The Bible tells us that God had a plan before the foundation of the world. Speaking of Jesus in 1 Peter 1:20 “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” The promise of eternal life was made before time began. Titus 1:2 “In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.” God’s plan centered on sending His Son to the earth. All of the details of God’s plan have not been revealed to us, but let us look at some of the reasons He sent Jesus to the earth.
Jesus came to bring light to a dark world. Jesus said in John 12:46 “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” Jesus came to destroy the devil and his works. Hebrews 2:14 “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” 1 John 3:8 “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
Jesus came to preach the gospel, to heal the brokenhearted, to provide sight to the blind, and provide liberty to the oppressed. When Jesus returned to his hometown of Nazareth, He read from the prophet Isaiah. Luke 4:18-21 “’The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.’ Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’”
Jesus came to bear witness to the truth. John 18:37 “Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Are You a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’” In contrast to many lies that are pushed today, Jesus came to bear witness to the truth.
Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets. Much had been previously written about Him. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” He proved that He was the Christ. He fulfilled everything.
Jesus came to reveal God’s love for sinners. John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Jesus came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” He came to die for our sins. Before His crucifixion, Jesus said in John 12:27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.” Jesus came to save sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15a “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Jesus was speaking about Zacchaeus in Luke 19:9-10 “And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.’” Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. Mark 2:17 “When Jesus heard it, He said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.’”
Jesus came to give eternal life. John 17:1-2 “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.’”
Jesus came to be our example. 1 Peter 2:21-24 “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth’; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness — by whose stripes you were healed.”
Jesus came to be a merciful and faithful high priest between us and God the Father. Hebrews 2:17-18 “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.”
I have not exhausted the reasons that God sent Jesus into the world. But I give you these that I might encourage you to appreciate the love of God and His great plan for mankind. Romans 11:33-36 “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?’ ‘Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?’ For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.” Give glory to God!