WHAT DOES JESUS WANT ME TO DO?

Looking into the four gospel records of the life of Jesus Christ should bring a question to mind: "What is the purpose of all that Jesus did and taught?" We might be able to string a series of events together and know all we can about what he did, but, unless we can understand why, we will not receive the benefit we should from these facts.

Why Jesus Came

The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus was God's spokesman for the last days: "God,...Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds" (Hebrews 1:1, 2).As such, he gave insight into his purpose when he declared, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Furthermore, Jesus affirmed that his way of salvation is exclusive, saying, "...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

What Jesus Taught

After his resurrection, and before he ascended back to the Father, Jesus gave the following explanation of his work: "...These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:44-47). Nearly everything about the birth, life, work, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is dealt with in some way in the Old Testament. His work as our Suffering Savior, as predicted in Isaiah chapter fifty-three, is of special interest.

Now that he had fulfilled all of the things predicted concerning the Messiah, Jesus let his disciples know that there was something for them to do. They were to preach "repentance and remission of sins...in his name among all nations." His intention, then, was for them to be the ones to offer salvation from sin to the lost world.

How the Disciples Applied It

There is another New Testament book written by Luke. The book of Acts is the record of the apostles carrying out the work which Jesus Christ commissioned them to do. As they preached the gospel for the very first time, many of the hearers, being convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, and convicted by the awareness of their own sins, asked Peter and the other apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:36, 37). Peter gave the answer that fit with and fulfilled the intention of Jesus, when he said, "...Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). Peter's preaching had created faith in their hearts, but they still needed to repent of their sins and be baptized in order to receive the remission of sins being offered in the name of Jesus.He further exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40). Happily, verse forty-one tells us, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." In a very different setting, we read of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, the man who later became the apostle Paul. While he was actively persecuting the church, Jesus appeared to him and spoke to him. Saul, realizing now that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Son of God, asked, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6). Jesus told him that he would have to hear that answer from a preacher in Damascus (v. 6b). Saul waited and prayed for three days (vv. 9-11) before Ananias came and told him the answer to his question. As Paul later related these events to others, he said that Ananias gave this answer: "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). This prayerful believer, who was obviously sorry for his sins, still needed to have his sins washed away in baptism.

What May We Conclude?

The message preached by the apostles and preachers of the book of Acts was the preaching commanded and commissioned by Jesus himself. The problem they addressed is the problem we still have; the need to have our sins remitted (forgiven). The remedy stated by these spokesmen depended on the condition of the one(s) under consideration. One man who knew nothing of Jesus was told first to believe (Acts 16:20). Others who already believed in Jesus were told to repent (Acts 3:19). Another man who understood who Jesus was, desired to be baptized and was asked to first confess his faith in Christ (Acts 8:37). And in every case where it is mentioned, baptism takes place before any spiritual blessings are enjoyed (Acts 2:41-47; (Acts 8:39; 16:34). Today, any believer who repents of their sins, confesses their faith in Christ and is baptized in the name of Jesus will be doing what Jesus wants them to do in order to be saved.