The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ
Jesus – What He Came To Do Pt.1

I.  Discovering Who Jesus Is.

Luke 19:10 "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

All of us were like sheep going astray.  We were lost in our sin, on our way to destructive paths.  Jesus came to set us free and to give us a new life filled with God’s abundance.

John’s gospel alludes to the fact that the world was already condemned to hell and that Jesus came to save us from the condemnation the world was under.  (See John 3:16-19)

The purpose of this study is to discover what it was and is that Jesus came to do.  The above Scripture sums up His purpose and mission statement – He simply came to seek and save those who were lost and under the condemnation of the world.  This session will explore how it was that He accomplished this monumental task.  

We will be taking a close look at all that Jesus did during His 3½ years of ministry as the anointed One sent From God This session explores all that Jesus did during this time of ministry and the session that follows will explore what took place as a result of His death, burial and resurrection when He went to the cross.

When we see all that Jesus did through His anointed ministry, it will give us a glimpse of what we can expect from Him as we become more and more acquainted with Him and His purpose towards us as individuals.  It will also show us what we are capable of doing under the anointing that God pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit.

John 14:12-13 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

This is a great and wonderful promise from Jesus concerning what He wants to do in our lives.  If we neglect the opportunity to really get to know Him and what He is capable of in our lives, we could miss out on a beautiful destiny He has for each one of us.

II. 	What Jesus Came To Do.

God is looking to build something in our lives that will last throughout eternity.  The truths that come forth from the life and ministry of Jesus are strong foundational truths that are the forms and the reinforcements that go into building the spiritual foundation that is necessary for God to build on.

•	He came to show us the way to the Father.
•	He came to reveal the love of the Father.
•	He came to reveal the Father’s power and authority.
•	He came to show us the true character of God.

Of the four areas mentioned above, which one do you appreciate the most?  Why?	

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1.	He Came To Show Us The Way To The Father.

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Many have come and gone throughout history proclaiming they knew the way to the Father, but it is only Jesus who said, “I am the way.”  Jesus is the way because He came from the Father and is the mediator between man and God.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 

2.	 He Came To Reveal The Love Of The Father.

When you think of how Jesus came to show us the love of the Father, the story of Jesus’ response to the woman who was caught in adultery really exemplifies the love of the Father expressed through Jesus.

John 8:3-11 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5"Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" 6This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. 7So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." 8And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" 11She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

Share how this story relates to your life.

•	Questions for Reflection:

How does this story relate to your life?  	

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Do you believe God has totally forgiven you of your sin?  Why?	

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3.	He Came to Reveal the Father’s Authority and Power.

When Jesus was in the temple at His home town in Nazareth He read from the Book of Isaiah the Prophet concerning His ministry, which reveals the authority and power of which He would operate under.

Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."

Acts 10:-38 "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Jesus revealed the Father’s authority and power through the many miracles and healings He performed upon those who were bound up in one form or another through the works of Satan.  Listed below are some of the miracles performed by Jesus.

Leader/Facilitator:  Share a miracle Jesus has done in your life or share which of the following miracles carries the most significance in your life and why?

•	The Miracles of Jesus:

Water changed into wine – Jn 2:9
Draught of fishes – Luke 5:6
Demoniac in the synagogue – Mark 1:26
Peter’s Mother-in-law healed – Mt. 8:14
Cleansing the leper – Mt. 8:3
Paralytic healed – Mt. 9:2
Withered hand – Mt.12:10
Centurion’s servant – Mt. 8:5
Raising the Widow’s Son – Luke 7:11
Stormed stilled – Mt.8:26
Demoniacs of Gadara – Mt. 8:28
Raising of Jairus’ daughter – Mt. 9:18
Issue of Blood – Mt. 9:20	Feeding five thousand – Mt. 14:15
Walking on the sea – Mt 14.25
Daughter of Syrophenician – Mt. 15:22
Deaf and Dumb healed – Mark 7:23
Feeding the four thousand – Mt. 15:32
Lunatic child – Mt. 17:14
Tribute Money – Mt. 17:24
Ten Lepers – Lu. 17:12
Lazarus raised from dead – Jn. 11
Cursing Fig Tree – Mt. 21:19
Malchus healed – Lu. 22:51
Second draught of fishes – Jn 21:6
His resurrection – Lu  24:6	

Do you believe God desires to perform miracles in and through you as well?	

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4.	He Came To Show Us The True Character Of God.

Hebrews 1:3  who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Jesus embodies God in human flesh and blood.  If you want to know God’s character, look at Jesus and His character.

John 14:19 (NLT) Jesus replied, “Philip, don’t you even yet know who I am, even after all the time I have been with you?  Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!  So why are you asking to see Him?

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus was the total embodiment of the fruit of the spirit that is mentioned in Galatians.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Leader/Facilitator:  Share briefly which of these character traits was the greatest struggle for you and how you got the victory.

Jesus came to show us what these character traits looked like in human flesh.  He was full of kindness, gentleness and goodness and always exercised self-control and longsuffering, even in the most adverse situations.  He was full of love, joy and peace as He went about doing His Father’s business.

III.	Practical Applications.

We’ve just been given a glimpse into the life of Jesus and have seen through the Word of God, Who He is, and what He came to do.  His desire is for us to follow Him in all things.

John 17:18-20 "As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19"And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. 20"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;

•	Just as Jesus came to show us the way to the Father, He expects us to show others the way as well.

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Do you presently or have you had people in your life that you are reconciling to in this way?  How are you doing this?	

	

•	As we go forth in His name, His desire is for us to show the same love from the Father that He showed.

John 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Leader/Facilitator:  Share how you are presently involved in showing love towards others.

How are you presently involved in showing love towards others?  Do you find this difficult or easy?	

	

•	His Desire is for us to experience His awesome power towards us.

Ephesians 1:17-19 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power…

How have you recently experienced God’s power working through you?  If so, explain.	

	

•	We are to grow into the character of Christ.

Ephesians 4:22-24 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

What changes have you seen in your life since your decision to follow Jesus?

	

IV. Other Resources

Movie:  The film The Passion of the Christ does a great job showing the suffering of Christ. It also shows His encounter with the devil, how He overcame evil with good, and how He defeated Satan. The symbol of the cross is important, because it shows the love of Christ, the death that we deserved, and how to overcome evil with good. Without God we can be easily defeated or destroyed by Lucifer. It is only by God’s grace that we have the power to be victorious over the devil.

Digging deeper – see the following:  
http://kenbirks.com/bible-studies/Jesus.html