A CLOSER study
What was the real mission of Jesus?
God can forgive sins!” Jesus said to them, “So By Ed Rybarczyk that you know that the Son of Man has auWhy did Jesus of Nazareth go public? Milthority on earth to forgive sins,” and, turning lions take for granted the impetus for Jesus’ to the paralytic, He said, “rise, take up your ministry. Common 21st century assumptions pallet, and walk!” Dramatically? He proved include that He came to: bring peace on earth, He had the authority to forgive sins. The room end human hunger, establish the brotherhood was appropriately stunned! (Mark 2:3-12). To a of man, overthrow all systemic oppression, 1st century Jewish worldview? Jesus did many teach a new ethical code, or even offer a paththings that only God Himself could do. This way to heaven. Amid such a surplus of supblew their minds. What was Jesus indicating at posed reasons for Jesus’ public appearance, we every turn? He did indeed have the very power do well to think a bit more carefully. of God because He was Himself God, the Son. First, Jesus did not chose His own vocation. It is astonishing, but a careful reading of both No, His mission was given to Him by God the the Gospels and the New Testament Epistles Father. At age 12 He told His parents, “Don’t makes it clear: Jesus was His own mission. you know that I must be about my Father’s What had Jesus come to do? Establish a new business?” (Lk. 2:49). In Nazareth, at the start Ed Rybarczyk covenant between God and mankind, through of his ministry, Jesus stood in the synagogue His own self, via His own body. What had Jesus come to do? and declared, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because Present Himself as God’s own means of salvation: He is the he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.” (Lk. Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (Jn. 1:29; 4:18).When the Capernaum crowds wanted Him to remain Rev. 5:6). In fact, so emphatic was Jesus about His own identity and continue healing people, He said to them, “I must proclaim the Kingdom to other cities, too; for I was sent for this that He told His disciples, “Truly I say to you that it will be purpose.” (Lk. 4:44). In John’s Gospel, Jesus was adamant that more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that city who rejects your Gospel about me.” He had come to accomplish not His own will, but that of the (Mt. 10:15). Father, “Look, I’m not here on my own. The one who sent Sixty years ago C.S. Lewis pointed out that no other relime is true.” (7:28). Or again, “the living Father sent me, and gious leader in history claimed to be either God’s Son or God I live because of the Father.” (7:57). Himself: not Gautama Buddha, or Confucius, or Mohammed, Just as astounding as Jesus’ claims to a divine mission was or Krishna. Lewis noted, Jesus also did not claim to be a moral His claim that God the Father intended to share His heavenly teacher, like those other religious figures. Instead? Jesus made glory with Jesus Himself. “The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son outlandish claims: “Before Abraham was, I am.” (Jn. 8:58); just as they honor the Father.” (Jn. 5:22-23). Anticipating His and, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn. 14:6). If those claims are murder Jesus said, “Father, the hour has come, glorify your false then Jesus was either a pathological liar or insane. But if Son so that the Son may glorify you.” (Jn. 17:2). Given that the Old Testament repeats the theme that God shares His glo- they are true – as His resurrection and miraculous signs attest – then of course nothing could surpass the identity of Christ, ry with no one, Jesus was thereby obliquely claiming divinity for Himself. His mission was from the Father, He was one with right? What is greater than God? What category surpasses eternal God? All of that to echo the refrain: Jesus was His own the Father, and He would enjoy the holy glory of the Father. But those are not the only insights concerning the purpose of mission. Think of it this way: for 2,000 years it has been called ChrisJesus’ ministry. Across His ministry, He did some things that – tianity. Not “social justice.” Not “love of brother.” Not “the to a 1st century Jewish mind – only God could do. He calmed ethic of love.” For 2,000 years its practitioners have called it a sea storm when the Jews knew only God was Lord over the Christianity because the central element in the Christian faith terrifying seas. He healed unclean lepers, but Jews knew that is Christ. We worship Jesus because He was His own mission. lepers were ceremonially unclean, so said healings indicated He came to offer Himself to us. He came to transform the He had the very power of God to restore. He healed people creation through His very identity. He came to make Himself who were born blind; who had such power but God Himself ? known to you, and to a sinner like me. Oh, beautiful Jesus! n He raised the dead! Are you kidding? In the old covenant it was God Himself alone who held authority over death. And then, of all preposterous things – again, preposterous to Ed Rybarczyk, Ph.D., is both an ordained minister and a retired History of Theology professor. He now produces and hosts a 1st century Jewish mentality – He forgave people’s sins! To the Uncensored Unprofessor podcast @uncensoredunprofessor. a paralytic He said, “Son, you sins are forgiven.” When the roomful of scornful scribes protested, “Stop blaspheming! Only com. He may be reached at uncensoredunprofessor@gmail.com.
28 July / August 2021 | Christian Living
www.christianlivingmag.com
