I am Come that they might have Life.
John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:
I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
The purpose for which Jesus Christ came to earth as very man, and very God; was to save His people from their sins.
He did so by the propitiation (the appeasing of God’s holy wrath against sin).
This was by the sacrifice of Himself—the Perfect Man.
In order to fulfill that purpose, He had to become a perfect man. To live in subjection to parents which misunderstood Him; to be tempted of the Devil; and to walk according to the Father’s will always.
(John 8:28-29 “Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things.
And He that sent Me is with Me: The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things which please Him.”)
Till the time appointed to be the sacrifice for the world, He kept Himself unspotted from the world; unblemished in character, and attitude toward all.
(Hebrews 5:7-9 “Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared;
Though He was a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered;
And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him; )
Then He let Himself be taken, tried, and beaten.
He bore His own cross toward Golgotha, till He could stand the weight no longer, because of the beatings.
Even then, Jesus Christ did not throw off the manhood, but left everything in the hands of His Father.
The Cross was the purpose of God, and although He was placed upon it in anger, and hatred; yet He would not come down from it (although He could have) because if He saved Himself, He could not save us.
Our sins have the penalty of death (separation from God forever). Someone must pay that penalty. Us, or a substitute.
He paid that penalty by His Perfect death.
Our sins were laid upon Him, and the sky grew dark—at noontime; the time of the most light.
God could not look upon Him, because He bore our sins on His body on the cross.
The pain of the corruption and pollution of our sins being placed upon the Sinless One, and the separation from God the Father, was Christ’s greatest pain.
He cried out, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” In an agony which was more than the beatings of fists, and rods.
But He did all of this for the salvation of His people. That we might have life—His life within us, by receiving Him into our hearts and lives.
Then we can set ourselves aside to His Will, as He set Himself aside to do the Father’s Will.
This is Abundant Life. A life open to and receptive to Him in all that we do.
The joy of His being in charge of our lives is wonderful. We are not alone, ever.
We are walking in a way He has chosen for us, and His Holy Spirit enables us.
“I am come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.”
Will we receive Him, and His life?
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 