According to the Bible, Jesus Christ came to earth with a very specific mission and purpose. Here is an overview of the key aspects of Jesus’ mission as described in Scripture:
To Save Sinners
One of the clearest statements on Jesus’ mission is found in 1 Timothy 1:15: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Throughout His ministry, Jesus reached out to those considered outcasts and sinners by the religious establishment of the day (Luke 5:30-32). He spent time with tax collectors, prostitutes, and other marginalized people. His message of grace, forgiveness, and salvation was directed at all who would repent and believe in Him.
To Serve and Give His Life as a Ransom
Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve others and give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). Though He was God in the flesh, Jesus took on the form of a servant and humbled Himself (Philippians 2:7). The pinnacle of His service was willingly enduring scourging and death by crucifixion as payment for the sins of humanity.
To Fulfill Messianic Prophecy
Jesus came to fulfill what was spoken by the Old Testament prophets concerning the Messiah. This included prophecies about His ancestry, birthplace, ministry activities, death, and resurrection. Jesus Himself claimed that He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets rather than abolish them (Matthew 5:17).
To Preach Repentance and the Kingdom of God
Early in His ministry, Jesus began preaching a message of repentance in light of the kingdom of God being at hand (Matthew 4:17). His preaching focused on God’s rule and reign over all creation. Those who heard the message were called to align with God’s purposes and turn from sinful lifestyles.
To Call and Commission His Followers
Jesus came not only to minister Himself, but to call others to follow Him. After calling the twelve disciples, He trained them to continue His work (Matthew 10:5-8). Before ascending to heaven, Jesus commissioned His followers to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them to obey Christ’s commands (Matthew 28:18-20).
To Give Eternal Life to All Who Believe in Him
Jesus came that all who believe in Him would have eternal life (John 3:16). He offered Himself as the bread of life and source of living water that alone satisfies our spiritual hunger and thirst (John 4:13-14; 6:35). He made radical claims to deity so that people would honor Him just as they honor the Father, receiving eternal life (John 5:21-23).
To Reveal God the Father
Jesus’ intimate relationship with God enabled Him to reveal the Father to humanity (John 1:18). He displayed and radiated the glory, grace, truth, and love of God (John 1:14; 14:9). Through His life and teachings, Jesus demonstrated God’s care for the weak, the poor, and the outcast of society.
To Provide an Example for His Followers
In addition to His teachings, Jesus provided an example through His life for how His followers should live. He modeled qualities such as love, humility, prayerfulness, obedience to God, and service to others. He redefined concepts like greatness and leadership according to the values of God’s kingdom.
To Proclaim the Kingdom of God
The core message of Jesus’ preaching ministry was the good news of the arrival of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15). Through His teachings and miracles, Jesus described how God’s rule and reign impacts people’s lives. He called people to align their priorities with God’s purposes and values.
To Bring Division between Belief and Unbelief
Although Jesus came as an ambassador of love and peace, His teachings also brought division between those who accepted Him and those who rejected Him. He knew this would occur and that He would serve as a stumbling stone to some (Luke 12:51-53; 20:17-18). But He proclaimed the truth in love, despite opposition.
To Bear Witness to the Truth
When standing trial before Pilate, Jesus stated that He came to testify to the truth. He was God incarnate, the very embodiment of truth, and His life and teachings revealed what is true (John 18:37). Earlier in John’s gospel, Jesus had declared, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).
In summary, at the heart of Jesus’ earthly mission was reconciliation. He came to reconcile sinners to God, humans to each other, and creation to its Creator. Although rejected by many during His ministry, His life, death and resurrection accomplished salvation for all who believe in Him.
Old Testament Prophecies About Jesus’ Mission
The mission and purpose of Jesus were foretold by various prophets hundreds of years before Christ’s birth. Here are some of the key Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah’s mission:
- He would be born of a woman and be a descendant of Abraham (Genesis 12:3; Galatians 3:16)
- He would be from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10)
- He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
- He would be preceded by a forerunner (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1)
- He would proclaim good news to the poor and oppressed (Isaiah 61:1-2)
- He would heal the blind, lame, and deaf (Isaiah 35:5-6)
- He would be rejected by His own people (Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 53:3)
- He would be beaten, mocked, and killed (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53:5)
- His life would serve as a guilt offering for sin (Isaiah 53:10)
- He would rise from the dead (Psalm 16:10)
Jesus fulfilled these and many other messianic prophecies, affirming that He was the promised Messiah sent by God to accomplish salvation. From beginning to end, His life and ministry aligned with the Old Testament foretelling of the redeeming work of the Christ.
Jesus’ Own Statements About His Mission
In addition to the prophecies pointing to His purpose, Jesus Himself made statements during His ministry about why He came:
- “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32)
- “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)
- “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (John 6:38)
- “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” (John 4:34)
- “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17)
- “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
- “I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46)
- “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Jesus understood that He had been sent by God for a divine purpose. He came to redeem, serve, sacrifice, liberate, and bring salvation to needy humanity through His life, death, and resurrection. He fulfilled His mission with complete obedience to the Father.
New Testament Summaries of Jesus’ Mission
The New Testament writers also summarized Jesus’ earthly mission in succinct statements:
- “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
- “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)
- “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15)
- “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)
- “We have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.” (1 John 4:14)
These statements highlight that Jesus’ primary mission was to atone for sins and restore a lost humanity to proper relationship with God. He came to redeem people from bondage to sin, death, and Satan.
Jesus’ Own Testimony About His Mission
On multiple occasions during His ministry, Jesus testified about His divine origin, identity, and mission:
- “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” (John 4:34)
- “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (John 6:38)
- “I know him [God], for I come from him, and he sent me.” (John 7:29)
- “I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.” (John 8:42)
- “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (John 6:38)
- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17)
Jesus repeatedly emphasized that He was sent by God the Father to accomplish the divine mission of salvation. Every aspect of His life and ministry aligned with this purpose.
How Jesus Accomplished His Mission
The New Testament describes several key ways Jesus fulfilled His God-given mission:
- Incarnation – God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, entering into the human experience (John 1:14).
- Sinless life – Jesus perfectly obeyed the Law of God and was without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
- Teachings – Jesus taught about the kingdom of God and how to live according to God’s standards.
- Miracles – Jesus authenticated His identity through miraculous signs and wonders.
- Crucifixion – Jesus died on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for human sin (Romans 5:8).
- Resurrection – Jesus conquered death and rose again, ensuring victory over sin for all who believe (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).
- Ascension – Jesus ascended to reign at the Father’s right hand in power and glory (Acts 1:9-11).
- Intercession – Jesus continues to intercede with God on behalf of His people as High Priest (Hebrews 7:25).
- Return – Jesus will return again in glory to judge the world and complete the restoration of all things (Matthew 24:30-31).
From His miraculous birth to His ascension and promised return, Jesus fully accomplished His mission of redemption through His sinless life, sacrificial death, and defeat of death in the resurrection.
The Significance of Jesus’ Mission
The mission of Jesus holds great significance for several reasons:
- It was predetermined by God to bring redemption to humanity (1 Peter 1:20).
- It fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah’s purpose.
- It provides the only way of salvation for sinful human beings (Acts 4:12).
- It allows us to be reconciled to God when we accept Christ’s sacrifice (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
- It secures eternal life for all who believe in Jesus (1 John 5:11-12).
- It defeated Satan’s power and the curse of sin over us (Hebrews 2:14-15).
- It paved the way for the kingdom of God to be established on earth.
- It enables the Holy Spirit to dwell within believers, empowering them to live holy lives.
- It serves as the ultimate demonstration of God’s love, grace, and mercy toward humanity (Romans 5:8).
Jesus’ earthly mission has made salvation and restored relationship with God accessible to the entire world. It is because of Christ’s complete fulfillment of His mission that we can experience forgiveness of sins and new life in Him.
How Should We Respond to Jesus’ Mission?
Scripture calls for several responses from us in light of Jesus’ mission:
- Repent and believe in Christ as the only Savior (Acts 20:21).
- Trust fully in His sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 1:7).
- Submit to Him as Lord over our lives (Luke 6:46).
- Obey His commandments and follow His example (John 14:15).
- Share the gospel message with others (Matthew 28:19-20).
- Remain faithful to Him to the end (Revelation 2:10).
- Worship and serve Him wholeheartedly (Romans 12:1).
- Look forward to His return in glory (Titus 2:13).
As those who have benefited from Christ’s mission, we take on His mission of spreading the good news of salvation to the world. We proclaim what He has accomplished and call others to enter into the salvation He offers.
Jesus’ Continuing Mission through His Church
Although Jesus’ earthly mission was completed with His death, resurrection, and ascension, He continues to work through His church. Here are some ways Christ accomplishes His mission through believers today:
- Disciples are commissioned to make more disciples across the nations (Matthew 28:18-20).
- The Holy Spirit empowers and guides believers in living for Christ (Acts 1:8).
- Believers have spiritual gifts for building up the church to continue Jesus’ work (Ephesians 4:11-13).
- Churches proclaim the Word and make disciples by baptizing and teaching (2 Timothy 4:2).
- Christians love as Jesus loved through acts of service and compassion (John 13:34-35).
- Believers point others to salvation in Christ alone (Acts 4:12).
- Prayer, good works, and financial giving advance the mission (James 5:16, 2:14-17).
- Suffering for Christ propagates the gospel (Philippians 1:12-14).
Until Jesus returns, the church serves as His representative on earth—the body of Christ. Our lives, ministries, and collective witness continue the mission He began while on earth. We have the privilege of being His agents to reach the world with the good news.
Conclusion
In reviewing the biblical evidence, we see that Jesus’ life and ministry were focused on fulfilling a clear, divine mission. Every aspect of Christ’s earthly work centered on bringing salvation to sinners through His incarnation, sinless life, sacrificial death, resurrection, and ascension. He accomplished redemption as prophesied in Scripture. Now He commissions His church to continue the task of reaching the nations with the gospel until He returns to complete the restoration of all things. Our response must be full commitment to His mission with our lives.