Christ, the Son of God, left Heaven’s glory to save the sons of men who had sunk into misery and sins but who strove for happiness and life. To reveal the Father, to seek those who were lost, and to win eternal redemption – this was the mission of Christ.
The goal and commission of each one who seeks after God should be to look into Christ’s mission, so “that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Eph. 3:17-19). The more we know of the aim of Christ’s life, the better Christians we will be and the more of the fruit of true faith we will have. Let us follow in the footsteps of Christ and let us first see how…
He revealed the Father
When Jesus Christ came into this world, the time was fulfilled (Mark 1:15; Gal. 4:4); this means that the conditions in which Messiah was to come into the world were then present. Paganism – with its splendid attainments in science and arts – had reached its height. All that human wisdom could do was attained. The political realm had also reached a great goal. The Roman Empire had become a worldwide empire, with its mighty arm it had conquered all the cultured countries of the then-known world and it had gathered in its bosom all the wealth and goods of the world. All the external glamour however could not deceive the careful observer of the inward degeneracy of the age. Religion and morals were very low. The pagan religion no longer had power over the human hearts. In the stream of time, sin had caused a wider and still wider separation between mankind and God. For most of humankind, the living God had become an unknown God. Most people were idolaters. History says that people were hungering for food for the heart and healing from their deep anguish. Nevertheless, with an unsatisfied desire they were walking disconsolately unto death. The world truly needed a Savior! Among all nations, there could be noticed a common anticipation of a great Savior.
This was the hour in which God was about to send heavenly light into the darkness of this world and reveal himself through His Son, Jesus Christ. John 1:4, 5, 9. By deeds and works, in sufferings and death, Christ fulfilled this commission. “I and my Father are one”, he said. This was the answer of Jesus to the question of the Jews. John 10:30. To the skeptical Phillip he gave the assurance:
“He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works” (John 14:9, 10).
At the end of his life’s pathway, Christ was able to say, in his high-priestly prayer:
“I have manifested thy name unto the men” (John 17:6).
No man has ever spoken like this man, no prophet has ever performed such miracles as he has, and no priest has ever brought men so close to the Father as he has.
In his purity of character, in his kind mercy, in his love and goodness, Jesus stands before us as an incarnation of divine perfection – the express image of the invisible God.
To seek those who are lost
To be a Savior to all men was another aim that Christ had come to fulfill. Luke 4:18.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
“But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him” (Mark 9:13).
This is the principle upon which Jesus was seeking for those that were despised, for the miters and sinners. In them, he saw God’s creatures who, though separated and far from home, were not forgotten by God. It is their woe and sinfulness that made them – even more so – objects of divine mercy. The further away they had wandered from him, the more determined was his desire and the greater was his self-sacrifice so that he might save them.
In the parable of the lost sheep Jesus – as the Good Shepherd – expressed his love to all those who were wandering, yet seeking after God. In harmony with this parable, the Savior goes out to seek one sheep – the lowest number that can be taken into consideration. So, if there was only one who was perishing, Christ would have died for this one person. Just as the sheep which has gone far away from the flock cannot return of itself – in its own strength, but it has to be sought out by the Shepherd, so it is with the person who has separated himself from God.
Christ is the Good Shepherd and Savior even today, to all who have wandered away and desire to find the right way.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
This is still the invitation of Jesus to all. Shall we not answer this invitation? Say “yes”, dear reader. You will never regret it. You will taste and see that a determined life with Jesus will fully satisfy the longing desire of your heart. Only after we have made this decision, life becomes meaningful.
Eternal redemption
To bring eternal redemption was the ultimate aim of Christ’s ministry. Heb. 9:12. Man was pure and noble when he came out of the hand of the Creator. God’s purpose for man was for him to live forever in health, peace, and joy. Then came sin and man’s disobedience to God. With one strike, man lost all that he had. Yet he did not have strength, he did not have any means to restore that which he had lost.
That which was impossible for man was done by God. He put into action the plan of salvation:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Christ became redemption for us. 1 Cor. 1:30. The punishment for our sins which we were to receive, he took upon himself that we might have life. Isaiah 53:4, 5. He was the Lamb of God who took upon himself the sins of the world. In Gethsemane, he pleaded to God to receive strength so that he might drink the bitter cup. He bore our sins on Calvary’s cross. The weight of our sins wrung from his lips the cry: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46). When on the cross he cried: “It is finished,” then the righteousness of Heaven was fulfilled and eternal redemption was wrought out for us.
“Christ died for me.” In these few words is contained the whole mystery of the plan of salvation and the happiness of our lives.
Once more I would ask you this question:
What was the mission of Christ?
To be a ladder between heaven and earth,
A Leader to bring us out of darkness into light,
A Redeemer from bondage to freedom,
A Savior from death and a Giver of life.
This is what Christ came to this earth to accomplish.
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