Why Has Jesus Come?

Why has Jesus Come?

That seems like a simple question that most people would be able to answer. Those that do not know much about Jesus would probably answer that he came to bring love and teach people to live in peace with all mankind. Other individuals that maybe know a great deal more about Jesus would probably answer that Jesus came to save the world from sin and hell. While both answers are partly right, they are also partly off track. The ultimate reason Jesus came to us in the flesh, Emmanuel, was not because there was sin in the world or lack of peace and love.

OK, now before you crucify me, hear me out.

When you see God in the beginning with man, how do you see Him? You see a God walking in the cool of the day with Adam in His garden. While the bible rightly teaches us to worship God at all times, is that what you see there in the garden in the beginning? I see a man who can stand before his God as a friend not someone who cowers in fear.

What did God say about Moses at Moses’ death? He clearly stated that Moses was His friend. I understand that Moses had to approach God with reverence and treat the very ground of the burning bush as holy by taking off his shoes. But please look closely here at what is really transpiring. Once again this is a man that has a relationship with His God. So close was Moses’ relationship that he chanced God’s wrath by disagreeing with Him once. Who can stand before God and tell Him He is wrong, not me! But because of the relationship Moses had with God, he could and did without being destroyed. And, God listened.

Moses had to take off His shoes to stand on holy ground because of sin that had come into the world as a result of Adam’s sin. That was the distinction between Adam’s and Moses’ relationship with God. But both had close relationships with their God. So you say, “See I knew it was sin.” If that is what you are saying, you are still off track. Sin is a symptom not the purpose for Jesus.

If sin was the only reason for God to come to an unholy people, He would most likely just start over again instead. He could have made robots that would never disobey. God is not looking for beings that cannot disobey. He has them already in the angels. They do not have the choice of obeying which is why Satan was judged as he was. God wants a people who will willingly choose Him.

Look at Enoch in the bible. It really does not say much about him does it? However, what it does say shouts to me something important about our God. It says that Enoch could not be found because God took him. God so loved Enoch that He, God, decided not to wait for Enoch to die but rather brought Enoch to Himself alive. Does that say anything too you about what God is after?

What did Jesus say to His disciples in the gospels, that He would no longer call them by any other name but “Friend”. What does Hebrews 4:16 tell us about the relationship we now have with God? It states that we are to boldly go before the throne of grace in one translation. In another translation it says we are to approach Him with confidence.

All of this is to say that lack of peace or love or sin is all symptoms of the real issue. God wants to change all of that by removing your and my sin. Just as Moses could not approach God without removing his worldly dirt, we cannot approach God without being covered by Jesus’ sacrafice. In the Book of Revelations it says that the righteous were granted the right to wear the garment. What garment is it talking about? The garment of righteousness. Without that garment we will not be allowed to sit at the Supper of the Lamb. Jesus removed the sin of those that will believe in Him and be called by His name.

Jesus came to restore our relationship with God. That is why He came, that is why He died, and that is why He was resurrected from the dead. All of this was to prove that God had the right to remove our sin and restore us to a right and close relationship with Him.

One can think that the promise of the Messiah was to remove sin in order to avoid hell and that is OK. Sin is a problem and must be resolved for us all. I, however, would rather think of Jesus as coming to allow me a way to be restored to a relationship with the God of all creation. Consider for a moment what a blessing that is, to have a close relationship with He that made it all! There are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on the earth and God made them all.

Do you see what I see? A child sleeping in the night, He has brought us goodness and life!