5 REASONS JESUS CAME TO EARTH
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. A Notre Dame football star appeared in court as a witness in a civil suit. The Judge asked, “Are you a member of this year’s Notre Dame football team?” “Yes, Your Honor,” the athlete replied.
2. “What position do you play” asked the Judge. “I play center, Your Honor.” “How good a center are you?” “Sir,” he replied, “I’m the best center Notre Dame has ever had.”
3. There was a little ripple of laughter and the case went on. The Notre Dame coach, who was present, had been quite surprised the player had said that, because he was always such a modest player.
4. Later the coach asked him why he said what he did, and the young man answered, “I didn’t want to coach, but there was no choice. I was under oath!”
5. Oh, it’s hard to be humble! But at least he knew his mission!
B. WHAT WAS JESUS’ MISSION ON EARTH?
1. Jesus repeatedly made it clear that he understood that His mission on earth led to a cross. “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, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” Matt. 16:21.
2. What did Jesus hope to accomplish in completing His mission? Wouldn’t it be insightful to know what Jesus expected to happen at the Cross? In a way, we do.
3. Five times in the Book of Matthew, Jesus says, “I came….” In these five statements he indicates what He intended to accomplish in completing His mission. Each gives insight into what happened at the Cross.
C. THESIS
1. Let’s take a look at these 5 passages and the images that they could represent. The 5 images:
I. A GAVEL IN A COURT ROOM
A. VERSE “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” Mt. 5:17.
B. EMPHASIZES THE PERFECTION OF JESUS
1. HUMOR. It’s amazing how quickly we remember what the speed limit is when we see a patrol car on the side of the road!
2. Jesus knew that someday we would all stand before God to be judged at the Great White Throne judgment. On that terrible Day, all of us would be found guilty and condemned because we did not keep God’s Law (Rom. 3:19).
3. So Jesus came to take our place and fulfill God’s Law. Five times the Scriptures say He was without sin. For Jesus to be our substitute on the Cross He had be free from sin. Only then could He be an acceptable substitute. Jesus fulfilled the Law; He kept all 613 commands of the O.T.
4. At the Cross Jesus took our sins upon Himself and transferred His righteousness to us.
5. The image of the gavel in the courtroom reminds us that we’re not only declared “not guilty” because we’re purified by His blood, but we’re also imputed with His positive righteous. This combination should give us every confidence of being accepted by our Father God.
II. THE NARROW GATE WE COULD NEVER ENTER
A. TEXT
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” Matt. 9:13.
B. AN ENTRANCE MADE FOR US
1. If you’ve ever driven by an expensive country club, seen the strong gates, and known you had no way of getting in, you know what it’s like to be on the outside looking in.
2. Jesus came in search for us who were on the outside looking in. The Pharisees rejected the (normal people) tax collectors and “sinners” and told them they would never be admitted to the Kingdom of God. But Jesus the Redeemer said that WE were the very reason He came to earth – to call us sinners to repentance.
C. THE GOOD SHEPHERD CARRIES US TO HIS FOLD
1. How wonderful that the Good Shepherd came in search for us, the lost sheep. He puts us on His shoulders and carries us to His fold. Once inside we can go in and out and find good pasture.
2. Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” John 10:7-9.
3. Praise God we are now in the sheepfold of the Son of God!
III. A LINE IN THE SAND
A. VERSE
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” Mt. 10:34.
B. THE REAL JESUS
1. Many think of Jesus as “meek and mild” -- a Santa-claus-like person who’s all sweetness and wouldn’t hurt a fly. Kind-of like a Mr. Rogers. They think Jesus would offend no one, would agree with everyone, and would be popular with everyone if He were living among us today. How wrong they are!
2. Jesus said He did not come to bring peace but a sword! He would cause families to be divided, would cause riots, would cause persecutions and all kinds of human conflict. Why?
C. HE DEMANDS A DECISION/ A CHOICE
1. Jesus demands the truth! He exposes hypocrisy. He pulls the veil off of injustice. He demands an unconditional surrender and for revolutionary change.
2. In going to the Cross, Jesus drew a line in the sand and said, “Those who are with God, get on this side; those who are against God, get on that side.” The Cross is the great dividing point of human history. It’s arms point in opposite directions.
3. The Cross is offensive and divisive because it demands you make a decision who you will serve. Who’s side are you on?
IV. A LIFE-RAFT IN THE OCEAN
A. VERSE
1. “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost” Mt. 18:11.
B. OUR HELPLESS SITUATION
1. If you’re stuck on a raft in the middle of the ocean, drifting with no food or water, you’re dead unless you get outside help.
2. You have no hope of paddling to shore. You have no hope of saving yourself by your own efforts. You’re lost and must be rescued by someone.
C. JESUS COMES TO OUR RESCUE!
1. Just like a ship coming on a drifting wreck -- think of Tom Hanks in the movie “Castaway.” He was exhausted after the storm, parched with thirst, barely alive – when the ship discovered him.
2. We were likewise lost, hopeless and helpless and Jesus came to save us, when we couldn’t save ourselves.
V. A SLAVE ON THE AUCTION BLOCK
A. VERSES
“And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” Mt. 20:27-28.
B. THE EFFECTS OF SIN
1. Sin imprisons people and there’s a price to be paid for indulging in it. Jesus said, “Whoever sins is a slave to sin” John 8:34.
2. Sin takes you farther than you intended to go,
Sin costs you more than you intended to pay,
Sin keeps you longer than you intended to stay!
C. BOUGHT TO SET FREE
1. We were like a slave on an auction block, who cannot purchase themselves. In the Book of Hosea, Gomer, his unfaithful wife, had run up her debts and was put on the auction block to be sold.
2. God spoke to Hosea to go there and buy her back, to demonstrate God’s love for His wayward people who forsook Him who loved them. Hosea did it and told her, “From now on you will belong only to me.”
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: NO GREATER LOVE
1. The Ninety-Mile beach is a beautiful beach on the North island of New Zealand. Surrounded by dunes, flat sand and an active Tasman Sea, it attracts all kinds of people.
2. However it is far from being a safe place, especially if someone decides to swim in the sea, as did the grandson and granddaughter of a fisherman aged 55, that fatal day on Dec 29, 2009.
3. Both of these kids encountered trouble while swimming. The current was too strong for them, and they were pulled under water and swallowed a good quantity of saltwater.
4. Without hesitation, their grandfather jumped into the water to come to their rescue. A beachgoer was able to rescue the granddaughter, but the grandson was in real trouble as the current had him in its grip.
5. The only thing the grandfather could do was to hold his grandson above the water, while his own head was underwater, waiting for a rescuer.
6. After some tough minutes, the grandson was saved, but the grandfather didn't make it. He sacrificed his life for those he loved. [Rob Chaffart] That’s what Jesus did!
B. THE CALL
1. Matthew told us 5 reasons Jesus came -- because of a:
a. Gavel in a Courtroom;
b. A Narrow Gate we could never enter;
c. A Line in the Sand;
d. A Raft in the Ocean;
e. A Slave on the Auction Block.
2. Do you appreciate what Jesus has done for you? Are you ready to make your peace with God? Are you ready to surrender all to the Savior and Good Shepherd?
3. PRAYER.
