"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)

Especially as noted in the Gospel of John, Christ identified many reasons why He had been born. Consider the following sampling of verses and references. First and foremost, Christ came to redeem those who would believe: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). But under that umbrella of redemption come many other aspects.

Jesus said, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work" (John 4:34). God's will was paramount even in judgment (John 5:30) as well as resurrection. "This is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:40). It also governed His teaching (7:16-17). In everything, Christ sought to bring glory to His Father (7:18).

Many aspects of Christ's work are to be realized in this life, for He said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). His desire in it all was that we might have an eternal relationship with God. "That they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3).

But the primary goal was to bring to climax His redemptive strategy. He knew that none of the other aspects of His work had any effect without atonement for sin, which was only possible if a blood sacrifice was made for that sin. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:11). This was the reason He came to earth. JDM