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In spite of the plainness of the singularity of Jesus’ purpose in coming among men, it is still misunderstood. Men have variously set forth such purposes as political revolution, social reform, and physical healing—all of which crucially miss the mark.
None besides Jesus ever lived with a clearer grasp of His aim or purpose:
“For the Son of man also came…to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10: 45);
“For the Son of man came to seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19: 10);
“For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins” (Mat. 26:28).
Jesus and other inspired men clearly stated the true and underlying purpose of all of the Lord’s miraculous activity:
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (he saith to the sick of the palsy), I say unto thee, arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thy house (Mark 2:10–11).
Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name (John 20:30–31).
No wonder Jesus was so concerned for the lost that He sought in every possible way to reach men. His brief earthly life was spent for one grand end: to redeem lost men from sin so that they might be saved eternally. He issued direct appeals to the lost and about the lost, including the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son (Luke 15:3–32). He invited all of the lost to come to Him for rest (Mat. 11:28–30). He wept over lost Jerusalem (Luke 19:41–44). All that He said and did was concentrated upon saving man from the curse and consequence of sin. If any yet remain unconvinced that His chief concern was for the lost, then follow Him as He struggles up the road to Calvary and willingly lays Himself upon the cross.
His concern for the lost caused Him to order His followers to take His Gospel to all the world so that men, upon believing it and being baptized, might be saved (Mark 16:15–16). This Gospel, unadulterated by the doctrines of men (Gal. 1:6–9), is God’s power to save (Rom. 1:16).
A genuine concern for men and women who are lost in sin is an inescapable part of every Christian’s life. We must do our best to follow the Lord Jesus in this concern by seeking the “honest and good hearts” in which to plant the Gospel “seed” (Luke 8:11, 15).
[Note: I wrote this article for and it appeared in the Denton Record-Chronicle, Denton, TX, January 30, 2015].
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.
