Matthew by inspiration goes on to explain, “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matt. 1:22, 23). For a third of a century, He “dwelt among us” (John 1:14). In His earthly sojourn, Jesus was God in the flesh. He fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Joseph followed the command from the angel of the Lord and took Mary as his wife, “and he knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS” (Matt. 1:25).
The birth of Jesus also fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Jesus came to earth to establish the kingdom—His government, the church (Matt. 16:18, 19). He preached of the kingdom’s imminent establishment, saying, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17). “And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power” (Mark 9:1). This is not an earthly kingdom where His followers take up arms and fight to secure territory (John 18:36). When asked when the kingdom would come, Jesus explained, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20, 21).
People become citizens of a kingdom by birth or naturalization. However, Jesus explained that to be part of the kingdom of God, one must be born again, a new birth of water and Spirit (John 3:3-5). The new birth gives one naturalized “citizenship in heaven” (Phil. 3:20 ASV). In water baptism, one is regenerated, born anew to become part of the kingdom (Titus 3:5; Col. 1:13, 14; 2:11-13). Jesus did not fail to set up His kingdom. After His death, resurrection, and ascension, He sat down (Heb. 1:3) on the throne at the right hand of God (Acts 2:33-35) to reign as King of kings (1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14; 19:16). He is head over the church with all things put under His feet (Eph. 1:20-23; Col. 1:18).
Jesus came to earth to drink of the bitter cup of suffering (Matt. 20:22, 23; 26:39, 42; Luke 22:42; John 12:27). God’s wrath for man’s sin is pictured as a bitter cup (Isa. 51:17-22; Jer. 25:15-17; 27-29). Jesus came to taste death for every man (Heb. 2:9). He came to be a sin offering for us so that we could be righteous (2 Cor. 5:21). God cannot be tempted (James 1:13). God cannot die, but Jesus became man so that He could. He came to be tempted in all points as we are (Heb. 4:15). But not once did He fail to resist temptation; He remains without sin as a fitting High Priest for us (Heb. 7:26). Hebrews 2:14-18 says:
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
He came and lived on earth to die on the cross, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8). Are you a part of His kingdom? Have you been born again in baptism so that your sins are purged? Is Jesus the king of your life? Or has all of this had no effect in changing your life? The proper response to His coming to earth and dying on the cross is stated in Philippians 2:9-11: “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christis Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” We must do more than talk about Jesus coming to earth; we must obey Him so that we can go with Him to heaven when He comes again (Matt. 7:21-23; Luke 6:46; Heb. 5:9). “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Heb. 9:27, 28).
–Mark Day