Expert: Dean Gade - 2/8/2006

Question
Can you tell me if Jesus ever says what his mission on earth is?

Can you also help me understand if the idea that Jesus was to die for our sins is referenced in the Bible by Jesus or other prophets or was that an idea that came later on to explain the purpose of his death?

Thanks so much for your help!

Answer
Yes, Jesus quite often spoke about His mission on earth:

Luke 19:10
0 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Matt 16:21
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

John 3:16-17
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 18:37
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
(from New International Version)

And others....

The death of the Christ was fortold in the O.T. telling of the death of the sinless one for those who have sin.

One of the descriptions about the Messiah, His purpose and suffering is this one.

Isa 53:1-54:1

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,and like a root out of dry ground.He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men,a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows,yet we considered him stricken by God,smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 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 wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,each of us has turned to his own way;and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 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. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.And who can speak of his descendants?For he was cut off from the land of the living;for the transgression of my people he was stricken.   9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,and with the rich in his death,though he had done no violence,nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,he will see his offspring and prolong his days,and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. 11 After the suffering of his soul,he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied;by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death,and was numbered with the transgressors.For he bore the sin of many,and made intercession for the transgressors.
(All above from New International Version)



Others can be found in Luke's Gospel as He reveals the meaning of many O.T. prophesies.

In the N.T. there are words of Jesus that I already quoted above about going to Jerusalem to DIE and then there is the letter to the Hebrews which connects the O.T.  references to the sacrifice of animals to the Messiah Who was the only one that could take away sin by His blood.