The Incarnation of Jesus

(Mar 2011 - "Book of John": - Report)

THE PURPOSE OF INCARNATION   

(I) In term of “Revelation”

     Jesus came to reveal the image of God and to save the sinners from the eternal judgment. The purpose of Jesus’ incarnation is revealed both in his teachings and his deeds. In the book of John, he is revealed as someone from above, of heavenly being and possesses authority equal to God the Father, yet functions subordinately to Him. Jesus is

(a)   Revealed as “Word” incarnated

     In John 1 Jesus is said to be the Word that was with God in the beginning, incarnated as man and dwelt on earth among his disciples. He is the one grace and truth comes through and greater than Moses whom the Law was given. Through Him, the invisible God is made visible, and the Law is reinterpreted from His perspective of grace and mercy.
     Jesus had lived as any historical man on earth going through sufferings and temptations as men went through. Yet he did not sin, lived as truth and light and called his disciples to follow him likewise. With Jesus as Word incarnated living as real man and conquered the darkness and sin, his followers shall have the power to overcome sins and darkness.

(b)   Revealed as “The Son”

     John refers Jesus as “the Son” of God (Jn 1:14) which was witnessed by John the Baptist (Jn 1:34), and many times acknowledged by Jesus himself. Jesus is the “monogenēs” or “one and only Son” from the heavenly Father. It speaks of “one-of-a-kind” son like Isaac being the promised son for Abraham. He is the Messiah promised with redemptive mission from God and the savior the Jews were waiting for. He is the only way for the world to go to the Father (Jn 14:6). John 3:16 states that those who believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. We are confident of approaching God’s throne through Jesus dying on the Cross and offering eternal life for those choosing to put our trust in Him. He was referred as “Son of man” too etc.

(II) In term of Salvation

     Throughout the book of John, Jesus seems to be eager to reveal his heavenly identity through the “I AM” series of statement. In John 8:58 he speaks of himself as “I AM” before Abraham, expressing his self-existence and pre-existence before all creations. In John 6:41 he reveals himself as “I AM” the bread from heaven, and John 6:48 as “I AM” the bread of life. In John 9:5 he is “I AM” the light of the world, and in John 11:25 as “”I AM” the resurrection and the life etc. He reveals his sovereignty, his deity, his mission for salvation purpose and his eternality and with self-revelatory statements He speaks for himself who he is.
     Through the “I AM” revelatory statement, Jesus fulfills His role in the redemptive plan of the Father for a sinning world through some of the signs associated with the miracles he had performed during some of the Judaism Festivals.
(a)   The Passover Symbolism
     Jesus as the “Passover Lamb” of God: John might be thinking of Jesus as the lamb led to the slaughter (Isa 53:7) or as the apocalyptic warrior lamb who would bring judgment (Rev5). Thus he speaks of Jesus’ function as the OT lamb of Passover offered as a sacrifice and the blood covers the sins of many. He will return in universal triumph with judgment for the world.
     Believers have hope being received into His Kingdom through His sacrificial blood and the eternality to live in Him. With Jesus we have passed the judgment of eternal death and condemnation and enjoy a righteous hope for the future.
     Jesus as the “New Temple”: The temple of Jerusalem had been contaminated and the system was corrupted with all kinds of dealings happened in it. Jesus in a rage cleared the temple and proclaimed the destruction of a “dead” religious system of Judaism, promised of a new body of Christ to be birthed and established (Jn 2:14-22).
     To us the new temple tells about Jesus being a new center of worship for those who come to Him. With him as the new temple, the spiritual body of God will be established among the messianic community who worship God in truth and in Spirit (Jn 21-24).
     Jesus as the “Bread of life”: The OT manna being the food supplied for the Israelites during the wilderness is replaced by Jesus the bread from heaven. He teaches his disciples bringing them to a new era of grace. Jesus clearly says that those who eat of his flesh (the bread) will never be hungry again and will have life of eternal. (Jn 6: 35, 48-51)
     As we partake of Jesus symbolized by communion’s bread breaking, it reminds us of the eternal life that He has given to us, and the satisfaction one can find in Jesus.
(b)   The Tabernacles Symbolism
     In John 7 & 8, Jesus’ teachings during the Festival of Tabernacle remind us that He is the eschatological hope for us in continual supply of water and light. Jesus promises the stream of living water, which is the blessings of the Spirit that the disciples were to receive (Jn 7:37-39) and the light of life that keeps the disciples from the darkness, which is the Word that testifies for Him and liberates the believers with the truth of God (Jn 8:31-32).
     We have the future hope in us with the given Spirit and the Word to keep us from darkness and illuminate us in His light. There is promise of great joy in the Spirit of God and the great liberty in His Word.
(c)    The Temple Dedication Symbolism
     Jesus as the “New Liberation”: It is related to the Festival of Temple Dedication (Jnn 11:21-22) celebrating the restoration of the Jerusalem temple which was once defiled by the Greeks. Through the redemption of Jesus work on the Cross, we are cleansed as offered as a new temple dedicated to God.