Jesus' mission—What was it?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Jesus’ mission was seeking and saving the lost to fulfill God’s plan to redeem humanity and restore them to His kingdom. The Old Testament foreshadowed this mission through prophecies like Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 53, and Micah 5:2, which point to a Redeemer who would suffer, die, and bring salvation. Jesus actively pursued sinners (Matthew 9:13; Luke 19:10). He knew His ultimate mission was to die on the cross as atonement for sin and to rise again in victory over death, fulfilling God’s plan perfectly (Mark 10:45; Luke 18:31-33). Through parables like the lost sheep, lost coin, and prodigal son, Jesus illustrated His relentless pursuit of the lost and the joy in heaven over every repentant sinner. Jesus’ mission demonstrates that no one is too sinful or too far gone to be saved, and He continues this work today by calling all to repentance (1 Corinthians 6:10-11; 1 Timothy 1:15; 2 Peter 3:9). Jesus’ mission reveals a God who actively seeks, saves, and restores His people, offering hope and eternal life to all who trust in Him.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Old Testament gives us multiple glimpses of Jesus’ mission, primarily through prophecy and foreshadowing. The first promise of a Redeemer (“the seed of the woman”) who would defeat Satan is seen in Genesis 3:15, which sets the stage for Jesus’ mission to overcome sin and death.
• Isaiah 53 describes the suffering servant who would bear the sins of many, be “pierced for our transgressions” (v. 5), and bring healing through His sacrifice. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy.
• Psalm 22 foretells the suffering and vindication of the Messiah, including details of crucifixion-like suffering.
• The Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem is predicted in Micah 5:2, which Jesus fulfilled.
• Zechariah 9:9 points to the Messiah as a humble king who would bring salvation. Jesus’ mission included both spiritual redemption and the establishment of God’s kingdom.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Jesus' fundamental mission on earth was to fulfill God's plan "to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10).
• Jesus was aware of His mission, even from a young age (Luke 2:49), and intentionally set about to fulfill it.
• Jesus knew that God's plan for Him was to die on the cross as atonement for the sin of those who put their faith in Him and to rise again from the dead in victory over sin and death. So, towards the end of His life, Jesus deliberately made His way to Jerusalem, where He would die (Luke 9:51).
• Christ came to save the sinners—to eat with them, talk with them, and show them God's love (Luke 5:32). In fact, He was often criticized for spending too much time with "sinners," those self-righteous religious leaders of the day had cast away. Jesus not only spent time with such people, He sought them out, because His mission was to save those who needed saving.
• During Jesus' ministry He made a point of showing outcasts forgiveness and offering them a new life. Examples of Christ spending time with and forgiving sinners are all throughout the Gospels. Jesus saved the woman who was caught in adultery (John 8:3-11), the sinful woman with the alabaster jar (Luke 7:36-50), and His disciple Matthew who was once a tax collector (Matthew 9:9).
• Every human is a sinner in need of salvation (Romans 3:23), and Jesus made a way for salvation for all who put their faith in Him (John 3:16-18; 14:6; Romans 6:23; Galatians 3:28).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The wonderful mission of Christ teaches His followers that no one is too sinful or too far gone to be saved. An example of this occurs in Mark 5:1-20 when Jesus restored a man who was demon possessed. The man lived in a cave, literally cast away from society. Jesus came to save and forgive all sinners, no matter their life circumstances or past experiences. Jesus traveled and healed all kinds of people who believed in His mission, even Gentiles and Roman officials. Jesus also spoke with the religious elite of the day who were willing to listen (John 3). Jesus performed miracles and explained parables about saving the lost so that everyone could understand His purpose.

Jesus did not passively wait for the lost to come to Him but He went after them. He explained His mission in a parable found in Luke 15:1-7 about a man who loses his sheep and leaves the rest of his herd to find the one lost sheep. Jesus concludes this parable saying, "there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance" (Luke 15:7). He tells a similar parable about a lost coin in Luke 15:8-10, again, concluding with the joy in heaven over one repentant sinner. Jesus also tells a story about a prodigal son, who returns to his father's house after making many harmful decisions that separate him from his home. The father welcomes his son with joy into his house when his son returns, just as God welcomes His children who return to Him with a repentant heart (Luke 15:21-22).

Jesus is faithful to His mission even today, and He calls all sinners to repent and join His father's house. He continues to seek and save the lost (Matthew 11:29; 18:3–4; Revelation 3:20).

UNDERSTAND

• Jesus’ mission was to seek and save the lost.
• Old Testament prophecies foretold Jesus’ mission.
• Jesus’ mission continues today, offering salvation to all who repent and believe.

REFLECT

• How does understanding Jesus’ mission challenge you on your own mission?
• How can you participate in Jesus’ mission of seeking and helping those who are lost?
• How does understanding that no one is too far gone for salvation impact the way you view yourself and others?

ENGAGE

• How do the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, and prodigal son deepen our understanding of Jesus’ mission?
• How does Jesus’ pursuit of sinners challenge cultural or religious expectations about who deserves forgiveness?
• In what practical ways can we carry out Jesus’ mission of seeking and saving the lost?