In general terms the incarnation qualified Jesus to be what Adam failed to be and what Israel failed to be: the true image of God walking the earth and exercising dominion. He proved to be the faithful son in contrast to Adam and Israel.6 Thomas Oden finely sums up the rationale of the incarnation as found in the biblical testimony. He offers five biblically defensible reasons for the incarnation:7 To reveal God to humanity (John 1:18; 14:7–11) To provide a high priest interceding