The work that Jesus Christ was sent to do, including both his healing and preaching ministry, but particularly his work of salvation. Jesus Christ sends Christians to continue his work by proclaiming his message of salvation.
Jesus Christ was called to his mission from the beginning of time
Isaiah 49:1 See also Micah 5:2; 1 Peter 1:20
Listen to Me, O islands; pay attention, O distant peoples: The LORD called Me from the womb; from the body of My mother He named Me.
Jesus' mission as Messiah was foretold
His mission to help and heal the poor
Isaiah 61:1–3 See also Isaiah 11:3–5, Isaiah 32:3–4, Isaiah 35:5–6, Isaiah 42:3, Isaiah 42:7
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn, to console the mourners in Zion — to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
His mission to rule and establish the kingdom of God
Isaiah 9:6–7 See also Genesis 49:10; Psalm 132:11; Jeremiah 23:5–6; Daniel 2:44
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.
His mission to establish justice and peace
Isaiah 11:4–5 See also Isaiah 2:4, Isaiah 9:4–7, Isaiah 42:4
but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips. Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist.
His mission to suffer and die
Isaiah 53:3–10 See also Isaiah 50:6, Isaiah 52:14; Daniel 9:26; Mark 8:31; Luke 24:26–27; Acts 8:32–35
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away, and who can recount His descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living; He was stricken for the transgression of My people. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
His mission was fulfilled in humility and poverty
Zechariah 9:9 See also Isaiah 42:2–3, Isaiah 49:7
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
His mission was for all nations
Isaiah 49:6 See also Isaiah 11:10, Isaiah 42:1–6, Isaiah 55:4–5
He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Aspects of Jesus Christ's mission
Preaching and teaching
Luke 4:43 parallel Mark 1:38 See also Matthew 4:17, Matthew 5:2; Mark 1:21; John 8:2, John 18:37
But Jesus told them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well, because that is why I was sent.”
Sacrificial service
Matthew 20:28 parallel Mark 10:45 See also Luke 22:27; John 13:13–16; Philippians 2:7
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Healing
Matthew 4:23 A healing ministry was one of the signs of the expected Messiah. See also Matthew 14:14; Mark 1:34; Luke 4:40, Luke 5:15; John 9:4–7
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Judgment
John 9:39 Jesus Christ does not come to condemn, but the response people make to him is the ultimate criterion of judgment. Those truly seeking God turn to faith in Jesus Christ; unbelievers, by their rejection of him, are confirmed in their unbelief. See also Luke 12:49; John 3:17–18, John 5:22, John 8:10–11, John 8:26, John 12:47–48
Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.”
Criteria for the direction of Jesus Christ's mission
Obedience to his Father's will
John 6:38 See also Matthew 26:39 parallels Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42; John 4:34, John 14:31, John 18:11
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.
The fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets
Matthew 5:17 See also Matthew 13:35, Matthew 26:54; Luke 4:18–21, Luke 18:31; Romans 3:21
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.
Jesus Christ's saving death is the supreme aspect and focus of his mission
Jesus Christ came to save and to give life
John 10:10 See also Matthew 1:21; Luke 19:10; John 3:17; 1 Timothy 1:15; 2 Timothy 1:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.
Jesus Christ came to suffer and to die
Matthew 16:21 parallels Mark 8:31, Luke 9:22 See also Matthew 20:28 parallel Mark 10:45; John 12:27; Romans 3:24–25; Colossians 1:20; 1 John 4:10
From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Jesus Christ was aware of the personal cost of his mission
Luke 12:50 See also Matthew 26:38–39 parallels Mark 14:34–36, Luke 22:42
But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!
The mission of Jesus Christ continues today
Jesus Christ's own work continues
Hebrews 7:24–25 See also Romans 8:34, Romans 15:18; 2 Corinthians 4:10–11; Hebrews 6:20, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 13:21
But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
Christians are called to share in Jesus Christ's mission
John 20:21 See also Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 16:15; John 14:12
Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.”
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.