Why did Jesus come??

So… why DID Jesus come?? If someone asked me that question a few years ago I would have said “He came to sacrifice Himself on the cross to pay for our sins, to reunite us to the Father and, for those who believe in Him, He will give eternal life.” Which, isn’t necessarily “incorrect” but it isn’t “complete” either! How about you? How would YOU answer that question?

“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.”  John 12:46-47

Once again, as I was listening to the gospels a couple weeks ago, the phrases I kept hearing were, “I have come to…” or “I came to…” or “I did not come to…” So I decided to look up all the scriptures that Jesus said “why” He came or “why” He did not come. I have been enjoying pulling out scriptures for my topics because I see things I never saw before and this was no exception! To start I have listed some of the scriptures that go along with and confirm my answer (listed above) to this this question:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

“For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

John 6:38-40

“Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.” John 12:27

He also came to spread the Good news and to testify to the truth:

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." Mark 1:35-38

“You are a king, then! said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." John 18:37

He didn’t come for the healthy or the righteous but for the sick and the sinners:

“When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:11-13 (Also in Mark 2:17)

But wait! There’s more! While He did come to save the lost, and to preach the good news to others, it appears that he came for more than that!! I think most of the messages we hear are about Jesus bringing peace, love and joy and lots of warm fuzzies along with His salvation. But in looking up these scriptures I don’t think that is what He is saying! In this next scripture He says He did NOT come to bring peace but “Fire and division”!

“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.​"​  Luke 12:49-51

And here He says He did not come to bring peace but a sword and division in our families:

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn "'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law-- a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:34-38

Whoa!! That is intense!! No warm fuzzies there! He also says He came to fulfill the law:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” Matthew 5:17-18

And He came for judgement:

“Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind." John 9:39

Well now, that kind of puts things into a different perspective, don’t you think?? I love hearing from the “Truth” because He clarifies things and gives us greater depth and understanding into the spiritual world. We can get all caught up in the “world’s” ways of thinking and can completely miss the “eternal” thinking and plan of God.

Ok, to summarize, I am hearing Jesus say that He came as a light into the world to save it and bring eternal life, to do His Father’s will, to spread the good news and to testify to the truth. He came for the sick and the sinners, to bring fire, a sword and division, Judgement and finally He came to die and be resurrected. I am sure there is more but I think this is a good representation of why He came and something He can build on. This has been a very cool exercise as well as enlightening!

I will leave you with one more scripture and hopefully some thought provoking questions and observations from Tom:

“Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:9-10

Tom had some really good insight into this scripture that I thought I would share. Tom’s question to us is; “What was lost”? Jesus came to seek and to save “what was lost”… We tend to automatically assume that He is referring to “people” but the phrase is singular; “what”. What was lost? Wouldn’t He have said “those who were lost” if He was talking about people? Now, I am not saying this assumption is wrong but stick with me here for a minute. The context of this phrase is right after His encounter with Zacchaeus:

“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.” Luke 19:8-9

Tom’s thought is that what was lost is “faith”! Faith in God and His goodness! Zacchaeus’ sudden transforming faith and belief in Jesus caused him to have a change in heart to pay back those whom he had cheated. Was Jesus impressed by his declaration of faith in HIM when He spoke those words? Possibly? I thought that was brilliant! And I do have to say that I think Tom has something here… how about you?

“I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:8

Father, I thank you SO MUCH for sending Jesus to purchase us back for You! We were lost, and now we are saved! I pray also that FAITH is restored to us all! Faith in You and Your ability to care for us each and every day. No fear but only FAITH! With much love, Linda :)