Why Did Jesus Come?
Introduction
Why did Jesus come? Many of us would answer, “To die for our sins.” That is central to His mission. Yet Scripture describes a purpose that reaches into our understanding of God, our freedom from evil, our relationship with the Father, and the way we live each day.
Jesus came to rescue and restore. He reveals the Father, enters our human experience, overcomes evil, reconciles us to God, and enables us to live out the purpose for which we were created. These accomplishments serve God’s larger intention: to unite heaven and earth in Christ.
Understanding why He came helps us respond with gratitude, faith, surrender, and purposeful action. We can receive what He accomplished and begin following His lead.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version (NKJV). Key Verse entries may be excerpts; linked references open the surrounding passages.
What Did Jesus Come to Accomplish?
We can organize His mission around four connected purposes. Becoming flesh makes the God He reveals accessible in human terms: we can observe His character in action and approach a High Priest who understands our struggles.
| Purpose | What Jesus Makes Possible | Key Verse |
|---|---|---|
| Reveal God | Know the Father’s character, love, truth, and ways. | John 14:9 – “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” |
| Overcome Evil | Be freed from the destructive works of the devil, sin, and death. | 1 John 3:8 – “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” |
| Reconcile Humanity | Be forgiven and brought back into relationship with God. | 1 Peter 3:18 – “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” |
| Restore Our Purpose | Reflect God’s image and carry out the good works He prepared. | Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” |
Why Does This Matter?
God’s purpose extends beyond rescuing individuals from destruction. He is bringing His creation together under Christ. Our reconciliation and transformation draw us into that larger purpose.
Ephesians 1:10 – “that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.”
Jesus’ work invites a new direction for life. Instead of continuing in self-rule, we can come under His leadership, learn His ways, and participate in His kingdom work. His victory is accomplished; its effects unfold in His people now, and the final defeat of every enemy remains ahead.
How Did and Does Jesus Accomplish These Purposes?
1. Reveal God and Make Him Accessible
An invisible God can seem distant or difficult to understand. In Jesus, we see how God treats people: His compassion toward the suffering, His opposition to hypocrisy, His forgiveness, and His faithfulness under rejection and pain. The Son entered our human experience so we could encounter Him in a life we can recognize and relate to.
| How Jesus Reveals God | Key Verse |
|---|---|
| Become flesh and live among us | John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” |
| Make the Father known | John 1:18 – “The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” |
| Give understanding so we can know God | 1 John 5:20 – “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true” |
| Bear witness to the truth | John 18:37 – “for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.” |
| Understand our struggles and help us through them | Hebrews 2:18 – “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” |
His humanity also gives us confidence to approach Him. He understands temptation and weakness while remaining without sin.
Hebrews 4:15–16 – “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Our response is to study Jesus, receive His teaching, and draw near. As we learn how He thinks and acts, we allow Him to correct our misunderstandings about the Father.
2. Overcome Evil
Evil entered the human story through deception and disobedience. Sin brings death, fear, blame, and bondage. The repeated sacrifices under the old covenant pointed toward the need for a decisive sacrifice. Jesus came as the sinless Lamb who would give Himself for us.
| How | Key Verse |
|---|---|
| Resist temptation and remain without sin | Hebrews 4:15 – “but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” |
| Proclaim freedom for captives | Luke 4:18 – “He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives” |
| Put away sin through His sacrifice | Hebrews 9:26 – “He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” |
| Break the devil’s hold associated with death | Hebrews 2:14–15 – “that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” |
| Triumph over hostile spiritual powers | Colossians 2:15 – “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” |
| Rise victorious over death | Acts 2:24 – “whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.” |
| Reign until every enemy is defeated | 1 Corinthians 15:25–26 – “For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” |
The cross was both an act of human injustice and Jesus’ willing sacrifice. His resurrection reveals that death could not hold Him. Scripture also describes a legal dimension: the record against us is removed, hostile powers are disarmed, and the ruler of this world is judged. The imagery should stay anchored in those declarations; a separate lawsuit transferring Satan’s accumulated authority to Jesus is an interpretation rather than an explicit biblical account.
We respond to His victory by submitting to God, resisting the devil, refusing to yield ourselves to sin, and relying on the Holy Spirit. Our confidence rests in Jesus’ authority.
3. Reconcile Humanity to God
Sin alienates us from God. Jesus acts on our behalf to address our guilt and bring us back to the Father. Forgiveness opens the way to fellowship, adoption, and a life lived in God’s presence.
| How | Key Verse |
|---|---|
| Seek and save that which was lost | Luke 19:10 – “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” |
| Call us to repentance | Luke 5:32 – “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” |
| Give His life as a ransom | 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.” |
| Provide redemption and forgiveness | Colossians 1:14 – “in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” |
| Give access to the Father | Ephesians 2:18 – “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” |
| Bring us into God’s family | Galatians 4:5 – “to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” |
| Continue interceding for us | Hebrews 7:25 – “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” |
Luke 19:10 preserves the important wording “that which was lost.” In its immediate setting, Jesus announces salvation at Zacchaeus’s house. The broader restoration of God’s image and our intended purpose is developed explicitly in the renewal passages that follow. God’s image in humanity was damaged by sin; Jesus restores our expression of that image as we are renewed in Him.
Our response is to repent, trust Jesus, receive forgiveness, and enter the relationship He makes possible. We do not earn reconciliation by accumulating good deeds. We receive God’s grace through faith, and that new relationship changes how we live.
4. Restore Our Purpose
God created us to reflect His character, live in relationship with Him, and carry out His purposes. Jesus gives us new life and restores our direction. We learn to live for Him, become like Him, and bear fruit that brings the Father glory.
| How | Key Verse |
|---|---|
| Give us life through Him | 1 John 4:9 – “God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” |
| Turn us from living for ourselves to living for Him | 2 Corinthians 5:15 – “those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” |
| Renew us according to our Creator’s image | Colossians 3:10 – “the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” |
| Transform us by the Spirit | 2 Corinthians 3:18 – “are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” |
| Form a people eager to do good | Titus 2:14 – “redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” |
| Enable fruitful living through abiding in Him | John 15:5 – “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” |
Restored purpose grows out of an ongoing relationship. We surrender our self-directed lives, put off the old ways, receive His transforming grace, and follow His lead. The Holy Spirit empowers us to love, serve, pray, and represent Jesus in everyday situations.
John 15:8 – “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
How Jesus Unites Heaven and Earth Under Himself
Jesus reveals the Father, overcomes evil, reconciles humanity, and restores our purpose. These connected accomplishments serve God’s larger plan: bringing heaven and earth together under Christ. He makes peace through His cross, gathers and equips His people, and reigns until every opposing power is subdued.
This work is already unfolding, and its completion lies ahead. The following passages show how Jesus brings creation into alignment under His leadership.
| How | Key Verse |
|---|---|
| Make peace through His blood and reconcile all things to Himself | Colossians 1:20 – “and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” |
| Exercise authority over heaven and earth | Matthew 28:18 – “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.’” |
| Bring people into His kingdom | Colossians 1:13–14 – “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” |
| Unite divided peoples in one body with access to the Father | Ephesians 2:16–18 – “and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” |
| Send His disciples to teach the nations to follow Him | Matthew 28:19–20 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” |
| Empower His people by the Holy Spirit to carry His witness throughout the earth | Acts 1:8 – “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” |
| Reign until every enemy, including death, is defeated | 1 Corinthians 15:25–26 – “For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” |
| Bring universal acknowledgment of His lordship, to the Father’s glory | Philippians 2:10–11 – “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” |
| Gather all things together in Himself—the completed purpose | Ephesians 1:10 – “that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.” |
This unity includes the willing reconciliation and obedience of His people, together with the final subjection of opposing powers. Universal acknowledgment of His lordship does not mean that everyone receives salvation.
We are invited to participate in His work now—receiving His reconciliation, coming under His leadership, relying on His Spirit, and helping others become His disciples. As we follow Him, our lives become part of the answer to His prayer that the Father’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
How Should We Respond?
Each purpose calls for a practical response. Receiving what Jesus accomplished leads us into a life of trust and obedience.
| Response | Key Verse |
|---|---|
| Learn from Jesus and remain in His Word | John 8:31–32 – “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” |
| Submit to God and resist evil | James 4:7 – “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” |
| Turn toward God and believe the gospel | Mark 1:15 – “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” |
| Surrender self-direction and follow Jesus | Luke 9:23 – “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” |
| Seek alignment with God’s kingdom and will | Matthew 6:10 – “Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” |
Self-Test: Am I Receiving and Responding?
Use these questions to identify your next step. They are invitations to honest reflection and growth.
| Ask Yourself | Evidence to Look For |
|---|---|
| Am I learning who the Father is through Jesus? | My understanding of God increasingly agrees with Jesus’ character, words, and actions. |
| Have I turned to Jesus and received His forgiveness? | I trust His sacrifice and respond to conviction with repentance. |
| Am I resisting evil or accommodating it? | I confront temptation and deception rather than making excuses for them. |
| Am I leading my life or being led? | I seek His direction and obey when it challenges my preferences. |
| Am I drawing near with confidence? | I bring God my needs and struggles instead of withdrawing in fear or shame. |
| Is my restored purpose becoming visible? | Love, service, obedience, and good works increasingly characterize my life. |
Declaration: Jesus, Thank You for Coming—I Will Follow You
Speak this declaration as a sincere expression of gratitude and commitment. Let each statement identify something you intend to receive or put into practice.
Jesus,
I will look to You to know the Father—His character, His love, His truth, and His ways.
Thank You for coming to rescue me, giving Your life for my sins, and rising again victorious over death. I will turn from sin, submit to You, and receive Your forgiveness.
I surrender my life to You as Lord. Renew me in Your image and restore me to the purpose for which You created me.
I will draw near to the Father through You with confidence, bringing Him my needs and struggles and trusting His love and grace.
I will follow Your lead, resist evil, and rely on the Holy Spirit to empower me. I will share Your love and truth, serve others, and help them become Your disciples.
Let my life advance Your kingdom and bring glory to the Father who sent You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Carry this commitment into your next decision, conversation, and opportunity to serve.
Where to Learn More
Read the full passages around the Key Verses. These longer readings help connect the purposes and keep individual verses in context.
- John 1 and John 14–17: Jesus reveals the Father, invites relationship, and prepares His disciples to continue His work.
- Hebrews 2, 4, and 9–10: His humanity, priesthood, sacrifice, and victory.
- Romans 6–8 and Colossians 1–3: Freedom from sin, reconciliation, and renewal.
- Ephesians 1–2: God’s larger purpose in Christ and the new life He prepares for His people.
Visit the MyGodInMotion Bible Study archive for related teaching and study materials.
Call to Action
Choose a concrete response and act on it this week.
| Action | Put It into Practice |
|---|---|
| Look to Jesus to know the Father | Read a Gospel passage. Notice what Jesus reveals about the Father’s character, love, and ways. |
| Receive what Jesus accomplished | Turn from sin, submit to Jesus, and receive His forgiveness with gratitude. |
| Surrender your life | Identify an area you are still controlling. Entrust it to Jesus and obey His direction. |
| Draw near with confidence | Bring the Father a burden or struggle. Ask for His help and take time to listen. |
| Follow His lead | Ask the Holy Spirit whom to serve, encourage, pray for, or help toward Jesus—then act. |
Journaling Opportunities
Set aside quiet time to ask these questions. Write what comes to mind, then test it against Scripture and God’s character before acting.
Lord, what misunderstanding about the Father do You want to correct through Your revelation?
Lord, what part of Your work on the cross have I struggled to receive or trust?
Lord, what am I holding back from Your leadership, and what would surrender look like?
Lord, what keeps me from drawing near with confidence in Your love?
Lord, what step are You leading me to take to fulfill my purpose and good works?