The Comprehensive Mission and Work of Jesus Christ

The Singular Task and Mission of Jesus Christ

The central focus of this study of the New Testament is the specific mission of Jesus. While it is often tempting to include these details in a general discussion of his life, his mission stands as a distinct, separate focus because it represents a task that only Jesus could accomplish. This mission was a specific, divinely ordained assignment given to him by the Father, which required unique qualifications that no other being possessed. The essence of the New Testament narrative is that Jesus came into the world to perform a definitive work that remains the cornerstone of the Christian faith.

The Origin of Brokenness and the Fall of Humanity

To understand the mission of Jesus, one must first look back to the beginning of time and the nature of the relationship between the triune God and humanity. Originally, God and humans existed in a right relationship. However, this relationship was broken when humans chose to rebel against God and pursue their own path. This act of rebellion did not only affect the vertical relationship with the divine; it created a multifaceted "ripple effect" that shattered several levels of existence. Drawing from the work of Bruce Ashford, we see that this rebellion resulted in four specifically broken relationships: the relationship between humans and God, the relationship between humans and other humans, the relationship between humans and nature, and the relationship between humans and themselves.

This widespread brokenness manifests in the world as sin, hurt, pain, guilt, shame, and fear. These negative experiences are symptoms of a reality that is no longer oriented correctly toward God. Sin is not merely a mistake but something that shatters and distorts the very essence and being of humanity. Because this distortion affects our fundamental nature, it is impossible for humans to fix the problem themselves. Even our best efforts and good deeds are insufficient; as the biblical text describes, our righteous acts are like "filthy rags" when placed before a holy and righteous God. Consequently, humanity can never be "good enough" to earn divine approval through its own merit.

The Legal and Spiritual Predicament of Sin

The mission of Jesus addresses a dire legal and spiritual reality. The Bible explicitly states that the wages of sin is death, meaning that the penalty for human rebellion is physical and spiritual expiration. This is a debt that every human owes because all have sinned. Because this is a universal debt, no other human being—no matter how much they might love us—is capable of taking our punishment. A parent or a friend cannot pay the penalty for someone else because they already owe the same punishment for their own sin. This created a situation where humanity was lost and unable to reconcile themselves to a holy God, necessitating divine intervention.

The Atonement and Reconciliation through Jesus Christ

God provided a solution to this predicament by sending His son, Jesus, who possessed the unique qualifications of being fully divine and fully human. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life, meaning he did not deserve the wages of sin himself. Because he was not under the penalty of death, he was able to offer his life willingly as a substitute for others. This act is known as atonement, where the payment for sins is made through the blood of Jesus. Referencing the prophecy in Isaiah, Jesus took the sin and iniquity of all people onto himself and paid the price in full.

This act of substitutionary sacrifice allows anyone who believes in him, follows him, and confesses his name as Lord to have their relationship with God reconciled. Through Christ, humans are not just forgiven but are made right so they may know God and begin to reflect His character. This demonstrates God's love because, as the text notes, Christ died for us while we were still sinners. He came specifically to seek and to save that which was lost, providing a way for the lost to be found and for humanity to enter into God's presence, specifically described as entering into God's throne room.

The "Already Not Yet" of the Kingdom of God

Jesus's mission included the renewal of all that was broken. While he has already accomplished the foundational work for this renewal, we currently live in a period described as the "already not yet" of God’s kingdom. Christ has inaugurated the kingdom—meaning it has officially begun and is present—but its full effects and total consummation have not yet been realized. The reason for this delay is God's patience; He desires that no one should be lost and is providing time for people to come to know Him.

Believers are currently waiting for the second coming of Jesus, at which point he will set all things right. On that day, every broken thing will be fixed, and everything sinful will be cleansed. The burdens of hurt, pain, sadness, frustration, fear, guilt, and shame will be permanently wiped away, culminating in the reality where God Himself lives among His people. This future hope is the ultimate goal of the mission Jesus began.

Jesus as a Universal God: Three Biblical Proofs

Despite claims by some that Jesus never identified as a universal God, there are at least $3$ significant passages in the Gospel of John that refute this. First, in John $8$, Jesus declares, "I am the light of the world." He does not say he is the light only for Israel, but for the entire world, which builds upon illusions from Isaiah regarding the servant being a light to the Gentiles. Second, in John $12$, Jesus states, "I will draw all people to myself," indicating a universal scope that extends far beyond the borders of Israel. Third, in John $4:14$ (often cited as John $14:6$), Jesus identifies himself as "the way, the truth, and the life," specifically stating that no one comes to the Father except through him. These declarations confirm that Jesus viewed his mission and his identity as the sole, universal path to God for all humanity.

Completion and the Transition to the Great Commission

Jesus successfully fulfilled his mission, a fact punctuated by his final words, "It is finished." The completion of this work was physically symbolized by the ripping of the temple curtain in half, signifying that the barrier between God and man had been removed and humans can now stand before God. Having finished the task only he could do, Jesus then handed a new mission to his followers: the command to go and take the gospel to the rest of the world. This transition marks the end of his earthly mission of atonement and the beginning of the church's mission to spread the news of that completed work.