Jesus’ mission is something that can be confused with His actions. What Jesus came to this world to do (Jesus’ mission) and what he did (Jesus’ activities) are not necessarily the same thing. For example, one of the things He did was feed the hungry. But was that Jesus’ mission on earth? He also healed the lame, but again, was that Jesus’ mission? He also became flesh and endured the ‘human experience’ which some would say was His mission. Jesus did many things, but what exactly was Jesus’ mission on earth?
How Scripture answers "What was Jesus’ mission on earth?"
Jesus made three direct statements about His mission on earth (which was God’s mission13). First, He said He came to “seek and to save the lost”3. This is possibly the most well-known fact about His mission. He was the remedy for sin12,15, culminating in His death, burial, and resurrection10. The salvation aspect of His mission is repeated and reiterated several times in Scripture in various ways2,5,6, including Jesus’ own analogy of Himself to a door and a shepherd11.
Second, Jesus said that He came to “bear witness to the truth”1. Specifically, He ushered in the gospel of the kingdom of God9. The words He spoke were from the Father (John 17:14-17) which He embodied12 by becoming flesh (John 1:1,14). This is highlighted when Jesus says He came not to bring peace but a sword4 and when Paul says the Old Law was nailed to the cross7. It was a fulfilling all that had been communicated by God to that point14 and freeing us from fleshly sin to live in/with His Spirit12.
Third, Jesus said He came “for judgment”8…which links to the first two. Jesus came to judge all mankind8 against the truth1,9 of God’s word. Those that accept/believe Him (e.g. enter through “the door”11) receive eternal salvation2,3,8,10.
Answer built on scripture-blocks below
1
Jesus says he came into the world to testify to the one truth.
2
Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
3
Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
4
Jesus coming to earth would cause strife and conflict. More specifically, given the context it is clear it is His teachings would cause angry and even violent reactions.
5
Jesus lived a sinless life on earth, demonstrating His authority to be the redeemer for the sins of others. Or, stated another way in vs 8, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
6
Jesus came to sacrifice Himself for all mankind – to take away their sins and thereby make them holy.
7
Jesus came to be the conduit through which the Old Law was replaced by the New.
8
Jesus states a spiritual truth, explaining that His judgment will cause the blind to see and the seeing to be blind.
!! scripture-block context extra important here !!
Against the backdrop of Jesus just having healed a man that was physically blind, the contrast is clear. The formerly blind man – a disregarded “sinner” [blind] that believed in Messiah [gained sight] – and the Pharisees who witnessed the miracle [saw] but refused to believe [became blind].
9
Jesus says He came for the purpose of preaching the “good news [gospel] of the kingdom of God.”
10
Jesus came to serve mankind by standing in the place for sinners (all mankind) and giving His life.
11
Jesus came to give life, spiritual life, to those otherwise that would be dead.
12
God sent Jesus to condemn all sin in the flesh and be a remedy for it for all mankind.
13
Jesus came to do the will of the Father only.
14
Jesus, in His coming, fulfilled the Law and prophetic writings.
15
Jesus came the first time to “deal with sin.”
related to 'What was Jesus’ mission on earth?'
lend your own study to the discussion
PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY: While your email is required, it will not be posted publically.
All comments are vetted for potential spam before being published, but will not be restricted otherwise.
In the Gospels we do not read of Jesus freeing anyone from prison. (In Acts we do read of some who were miraculously set free from jail). He did not even give freedom to John the Baptist when he was in prison, although he certainly would have had the power to do so. In our country there are many who have turned to spiritism, witchcraft, and mind-reading and are bound in some way by evil spirits. Do we teach the students at our Christian institutions how these people can be set free from their captivity?
Excellent observation! There was much “undone” that Jesus certainly could have fixed or “made right” when he was on earth. More evidence to the fact that His mission was not about carnal matters. His mission and what the Bible teaches is how we can be set free from the captivity of sin.