Articles
Jesus Christ: Man with a Mission
Christ's mission on earth was to seek and save the lost. It would be accomplished by His going to the cross. He said "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to myself. This he said, signifying by what death he would die" (John 12:32, 33). Further, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him ... Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me." (John 6:44, 45). How are people drawn to the Lord? By hearing and learning.
When Jesus fed the 5000 he didn't advertise "All the fish you can eat" to draw crowds so He could teach them. In fact, His disciples wanted to send them away to buy food, which shows no promise of food had been made to entice them (Mark 6:35-44). The next day Jesus rebuked those who followed for the loaves and fishes (John 6:26). Instead of feeding them again, He pointed them to the spiritual bread of life.
Jesus didn't use recreation and entertainment to draw people, nor did His church use these to retain converts. Professional marketers tell us we should use these carnal appeals as motivation. Why is there such an absence of this kind of motivation in Scripture?
In the Bible we learn that the church is the blood-bought body of Christ (Acts 20:28; Col.1:18). Has it become something else? When appeals to the flesh are used we're suggesting God didn't do enough - that His way of drawing lacks something and we can improve on it. Paul insisted that God had provided the ultimate motivation in offering Jesus.
Why the stable? Why the mockery of justice, the beating and the crown of thorns? Because the Father saw the sinful, pitiful creatures we were - and loved us anyway by sending Jesus to the cross for our sins. Can you see the contrast? If motivation is what you want, it doesn't get any better than this! This is the greatest and only motivation God gave!
