What were the reasons Jesus came as true God and true man?

What were the reasons Jesus came as true God and true man? from Deacon Gregg Miller

We are beginning the Holiest week of Christian history.  Have you spent any time pondering the question, why did Jesus come to earth both as true God and true man?  He didn’t NEED to come, but He came.  He didn’t WANT to be mocked by the Jews and the Romans, but He allowed it to happen.  He didn’t WANT to die on the cross for us, but He did.  He came to die for our sins!  He came to open the Kingdom of Heaven so we can have eternal life!  He accomplished this all-in-one brutal horrific day.  But was his dying on the cross His “single” mission?  I suggest, no.  There was much more to His mission.

If Jesus came ONLY to die for our sins and his death opened the gates of heaven, why did Jesus NOT die at the time of his birth? The infant Jesus escaped death from Herod the Great, puppet ruler appointed by the Romans, when an angel told Joseph to flee to Egypt.  Apparently, Jesus had more to accomplish during His mission.  Good Friday and Easter Sunday are NOT to be the beginning of His mission, it was to be the climax!  

The beginning of His mission took 30 years of preparation; His Rabbinic teaching began a three-year journey to the cross and resurrection.  I contend that in these last few days of Lent, ending at sundown on Holy Thursday, we concentrate as much as we can on Jesus’ teachings, making them our converted behavior.  For me, the two hard lessons taught by Jesus are “forgiveness” and “servanthood”.  

Teaching forgiveness was radical in His day, as it is today!  I sometimes find it hard to forgive someone who has wronged me.  The bigger the offense, the harder to forgive.  What is possibly the greatest example of forgiveness occurred as Jesus was dying on the cross; “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”  Is there someone we need to forgive before Easter? 

Then there is service; He came not to be served, but to be serve!   Jesus, the Son of God, took the role of a slave.  He cured the sick.  He worked tirelessly teaching.  He had no place to call home.  For me, His single greatest act of servanthood was the washing of the feet of His disciples, literally a task assigned to a slave. 

Jesus and the disciples had just entered the upper room to begin the Passover Meal.  He took a towel, wrapped it around his waist and washed the feet of His disciples.  True God and true man, performing the act of a slave…to teach by example!  I want you to consider the timing of “the washing of the feet”.  

Jesus first washed Peter’s feet; then John’s, James, Matthew; eventually the feet of Judas Iscariot.  Judas?  Yes Judas.  The meal and Consecration had not begun.  Jesus washed the feet of His betrayer.  

Jesus spent His entire ministry life doing what He preached.  He knew He was the role model of all role models.  As true man, Jesus taught us to rely on the Holy Spirit for wisdom, knowledge, discernment, and strength.  Jesus promised to provide a “helper”, the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spiritual the incarnate Jesus called upon during His human struggles. He provided sacred food to nourish and strengthen us.  He gave us everything we need to live a Godly life.  Then, He opened the gates of Haven.