“And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him [Jesus]. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’
And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.”
(Luke 4:17-21 ESV)

Why Did Jesus Come to Us?

Why did Jesus, the Son of God, come to earth? That question is inseparably linked to another question—What did Jesus do when he came? 

Among other things, he died on a cross and rose from the dead. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 we read that Jesus’ death and resurrection are of first importance to our faith. These events in his life did not just happen; they were “effectual,” meaning they accomplished something.

In Luke chapter four, Jesus helps us understand why he came and died on a cross, and what this “work” of his accomplished for us.

Five Things Jesus Came to Do

1. Jesus came to tell good news to the poor (you and me if we’re honest!).

Jesus came to tell us the good news that salvation is a free gift from God, given to all who believe (Romans 6:23). The debt we owed God for our sins, which none of us could afford, was paid by Jesus on the cross (Colossians 2:13-14). He paid the huge price we owed God by shedding his own blood on the cross in order to make us rich in faith, rich in relationship with him, rich with heavenly blessings (2 Corinthians 8:9). Jesus responds to those who feel their spiritual poverty with: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). He came to tell us that salvation is free to all who will receive it (Isaiah 55:1).

2. Jesus came to tell you that you’re free.

In Romans 6:14 we read this blessed truth: “Sin shall no longer be your master” (NIV). When you trust in Jesus, you are then united to him (Romans 6:5). His death was the death of your old self (Romans 6:6). His resurrection power belongs to you. Because Jesus rose from the dead, the shackles of sin that bound you have been broken, and sin does not control you any longer (Romans 6:7-11). Whatever sin you’re wrestling with—it’s pinned! If you have put your trust in him, he has already purchased and secured your freedom from slavery to sin. With the help of God’s Spirit, you have the power to overcome any sin in your life today!

3. Jesus came to give you sight.

In the book of Luke, Jesus tells his followers, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it” (Luke 10:23-24 ESV). Jesus is God’s ultimate revelation, the Messiah who prophets and kings and godly people in the Old Testament longed to know, but never got to see. After Jesus came, God authored the rest of his Scriptures through his disciples. In other words, never in redemptive history have God’s people been so privileged. We know the name of the Messiah, we have been given the promised Holy Spirit, we have the complete collection of God’s Word bound in a book we call “the Bible.” We can finally see God’s character, heart, and plans with clarity like no other generation (Luke 24:27; Acts 1:4-5). 

Jesus came to unblind you, so that you could see God for who he really is and understand God’s Word (2 Corinthians 4:6). He came to rescue you from false and fractured visions of God and to reveal God the Father to you (Luke 10:22).

4. Jesus came to set you free from oppression.

Because Jesus was oppressed on your behalf on the cross, there is coming a day when he will rid the earth of evil and bring justice to every wrong. But he will welcome you and all those who trust in him into an eternal home where suffering will be no more (Revelation 21:3-4).

5. Jesus came to tell you that you have God’s favor.

If you have trusted in Jesus, God looks on you with delight. His anger towards you is over and done (Read Isaiah 54), because Jesus bore the full weight of God’s wrath against your sin on the cross. When God looks at you, he looks at you with no condemnation, only love (Romans 8:1).

What Has Jesus Done for You?

Do you know Jesus? If you have not put your faith in him, then he wants you to believe the good news about him. God does not want anyone to suffer for their own sins for eternity in hell (John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:4). His death on the cross and resurrection are your salvation, if you will accept his free gift. He wants a relationship with you, and he knows that if you live to know and glorify him, that will bring you the most joy. He has come to give you good news, to free you from your sins, to give you spiritual sight, free you from oppression, and give you God’s favor.

How will you respond what Jesus has done for you?