A Plan

A couple weeks ago we discussed a passage found in the book of John which detailed Christ describing what His purpose was. We saw that from the beginning of His ministry Jesus was calling for the repentance of mankind. So we clearly saw what Jesus’s purpose was, but what was God’s will in all of it?

Anyone who is a follower of Christ will know that God’s will has always been for mankind to turn from their sinful ways and follow Him. This goes hand in hand with Jesus’s purpose of preaching repentance. However, did you know that there is a clear section of scripture that describes God’s will not just for Jesus, but for mankind?

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of everything that He has given Me I will lose nothing, but will raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

John 6:38-40

Jesus’s purpose on earth was to preach repentance and to be the final sacrifice for our sins. And again, any Christian ought to know that Jesus did this to fulfill God the Father’s will. However, what doubters will say is “How can a loving God sacrifice His Son?” And so we have John 6:39. Christ is the sacrifice that brings all who accept Him into reconciliation with God the Father, but because God the Father is a loving and caring God, He would not leave His Son with nothing. Christ lost nothing when He died on the cross, He received it all when He rose again from the grave. It is why Jesus states in John 10:17-18, “17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” Jesus had full authority to lay down His life and He knew that He would rise again; and because He did mankind now has the capability to accept His free gift of salvation and be reconciled to God.

Which now leads us into understanding God’s will for mankind. Just as Jesus taught from the beginning, God’s will for mankind is to turn away from their sin and accept Him. Just as nothing was taken away from Jesus when He died, there is nothing that can separate Jesus from anyone who comes to accept Him as Lord and Savior. For the Christian, this should give us hope. Not only did Jesus lose nothing in His death; but because of His death we will one day rise up with Him!

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex