The Reason For “Jesus”

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. – 1Ti 1:15

Who was the man called Jesus; that Carpenter from the backwaters of Nazareth who radically changed the world? This Man so honoured that all of secular history is reckoned based on the time of his birth (BCE or CE).

It may surprise many to know that Jesus is the most mentioned person in the Quran! And His mother, Mary, is the only woman mentioned by name in it, (she even has a chapter titled after her). The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society’s signature publication, The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived is all about Jesus and a cursory study of secular study of the “historical Jesus” shows that virtually none has anything untoward to say about His person.

Nevertheless, Jesus did not come to this world to be venerated and admired; he came to SAVE US. When the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, he asked Joseph to name the child to be born of his virgin betrothed, “JESUS: for he”, says the angel, “shall save his people from their sins.”

This, Beloved, is the reason why Jesus came. He didn’t come to show us “how to fully obey the Father’s commands,” (like the Jehovah’s Witnesses claim); He didn’t come to show us that the Mosaic Law was doable, )as the “Hebrew Roots movement” assert); neither did he come to show us how to live in love and harmony with one another (as the New Agers say), etc.

SIN is the reason He came. He came to save us from our sins, not to make us better sinners. When He was teaching about prayer, He hinted at our universal depravity when He said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Mat 7:11).

Even as a Church, we sometimes forget this truth and talk to sinners about “changing their ways” and such. A change of lifestyle or behaviour is not what takes people to heaven; neither would trying to ‘live like Jesus’ or practicing WWJD (What Would Jesus Do).

Jesus did not come to be a role model, or a world wisdom teacher, He is God come in the flesh to die for our sins. And it is important we always put this to the fore when presenting Him to the world.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN

gregelkan@h0tmail. com