The Nugget:
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (KJV)
Luke 19:10 The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost. (CEV)
My Comment:
I have found it very interesting to observe that when asked the question, “Why did Jesus come?” many individuals are not able to give a satisfactory answer.
I have especially asked this question of Jehovah Witnesses when they used to come to my door. I do not recall that any of them knew off hand the answer to this simple question.
I followed up with a second question, “What was the central message of the Apostles that Jesus sent out to all the world (Acts 1:8)?” No one seems to know the answer to that question either.
Or, I could ask, “What were the disciples and Apostles to be witnesses of in their preaching or teaching?” No one knew the answer to this question either, though it is plainly and very repeatedly mentioned in the book of Acts (Acts 2:32). Check out the cross references to Acts 2:32 and you will find the answer is most clear and emphatic.
This leads to the third question: “What is meant by ‘resurrection’ as it relates to our Lord Jesus Christ?” With Jehovah Witnesses, this leads to some interesting discussion. What they teach is mistaken, for the only kind of resurrection spoken of in the Bible is bodily resurrection. Any church, denomination, or religious group or organization that does not teach what the Bible teaches, with the same balance of emphasis, is clearly wrong, and should be avoided.
The Lesson:
SERIES TITLE: Getting Hooked on the Book
UNIT: Cross Reference Guide Introduction
SESSION EIGHT: Maintaining the Biblical Balance of Truth: Why Did Jesus Come?
MATERIALS NEEDED: Furnish each student with a Bible and a Cross Reference Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVE: Learn the central theme of the Gospel, why Jesus came.
SCRIPTURE TEXT: Luke 19:10
- Son of man. +Lk 5:24. come to. Lk 5:31, 32. 15:4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 32. Ge 37:16. Je 31:20. Ezk 34:11, 16. Mic 7:19. Mt 1:21. 5:17. +Mt 9:12, 13. 10:6. 15:24. +Mt 18:11. 20:28. Mk 2:17. 10:45. Jn 5:14. 10:10. Ro 5:6. +1 Tim 1:15. He 7:25. 1 J 3:8. 4:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. to save. Is 53:11. Mt 1:21. lost. Gr. apollumi, +Mt 2:13. Ps 119:176. +Mt 10:28.
PROCEDURE:
A. Raise the question, “Why did Jesus come?”
B. Consult the references provided in the Cross Reference Guide at Luke 19:10.
C. Is the purpose of Christ’s coming the same now, that is, after the event, as it was during the event?
CONCLUSION:
- After consulting the references supplied to each clause of this lesson’s Scripture text, answer the question: “What common thread of truth ties this set of references together?”
- What conclusions do you draw about the Bible’s own teaching regarding the subjects dealt with in this lesson’s Scripture text?
- What instruction or encouragement do you derive from the insights received from this comparison of related Bible texts?