The Purpose of Christ's Coming

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Advent

Butler said, “God puts a premium on our knowing Him. Sending His Son to earth incarnated in human form to reveal Himself tells us how important it is to God that we know Him. It rebukes our small interest in knowing about God. We get so busy learning about everything except God, yet learning about God is far, far more important than all our other learning put together. The incarnation underscores that truth.”

Parousia

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

John G. Butler, Jesus Christ: His Incarnation, vol. 1, Studies of the Savior (Clinton, IA: LBC Publications, 2000), 60.

He Revealed His Humanity

He Revealed the Truth (That He is the Son of God)

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

To Rule

Christ’s coming reminds us that He is the King that will one day rule and reign on the earth.

The Misunderstanding of the Timing

The disciples were not able to discern the timing of his ruling

After the resurrection, the disciples thought that perhaps now Jesus would finally restore the kingdom, and reign as King in Israel.

Wise men brought gifts for a King…He was just a young boy.

And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered his words,

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

The Main Terminology

There are several terms that are used to describe the coming of the Lord and his appearing, but we are just going to look at two of them.

1. Advent

Advent means a coming or arrival (latin origin)

Note: The term was adopted by the Catholic Church to mean the season before Christmas (religious)

There is a first and second advent

2. Parousia

Dictionary of Biblical Prophecy and End Times Second Coming

The word parousia means “presence, arrival” and was used in ancient times to describe the arrival of a ruler or king

The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary Eschatology (Early Christian Eschatology)

The Gk word parousia means “coming,” “arrival,” and was frequently used of the ceremonial arrival of a king, emperor, or highly placed government official. In the NT the term is applied to the eschatological return of Christ, a term widely used in early Christianity

The Telling

But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

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, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

To Redeem

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

God’s Grace is seen in the Redemption

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Works Cited

There are three main reasons why “The Word was made flesh.” They can be summed up in three words. These words are reveal, rule, and redeem.

John G. Butler, Jesus Christ: His Incarnation, vol. 1, Studies of the Savior (Clinton, IA: LBC Publications, 2000), 59.

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