Chapter 12

Jesus Christ’s Mission

Sections

In carrying out his mission, Jesus Christ lived a life unparalleled in word and deed. His life culminated in his sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection. The Bible claims that our eternal destiny will be determined by how we respond to the New Testament’s testimony to these events.

Jesus Christ’s Ministry

Jesus did the work God wanted him to do

[Jesus, speaking of God:] He is the one who sent me, and I must finish the work that he gave me to do.   John 4:34b CEV

Jesus preached the good news of the kingdom of God

Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in the Jewish meeting places and preaching the good news about God’s kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness.   Matthew 4:23 CEV

Jesus Christ’s Death

The Jewish authorities compelled the Romans to crucify Jesus

Pilate [the Roman governor] wanted to set Jesus free, so he spoke again to the crowds. 21But they kept shouting, “Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!” … 23The people kept on shouting as loud as they could for Jesus to be put to death. 24Finally, Pilate gave in.   Luke 23:20-21, 23-24 CEV

Pilate was trying to reason with crowds led by the Jewish religious authorities.

It was God’s will that Jesus die – for everyone

God didn’t spare his own Son but handed him over to death for all of us.   Romans 8:32a GW

Jesus Christ’s Resurrection

God raised Jesus from the dead

But God raised him from death, setting him free from its power, because it was impossible that death should hold him prisoner.  Acts 2:24 GNT

Jesus’ body was not found in his tomb

[An early believer:] Some of the women from our group startled us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23and didn’t find his body. They told us that they had seen angels who said that he’s alive. 24Some of our men went to the tomb and found it empty, as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.   Luke 24:22-24 GW

Jesus appeared to people after his resurrection

After his death Jesus showed the apostles a lot of convincing evidence that he was alive. For 40 days he appeared to them and talked with them about the kingdom of God.   Acts 1:3 GW

Jesus Christ’s Ascension

Jesus was taken up to God in heaven

They [two angels] said, “Why are you men from Galilee standing here and looking up into the sky? Jesus has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way that you have seen him go.”   Acts 1:11 CEV

God gave Jesus Christ great glory

He [Jesus] was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death—his death on the cross. 9For this reason God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name. 10And so, in honor of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees, 11and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   Philippians 2:8-11 GNT

Pray for persecuted Christians