Why Jesus Came

Introduction

Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost

Luke 19:9–10 NKJV

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

In Jesus encounter with Zaccheus, he makes this profound statement to describe one of the reason he came:

“To seek and save that which was lost.”

Immediately we see the character of God in Christ revealed in Jesus’ word: God seeks the lost.

He is not indifferent to man’s lost condition.

Seek–serious effort to perform an action; to save or make well.

This seeking has purpose.

What did Jesus mean when he said, “that which was lost”?

The Greek word for “that which” translates “who” and also ‘the things”.

Some Bible translations will emphasize the “who” meaning “lost people”.

Other translations lean toward both “lost people” and “those things lost” at the Fall.

I tend to lean toward the latter translation. Why?

It give us a “greater gospel”.

Colossians 1:20 NKJV

and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

This verse speaks to Christ reconciling “all things”.

This speaks to the greater gospel!

All things new.

The restoration of all things.

Jesus Came to Give His Life As a Ransom

Mark 10:45 NKJV

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Jesus made it perfectly clear that He came to serve.

“Serve” intimates “humble serving”.

This would entail giving his life as a ransom for mankind.

“Ransom” is the price of release, especially for slaves.

It is the price paid for the freedom of one being held captive.

We Are Being Held Captive

Mankind is held captive by our sin and rebellion; our failure to acknowledge the sovereign authority of God and willingly submit to Him.

Mankind is held captive by the deception of the enemy.

We are deceived to think less of God and more of ourselves, which fuels rebellion.

Jesus’ death paid our penalty for this rebellion.

The wages of a life lived in failure to acknowledge God’s sovereignty and then lived in rebellion is DEATH.

Jesus Came Eating and Drinking

Matthew 11:19 NKJV

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”

This is interesting because it reveals something about the means by which Jesus engaged “the lost”.

We give much attention to the public sermons of Jesus and sometimes by default we are led to believe this is the primary way to proclaim the gospel.

Yet, it is very likely that Jesus’ primary way of engaging people was over food and drinks!

EMPHASIS: Jesus went where people were and where they were most comfortable.

He was called a “friend of tax collectors and sinners”.

These were the marginalized and those most needful to hear “good news”.

This is about “presence” and “proximity”.

We need to be more “up close and personal” with people who need “good news”.

We tend to exalt the preaching platform, but we need to do better at being “friends”.

Final Words

It is important as we “make sense of the Bible” to listen to Jesus’ own words concerning the reasons for his coming.

He came to:

Seek and save that which is lost.

Give his life as a ransom.

Eating and drinking.

There is one other reason Jesus said he came and this sums up all we are learning:

John 18:37 NKJV

Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

Jesus came to “bear witness to the truth”.

His entire life and ministry, his words, works, and ways witness to the eternal truths of God.

This gives us a secure foundation to build our lives.

Belief in Jesus will enclose our lives in the truth of life and living in this world for the glory of God!