One Sunday morning I had a conversation with my wife Arlene and I began by asking her, "How did we miss it?" Meaning the reason and purpose Jesus came to Earth. He made it very clear why He came to Earth, and we missed it.
Many scholars dissected, examined, reviewed, revised and wrote volumes on this subject. Yet many are still confused as to what was Jesus' mission, message, methods and purpose for coming to Earth.
However, for us to discover the original purpose and mission of Jesus, it should be obvious that we must consider His own declarations concerning His purpose and assignment for coming into the world. Let's read a few of them from words of His close friends in the gospel narrative.
His first public statement was made at the beginning of His earthly mission, when He was thirty years old, after being baptized by His cousin John the Baptist, and completing 40 days of fasting; during which time He overcame Satan's temptations to compromise His assignment:
From that first time, Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17)
The word 'near', in some translations rendered "at hand", simply means "has arrived". In other words, His first declaration was the introduction and arrival of a kingdom, not a religion. In essence, He brought a government to Earth. Let's look at some other declarations by Jesus concerning His purpose and mission on Earth.
And as you go, preach, saying, "The Kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 10:7)
But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the Kingdom of God has come upon you. (Matthew 12:28)
Therefore the Kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. (Matthew 18:23)
And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)
I must preach the Kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent. 44) And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee (Luke 4:43-44)
Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went to every city and village preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him (Luke 8:1)
But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. (Luke 9:11)
But seek His Kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. (Luke 12:31)
Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail. (Luke 16:16-17)
Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it (Luke 18:17)
And I bestow upon you a Kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me. (Luke 22:29)
Jesus answered, My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My Kingdom is not from here. 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 came into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." (John 18:36-37)
Keep in mind that these are only a few of the declarations made by Jesus concerning His mission, purpose and message. It is obvious that His intent was to declare, establish and invite all men to enter the Kingdom of God.
This s in direct contrast with the focus on religious activity and religion's preoccupation with going to heaven. It seems as if the message and priority of Jesus was the occupation and reclamation of Earth, rather than designing an escape hatch to heaven for mankind. There is a verse of scripture that has challenged my thinking:
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth. (Matthew 5:5)
It is interesting to note that the promise is for the inheritance of Earth rather than heaven. Also His dominion of Earth and its environment was declared by Jesus as the return of the Kingdom of God to Earth.
But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the Kingdom of God has come upon you. (Matthew 12:28)
This verse seems to indicate the return of the dominion power that Adam lost in his disobedience. Jesus came to Earth, not to bring a religion, but a Kingdom; the governing influence of the Kingdom of heaven on Earth. The message proclaims the opportunity for all mankind to regain its lost dominion over Earth and its environment through the reception of the Holy Spirit of God and, consequently, the reconnection of Earth with heaven. This is why it is called "good news" or Gospel.
The message of the Kingdom of God is the most important news ever delivered to the human race. Jesus came to Earth to announce the arrival of this Kingdom and to establish it in people's hearts through His death and resurrection. As the Son of God, Jesus Christ was the exact likeness of His Father and represented Him perfectly on Earth. To all those who believed in and followed Him, Jesus restored their citizenship rights in the Kingdom of Heaven and imparted His Spirit, so that they could represent Him and the government of heaven on Earth. This representation is known as government diplomacy. The following statement is a political statement that is very common to all kingdoms, including our contemporary governments:
And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me. (Luke 22:29)
This statement is always used at the appointment of an official representative of a government to other nations. This is the position of an ambassador. This is not a religious designation, but a governmental one.
Many scholars dissected, examined, reviewed, revised and wrote volumes on this subject. Yet many are still confused as to what was Jesus' mission, message, methods and purpose for coming to Earth.
However, for us to discover the original purpose and mission of Jesus, it should be obvious that we must consider His own declarations concerning His purpose and assignment for coming into the world. Let's read a few of them from words of His close friends in the gospel narrative.
His first public statement was made at the beginning of His earthly mission, when He was thirty years old, after being baptized by His cousin John the Baptist, and completing 40 days of fasting; during which time He overcame Satan's temptations to compromise His assignment:
From that first time, Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17)
The word 'near', in some translations rendered "at hand", simply means "has arrived". In other words, His first declaration was the introduction and arrival of a kingdom, not a religion. In essence, He brought a government to Earth. Let's look at some other declarations by Jesus concerning His purpose and mission on Earth.
And as you go, preach, saying, "The Kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 10:7)
But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the Kingdom of God has come upon you. (Matthew 12:28)
Therefore the Kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. (Matthew 18:23)
And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)
I must preach the Kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent. 44) And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee (Luke 4:43-44)
Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went to every city and village preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him (Luke 8:1)
But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. (Luke 9:11)
But seek His Kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. (Luke 12:31)
Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail. (Luke 16:16-17)
Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it (Luke 18:17)
And I bestow upon you a Kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me. (Luke 22:29)
Jesus answered, My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My Kingdom is not from here. 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 came into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." (John 18:36-37)
Keep in mind that these are only a few of the declarations made by Jesus concerning His mission, purpose and message. It is obvious that His intent was to declare, establish and invite all men to enter the Kingdom of God.
This s in direct contrast with the focus on religious activity and religion's preoccupation with going to heaven. It seems as if the message and priority of Jesus was the occupation and reclamation of Earth, rather than designing an escape hatch to heaven for mankind. There is a verse of scripture that has challenged my thinking:
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth. (Matthew 5:5)
It is interesting to note that the promise is for the inheritance of Earth rather than heaven. Also His dominion of Earth and its environment was declared by Jesus as the return of the Kingdom of God to Earth.
But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the Kingdom of God has come upon you. (Matthew 12:28)
This verse seems to indicate the return of the dominion power that Adam lost in his disobedience. Jesus came to Earth, not to bring a religion, but a Kingdom; the governing influence of the Kingdom of heaven on Earth. The message proclaims the opportunity for all mankind to regain its lost dominion over Earth and its environment through the reception of the Holy Spirit of God and, consequently, the reconnection of Earth with heaven. This is why it is called "good news" or Gospel.
The message of the Kingdom of God is the most important news ever delivered to the human race. Jesus came to Earth to announce the arrival of this Kingdom and to establish it in people's hearts through His death and resurrection. As the Son of God, Jesus Christ was the exact likeness of His Father and represented Him perfectly on Earth. To all those who believed in and followed Him, Jesus restored their citizenship rights in the Kingdom of Heaven and imparted His Spirit, so that they could represent Him and the government of heaven on Earth. This representation is known as government diplomacy. The following statement is a political statement that is very common to all kingdoms, including our contemporary governments:
And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me. (Luke 22:29)
This statement is always used at the appointment of an official representative of a government to other nations. This is the position of an ambassador. This is not a religious designation, but a governmental one.
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