What the Greatest Man Who Ever Lived Came to Do

In the Watch Tower book The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived we read about Why Jesus Came to Earth (ch.24)

‘Jesus came to earth particularly to preach about God’s Kingdom, which will vindicate his Father’s name and permanently solve all human ills. However, to give evidence that he is sent by God, Jesus performs miraculous healings. In the same way Moses, centuries before, performed miracles to establish his credentials as God’s servant.’

The Kingdom

It is clear from so many texts that Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom. John the Baptist, we are told, preached, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ (Mt.3:2) Later in Matthew’s gospel we read, ‘He went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom…’ (Mt.:4:23) Jesus himself insisted, ‘I must preach the good news of the kingdom to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.’ (Lk.4:43)

Jesus also came to ‘solve all human ills’ although perhaps we wouldn’t quite put it in those terms. How did Jesus put it?

‘Do not think I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I came, not to destroy, but to fulfil. Truly I say to you that sooner would heaven and earth pass away than for one stroke of the letter to pass away from the Law until all things take place.’ NWT (Lk.24:17-18)

How did Jesus ‘fulfil the Law?’ You will remember the story of Jesus’ encounter with two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) After that encounter, ‘They said to each other, ‘were not our hearts burning within us as he was speaking to us on the road, as he was fully opening up the Scriptures to us?’’ NWT (32) What did Jesus say when he opened up the Scripture to them?

‘O senseless ones and slow of heart to believe all the things the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?’ And starting with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them things pertaining to himself in all the Scriptures.’ NWT (Lk.24:25-27)

Jesus came to preach the kingdom

Jesus came to suffer then enter into his glory

Jesus came to fulfil the Law and the Prophets

The Law and the Prophets all Cry Out 'Jesus!'

The Law and the Prophets all point to one person, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus himself, in that Emmaus-bound conversation ‘starting with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them things pertaining to himself in all the Scriptures.’

God is Coming, Repent!

The last Old Testament prophet to point to his coming ushered in this fulfilment. The Baptist preached:

‘Repent for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’ This, in fact, is the one spoken of through Isaiah the prophet in these words, ‘A voice crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of Jehovah! Make his roads straight!’’ (Mt.3:2-3)

Matthew’s commentary on John’s message is striking. John points to Jesus and Matthew identifies John as the same character as in Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 40:3, preparing the way of Jehovah. Malachi tells the same story:

‘Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will clear up a way before me. And suddenly the true Lord, whom you are seeking, will come to his temple, and the messenger of the covenant will come, in whom you take delight.’ NWT (Mal.3:1)

Who is speaking here? It is Jehovah. Who is this messenger? The same as Isaiah’s messenger, the same as Matthew’s. Before whom is this messenger preparing the way? ‘he will clear up a way before me,’ it is Jehovah.

Jesus’ mission is to proclaim the kingdom, fulfil the Law and the Prophets, Jesus being the one to whom they together point. Matthew sees this as fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy, announced by John the Baptist.

Where in this statement of intent of Jesus do we find any mention of making God’s name known? We don’t, but Jesus does make Jehovah fully known in character and person by being Immanuel, God with us ‘The Lord himself will give you a sign, behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.’ (Isaiah 7:14).

Jesus did not come to make God’s name known and correctly pronounced, he came to make God known by being Immanuel, God with us. In Jesus God came to his people, the true Lord, suddenly coming to his temple, dying for his enemies, and rising in victory to the glory from whence he came.

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