Why Did Jesus Come?

“And lo a voice from heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” We know that Jesus is the Son of God; that He came to earth and dwelt among us; was crucified and on the third day rose again and is seated at the right hand of God the Father. {Math.3:17, John 1:14, Acts 2:30-33}

Sadly though many people, believers and non believers alike, still do not know why Jesus came. For to know the answer to that question is to know something about the very heart of God.  So why did Jesus come?

A Key

The key to the answer is found in the gospel of Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost”.  For years this verse has been quoted or preached as “those who were lost” instead of “that which was lost” even though the scripture is clear.

Now while it is true that “those who were lost” are a part of  “that which was lost”, by preaching this verse as “those who were lost” we are only sharing half of the message and have lost the rest of the Gospel; completely missing the profound message from God’s heart as to why He sent his Son.

What was it then? What was the “thing” that was lost which was so precious and valuable to the God that He would send his only Son, Jesus, to have it back?  To find that answer we must go back to the beginning, the Book of Genesis!

The Second Key

As we read the story of creation that is recorded in Genesis chapters 1 through 3, we find yet another wonderful, insightful story which shows us something about the very heart of God and the second key to the question of why Jesus came.

It is recorded in Genesis 2:19 “And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.”

Envisioning what that day might have been like perhaps it went something like this:

The Lord: Good morning son, how are you today?
Adam: Wonderful Father, thank you for this day. This is such a wonderful place!
The Lord: Good, I’m glad you’re happy. Come on over here son, I have something I want to show you.
Adam: Wow! What is it father?
The Lord: Well son, I created it yesterday but it doesn’t have a name yet. What do you think we should call it?
Adam: I really don’t know. It looks kind of strange. It has four legs, a long nose and a long tail and is very tall as
well. Maybe we could call it… a horse?
The Lord: Ok son, from this day forward it shall be called a horse. Now come on over here, I have something
else I want to show you.
Adam: Wow! What is that Father?
The Lord: I created it yesterday as well but it doesn’t have a name yet. What do you think we should call it?
Adam: Hum! It’s really small and has only two little feet, a tiny mouth and is nothing like the horse you made.
I’m not really sure, perhaps we could call it…. a chicken?
The Lord: Ok son, from this day forward it shall be called a chicken.

No one knows exactly how this event took place, yet as we read this passage and envision the story we can see something about God’s heart, for God and Adam had a very personal, intimate relationship with each other. They spent the day talking and enjoying being with one another as it was the desire of God’s heart.

The Simple Truth

The simple truth is that we, as human beings, were created to fulfill a desire of God’s heart. A desire to have a family, a people He could love, care and provide for and who would willingly love Him in return. Birthed from a Father’s love, this desire would provide everything his children would ever need through the intimate relationship and fellowship they had with Him; the same relationship we see in the beginning with Adam. After all, where do you suppose the nature we have to love, cherish and care for our children with a love that stems from the very depths of our inner most being came from?  From the heart of God!

But because it was God’s desire and He created us to share it with, Satan in turn sought to destroy it, that intimate relationship along with the joy, peace, contentment and provision that comes with it. So when Adam was deceived by Satan and sinned by disobeying God, the intimate relationship they once had was destroyed and all of mankind was separated from the presence of God. (The fall of Adam is recorded in Genesis 3:1-24)

Yet God’s desire was so unwavering that in the fullness of time, He was willing to send His only Son, Jesus, “to seek and save (restore) that which was lost”; the intimate relationship with Him.

When Jesus died on the cross to pay the debt for Adam’s sins, provision was made for the forgiveness of our sins as well. In Luke 23:43 the Bible states that at the moment of Jesus’ death that “the veil in the temple was rent”, torn in two, signifying that the price for the forgiveness of sin had been paid, accepted by the Father and that now, by the Blood of Jesus, access into the very presence of God had been restored. Eph.2:13&18 “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For through him (Jesus) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father”. That is why Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father, but by me”.

The Message

The Good News that is being proclaimed today is: That God’s heart has never changed! He wants today what He wanted back in the garden when He created us; to live in a personal, intimate, ongoing relationship with each and every one of us.

When our hearts are opened to this great truth, we can see how the Lord has woven this message throughout the scriptures; from the Book of Genesis to the last “Amen” in Revelation because He wants us to know it and through this relationship know Him, intimately.

It’s Time to Return!

The message, the Good News of the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of love from the heart of God. It is one of a loving Father to His children, all of mankind, to come back home to Him. Isaiah 53:6 reminds us, “We all like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all”.

Jesus said in Rev. 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me”

To “sup”, to have this intimate relationship with Jesus is available to everyone but it is a decision each person must make individually.

Now is the time to return. Now is the time to know the grace of His mercy, the power of His forgiveness and the fullness of His peace and joy.

How can I have this relationship with God ?

We must understand and acknowledge we are sinners, having gone our own way:
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”

Believe  that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sins:
Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”.

With a repentant heart and desire to change, confess to God that we have sinned and ask for His forgiveness:
Romans 10:9-10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God
raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”.

Receive God’s forgiveness:
I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness”.

Believe God’s assurance:
Romans 10:13 “For whosever shall call upon the name of the Lord save be saved”.

Today, you too can know power of God’s love and mercy. It’s just a prayer away!

“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” Psalm 34:8