Why Was Jesus Sent to Earth?
A Doctrinal Dissection of
13 Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you— that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.
14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—
15 And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.
3 Nephi 27:13–15 gives one of the clearest, most direct answers in all scripture. Christ Himself explains His mission in a way that pulls us into it—why He came, what He would do, and what that means for us.
1. “I have given unto you my gospel”
He Came to Reveal the Father’s Plan
gospel = the good news of salvation, the entire covenant path, the way back to the Father.
Christ was sent so we would not wander in the dark about God’s plan. His gospel is not an abstract idea— it is His life, His teachings, His ordinances, His power, and His covenant. He came so we could know the way, not guess at it.
How the supporting scriptures reinforce this truth
“The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)”
- God sent Jesus Christ.
- He came preaching peace.
- He is Lord of all, anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power.
- He went about doing good, healing, was slain, and raised the third day.
This shows that the gospel Christ gives us is the Father’s plan in motion—a living demonstration of divine goodness, divine authority, and divine resurrection. The gospel is not merely taught by Christ; it is embodied by Him.
“And this is the gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us—”
- The Only Begotten came into the world to be crucified for the world.
- All may be saved who believe and obey Him.
The gospel Christ “gave unto us” is the Father’s saving work, revealed and fulfilled through the Son. The Father’s entire redemptive design is made visible and accessible through Jesus.
Further study: Topical Guide — Gospel
Takeaway: We were sent into a fallen world, but Jesus was sent into that same world so we could have a path out of it. His gospel is the Father’s plan made visible, tangible, and walkable.
2. “I came… to do the will of my Father”
He Came to Perfectly Obey
will = the Father’s redemptive plan, the design of salvation.
Jesus was sent because only a perfectly obedient Son could carry out the Father’s will without deviation. Where we fall short, He fulfills. Where we resist, He submits. Where we break, He completes. His obedience is not mechanical—it is loving, voluntary, and total.
How the supporting scripture reinforces this truth
“And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.”
- The Father’s will is that Christ should lose none of those given Him.
- The Father’s will is that Christ should raise us up at the last day.
- The Father’s will centers on resurrection, preservation, and redemption.
Christ’s obedience is directly tied to our salvation. His submission ensures our resurrection, our hope, and our future. The Father’s will is a saving intention toward us, carried out through the Son’s perfect faithfulness.
Further study: Topical Guide — Mission of Jesus Christ
Takeaway: Salvation is not random—it flows from the Son’s total alignment with the Father. Because He obeyed perfectly, we can be redeemed completely.
3. “That I might be lifted up upon the cross”
He Came to Be Crucified
lifted up / cross = the atoning sacrifice, the central act of His mission.
Christ was sent not merely to teach, but to offer Himself. Being “lifted up” means He would be physically raised on the cross, spiritually raised as the Lamb of God, and cosmically raised as the center of the Father’s saving work. His lifting up is the hinge of eternity—the moment where justice, mercy, prophecy, and divine love converge.
How the supporting scriptures reinforce this truth
“Whoso remembereth these sayings of mine and doeth them, him will I raise up at the last day.”
Christ’s words and works are fulfilled in His lifting up. His crucifixion is the completion of the Father’s covenantal plan—the convergence of His teachings, prophecies, and mission.
“Nevertheless, I know that I shall be lifted up at the last day.”
Even hardened hearts are moved when they behold the suffering of the innocent. Christ’s lifting up is meant to pierce us, awaken us, and turn us back to God.
“And he looked and beheld the Son of Man lifted up on the cross, after the manner of men;”
The cross was foreseen from the beginning. The suffering of Christ is of such magnitude that all creation responds. The Father’s plan always centered on this moment.
“For the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.”
Jesus plainly foretold His betrayal and death, yet His disciples struggled to comprehend it. The cross was intentional, not accidental, and necessary for the plan of salvation.
“And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.”
The cross is the central act of redemption, foreseen by prophets long before Christ’s birth.
Takeaway: We cannot separate Jesus’ coming from His dying. The cross was not a tragic accident— it was the very reason He was sent. His lifting up is the moment where He offers Himself, fulfills prophecy, reveals divine love, and opens the way for our salvation.
4. “That I might draw all men unto me”
He Came to Gather Us Back to God
draw = to pull, invite, persuade, reclaim, and gather every soul.
Because He was lifted up, we are pulled upward. His crucifixion becomes a magnet for the human soul. His suffering becomes the power that softens us, calls us, and turns us toward Him. He draws us not by force, but by love, truth, mercy, and covenantal invitation.
How the supporting scriptures reinforce this truth
“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Christ’s drawing power is the Father’s own work. The invitation to come to Christ is initiated by God, not by human effort. When we feel stirred, softened, or awakened, it is because He is already drawing us.
“It behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto man in the flesh, and die for all men, that all men might become subject unto him.”
He draws us because He knows our mortal experience firsthand. He descended below all things, and His sacrifice covers every soul. His drawing power is rooted in His condescension and His compassion.
“For my grace is sufficient for you, and you shall be lifted up at the last day.”
Christ draws us by inviting us into His work. He gives us purpose, not just forgiveness, making us partners in redemption.
“Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you… and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also.”
He draws us by strengthening and empowering us with the whole armor of God, equipping us to return to Him.
Takeaway: We are not left to find God on our own—Christ actively draws us, reaches for us, and works to reclaim us. His drawing is the Father’s invitation, the Son’s compassion, and the Spirit’s persuasion working together to bring us home.
5. “To be judged of their works… judged according to their works”
He Came to Become Our Judge
judged / works = accountability, covenant responsibility, and divine justice.
Jesus was sent so He—not anyone else—would be our Judge. He lived our life, bore our sins, knows our wounds, understands our choices, and paid the price for our failures. Because He knows us perfectly, His judgment is perfectly fair, perfectly merciful, and perfectly informed.
How the supporting scripture reinforces this truth
“For the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.”
- The Lord is a God of knowledge.
- He weighs our actions.
- He judges not by appearance, but by truth, intent, and the heart.
Divine judgment is measured, accurate, and rooted in perfect knowledge, not assumption. God’s judgment is not merely a review of outward behavior—it is a weighing of the inner reality of our choices. This aligns perfectly with Christ as Judge: He knows our works because He knows us.
Further study: Topical Guide — Judge, Jesus Christ
Takeaway: We will stand before Someone who understands us better than we understand ourselves. Christ’s judgment is the perfect union of truth, mercy, knowledge, and love—because He lived our life, carried our sins, and sees our works in the full light of eternity.
6. “For this cause have I been lifted up”
His Entire Mission Centers on Redemption
lifted up = emphasis, divine underlining of His redemptive mission.
“I am the living bread which came down from heaven… and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
Christ is saying, “This is the reason I came. This is the center of everything.”
“We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”
- He was sent to reveal the gospel.
- He was sent to do the Father’s will.
- He was sent to be lifted up on the cross.
- He was sent to draw us back.
- He was sent to judge us with perfect justice and mercy.
- He was sent to be lifted up so His redeeming power could reach every one of us.
“This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.”
“Ye are sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ… that ye become holy, without spot.”
Further study: Topical Guide — Atonement Through Jesus Christ
Takeaway: Every part of His mission is redemptive. Nothing is wasted. Nothing is accidental.
Summary Answer:
Why Was Jesus Sent to Earth?
According to 3 Nephi 27:13–15, Jesus was sent to Earth:
- To reveal His gospel so we would know the way back to the Father.
- To do the will of the Father, perfectly fulfilling the plan of salvation.
- To be lifted up on the cross, offering Himself as the atoning sacrifice.
- To draw all of us to Him, giving every soul a chance to return.
- To become our Judge, evaluating our works with perfect understanding.
- To be lifted up so His redeeming power could reach every one of us.
In short: Jesus was sent to save us, teach us, lift us, gather us, and ultimately bring us back to the Father.
No comments:
Post a Comment