Why Did Jesus Become Man?

I think there is a misconception of why Jesus became man. Some say He left His deity to become fully man; some presume He left His true person to show humans how to embody deity in their sinful flesh, so that they can become miraculous and divine while here on earth; so that they can demonstrate power of their own making. 

But A.W. Tozer tells us, “When Jesus took upon Him the nature of man, He did not degrade Himself or become even for a time less than He had been before. God can never become less than Himself. For God to become anything that He has not been is unthinkable.”

In agreement with Tozer, I further add a question, “How is it even helpful to man for God to become less than Who He is and or like something He is not?” Some may think wrongly that Jesus became fully man dismissing His deity entirely to show man how they can be elevated to gods. Heaven forbid! This is pride (the same pride of Satan, I add) – this is the religion of the New Age – this is personal idolatry!

Jesus became man (while fully in His deity) to condemn man’s sinful flesh and pay for it with flesh’s perfect sacrifice, for we are called to die to sin and live for God. Additionally, “If anyone would come after Jesus, he must deny himself (his flesh) and take up his cross (crucify his flesh) and follow Jesus.” Our flesh is our problem!

Why would God want our flesh (our sinful, detestable, degrading flesh) to be elevated into deity? Oh how I rejoice in the words that “all will pass away!” I do not desire my flesh to accompany me in the purity of God’s Kingdom in Heaven! I look forward to the new body that no longer wars with the sins of this nature.

It is good to note that God’s sacrifice of His son in the form of man would not have been complete if it encompassed just man’s flesh; the divine had to take part in order for the New Covenant to be valid. God’s deity being involved is a distinct revelation that He initiated the covenant. If anyone other than God initiated the New Covenant, it would not be a covenant of God, it would be one of another. The truth is, a celestial covenant requires sacrifice from both parties: man and the divine. Man dies to his flesh and surrenders to God so He lives within. Man admits he is unworthy and unable to reach anything holy; without the holiness of God embodying his being, man is and will always be wretchedly evil.

God’s sacrifice included reducing Himself to being like the blood of animals opening the door to community with us. Daily, His sacrifice continues as He lives and works out His salvation in our sinful flesh; He hallows our souls making it ready to receive our new body. “…Though outwardly we are wasting away (our flesh), yet inwardly (our souls) we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16)

I could not fill the roles in my life today without His deity slaying the sin in my life every day. It’s not the other way around where I become god and have no need of Him. Oh it’s quite the opposite! I need Him every day to purify me of my failings. With my head stooped low and my heart stripped of any self-significance I say, “Purge the flesh, Lord; Purge it so that what people see is You not me.”