Jesus Came to Earth to...
The New Testament sets forth many reasons why Jesus Christ "became flesh" and dwelt among men (John 1:14). Today we will consider ten of those reasons.

1. JESUS CAME TO EARTH TO SEEK.
Luke 19:10 - "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." God does not want any to perish (II Pet. 3:9), thus Christ came seeking the lost.

2. JESUS CAME TO EARTH TO SERVE.
This is one way in which He sought after the lost--by serving them through His good deeds and miraculous works (Acts 10:38). Mark 10:45 says - "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

3. JESUS CAME TO EARTH TO SHINE.
This point ties in with the previous one. When Jesus served men and women, He was using His influence for good; that is, He was letting His light shine. He commanded His followers to do likewise in Matthew 5:16 - "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

4. JESUS CAME TO EARTH TO SOW.
Matthew 13:3 - "Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: 'Behold, a sower went out to sow.'" The spiritual focus of that parable pertains to sowers of spiritual seed--God's word (Luke 8:11). One will encounter different types of hearts as he shares God's truth with others. Some responses will be positive and encouraging, but many will not. Jesus was sowing spiritual seed as He shared this parable. Some embraced the truth, but many rejected it.

5. JESUS CAME TO EARTH TO SHEPHERD.
Jesus was (and is) a Shepherd to those who will listen to His voice and follow Him. He affirms in John 10:11 - "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep."

6. JESUS CAME TO EARTH TO SUFFER.
I Peter 3:18 teaches - "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit." The next point is intrinsically related to our Lord's suffering.

7. JESUS CAME TO EARTH TO SACRIFICE.
Jesus knew from the beginning that He would offer Himself as a sacrifice to God. The ending of His Earthly ministry may have surprised many, but not Him. He had been slain in the mind of God from the creation (cf. Rev. 13:8). Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:2 - "And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."

8. JESUS CAME TO EARTH TO SANCTIFY.
Hebrews 13:12 - "Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate." Jesus desired to sanctify or set apart His people. True followers of Christ are "not of the world" but are separate and distinct in their thoughts, speech, and behavior (John 15:19).

9. JESUS CAME TO EARTH TO SAVE.
This is perhaps the most obvious and well known reason for Jesus' physical life in this realm. The apostle from Tarsus stated it well when he said - "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief" (I Tim. 1:15).

10. JESUS CAME TO EARTH TO SEND.
In Matthew 10:16, Jesus was preparing to send His disciples out to preach the gospel. "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." At the time, their evangelistic focus was limited to the house of Israel, but later Jesus would expand their scope to include all the world (Mark 16:15).

Friends, we've briefly listed ten reasons why Jesus came to Earth. What about your life? Are you imitating the Savior in the manner that you should (I Cor. 11:1)? If you are a Christian, then you have a duty to go and seek the lost; the Lord has sent you on this mission. Are you letting your light shine as you serve others and sow the seed? Are you living a sanctified life? Are you preaching Jesus as the suffering Shepherd, the One who sacrificed Himself to save the lost?