Why was Jesus sent?

[placebofactor]

Let’s begin with the following: notice that Jesus' earthly ministry had nothing to do with the Gentiles. He explicitly stated that His mission was directed to Israel.
Matthew 15:24, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
His instructions to the Twelve: Matthew 10:5–6, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles… But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Question: “For what purpose did the Father send his Son to Israel?” It was to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy about Israel’s Messiah.
Romans 15:8, “Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.” The “circumcision” refers to Israel. His mission confirmed the covenants and prophecies given to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David.

Jesus was sent to call Israel to repentance and prepare them for the kingdom. John the Baptist and Jesus both preached the same message:
Matthew 3:2, John said, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:17, Jesus said, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The kingdom was promised to Israel, 2 Samuel 7; Isaiah 9; Daniel 2, 7.

The prophets foretold that only a remnant of Jews would believe.
Isaiah 10:21–22, “A remnant shall return;” Verse 22, “Yet a remnant of them shall return.”
John 1:11–12, “He (Jesus) came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, to them that believe on his name:” So, his ministry sifted Israel, revealing who would believe.

He came to offer salvation to Israel first, but later, Paul explains the order, Romans 1:16, “To the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Jesus came to reveal Himself as Israel’s promised King and Shepherd.
Matthew 21:5, “Behold, thy King cometh unto thee…”
Ezekiel 34:23 was a future prophecy, “I will set up one shepherd over them.”

When he comes, he identifies Himself as that Shepherd: John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd.”
He came to fulfill the law and the prophets. Matthew 5:17, “I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. To conclude, His ministry to Israel completed the prophetic requirements of the Messiah.

Question: “Did Jesus’ mission later expand beyond Israel?” It did, but only after His resurrection.
His post-resurrection command: Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…”
Mark 16:15, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” So, the universal mission came only after His earthly ministry to Israel. And how was he going to accomplish this universal mission? It would be through men like Paul.

[myth-one.com]

The Word was made flesh to fix the fault in His original covenant between God and mankind.

[FruitoftheSpirit]

Let’s begin with the following: notice that Jesus' earthly ministry had nothing to do with the Gentiles. He explicitly stated that His mission was directed to Israel.
Matthew 15:24, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
His instructions to the Twelve: Matthew 10:5–6, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles… But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Question: “For what purpose did the Father send his Son to Israel?” It was to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy about Israel’s Messiah.
Romans 15:8, “Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.” The “circumcision” refers to Israel. His mission confirmed the covenants and prophecies given to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David.

Jesus was sent to call Israel to repentance and prepare them for the kingdom. John the Baptist and Jesus both preached the same message:
Matthew 3:2, John said, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:17, Jesus said, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The kingdom was promised to Israel, 2 Samuel 7; Isaiah 9; Daniel 2, 7.

The prophets foretold that only a remnant of Jews would believe.
Isaiah 10:21–22, “A remnant shall return;” Verse 22, “Yet a remnant of them shall return.”
John 1:11–12, “He (Jesus) came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, to them that believe on his name:” So, his ministry sifted Israel, revealing who would believe.

He came to offer salvation to Israel first, but later, Paul explains the order, Romans 1:16, “To the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Jesus came to reveal Himself as Israel’s promised King and Shepherd.
Matthew 21:5, “Behold, thy King cometh unto thee…”
Ezekiel 34:23 was a future prophecy, “I will set up one shepherd over them.”

When he comes, he identifies Himself as that Shepherd: John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd.”
He came to fulfill the law and the prophets. Matthew 5:17, “I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. To conclude, His ministry to Israel completed the prophetic requirements of the Messiah.

Question: “Did Jesus’ mission later expand beyond Israel?” It did, but only after His resurrection.
His post-resurrection command: Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…”
Mark 16:15, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” So, the universal mission came only after His earthly ministry to Israel. And how was he going to accomplish this universal mission? It would be through men like Paul.

Great Topic!

You said, "Question: “Did Jesus’ mission later expand beyond Israel?” It did, but only after His resurrection."

I believe you are mistaken or maybe it’s just the way in which you are using the word "mission" that I don’t feel aligns.

Jesus’s message and the works he performed all in our Father’s name, was most certainly predominately given to the Jews prior to his resurrection however the center of his mission he was sent to accomplish was for the entire world, to which he preached prior to his resurrection.

John 3: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

And Jesus also said,

Matthew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’”

This covenant is spoken of in Isaiah 42 to which Gentiles were included in,

42 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. 5 Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: 6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Jesus was sent to fulfill YHVH’s covenant to which was for the entire world, Jews and Gentiles alike, his mission was to die on the cross for the sins of the world.

[JehovahsWitness]

Jesus was sent to fulfill YHVH’s covenant to which was for the entire world, Jews and Gentiles alike, his mission was to die on the cross for the sins of the world.

While this is true, he was commissioned to preach (and by inference, conduct his earthly ministry ) only to his fellow Israelites and Jesus initially commissioned his disciples to do the same.



JEHOVAH'S WITNESS

[FruitoftheSpirit]

Jesus was sent to fulfill YHVH’s covenant to which was for the entire world, Jews and Gentiles alike, his mission was to die on the cross for the sins of the world.

While this is true, he was commissioned to preach (and by inference, conduct his earthly ministry ) only to his fellow Israelites and Jesus initially commissioned his disciples to do the same.



JEHOVAH'S WITNESS

Mattthew 8: And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

[FruitoftheSpirit]

Jesus was sent to fulfill YHVH’s covenant to which was for the entire world, Jews and Gentiles alike, his mission was to die on the cross for the sins of the world.

While this is true, he was commissioned to preach (and by inference, conduct his earthly ministry ) only to his fellow Israelites and Jesus initially commissioned his disciples to do the same.



JEHOVAH'S WITNESS

John 8:26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

John 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

According to Jesus, the world was to know that God sent him, the world was to know that he was speaking the words of God, which makes sense considering Jesus also said, "God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

[OneJack]

[Replying to placebofactor in post #1]

Let’s begin with the following: notice that Jesus' earthly ministry had nothing to do with the Gentiles. He explicitly stated that His mission was directed to Israel.
Matthew 15:24, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Jesus was actually testing the degree of the faith of a Canaanite woman who pleaded for His mercy towards her daughter, vexed grievously with a devil. Even though the woman clearly heard what Jesus said about the lost sheep of Israel, she still came to Him and worshipped Him. Jesus told her that it’s not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs. The woman retorted, saying, ‘Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.’ Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

[OneJack]

Jesus was sent to fulfill YHVH’s covenant to which was for the entire world, Jews and Gentiles alike, his mission was to die on the cross for the sins of the world.

While this is true, he was commissioned to preach (and by inference, conduct his earthly ministry ) only to his fellow Israelites and Jesus initially commissioned his disciples to do the same.



JEHOVAH'S WITNESS

John 8:26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

John 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

According to Jesus, the world was to know that God sent him, the world was to know that he was speaking the words of God, which makes sense considering Jesus also said, "God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

Addendum: The world is not the house of Israel; the people of the earth are the subject of the saving mission of Jesus in His incarnation.

[1213]

Why was Jesus sent?

Jesus answers to that:

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, Because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim release to the captives, Recovering of sight to the blind, To deliver those who are crushed, And to pro-claim the acceptable year of the Lord."… …"I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other cities also. For this reason I have been sent."
Luke 4:18-19, 43
He said to them, "Let's go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this reason I came forth."
Mark 1:38
For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn't believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God."
John 3:17-21
Pilate therefore said to him, "Are you a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."
John 18:37

[JehovahsWitness]

John 8:26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

John 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

QUESTION # What does it mean that Jesus was sent to "speak to the world"? I means that Jesus words were intended to be heard by everyone on the planet earth. But this does not mean that he as a human on earth was going to speak personally to everyone that ever lived on earth at the same time.

QUESTION # Was Jesus not {quote} "sent to the world"? Yes he was sent on a mission to save the entire world of mankind, but during his 3 1/2 year ministry he knew he had to initially concentrate on teaching his Jewish brethren.

QUESTION # What is the difference between being sent to save mankind and being sent to preach/minister to one nation only? He was sent to PREACH and minister only to the tribes of Israel meaning he was commissioned to limit his travels to areas where his Jewish brethren lived. When he died and was resurrected, he would open up that same message to the entire planet.

According to Jesus, the world was to know that God sent him, the world was to know that he was speaking the words of God, which makes sense considering Jesus also said, "God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

That is correct. Jesus' death provided a ransom for all mankind (not just the Jews). After his resurrection, Jesus opened up the message he came with to the entire planet, commissioning his disciples to teach the whole world what he had taught them. (see summary diagram)

QUESTION # Why was he commissioned to conduct his ministry only with his fellow Israelites? Because he had a limited time and could only cover a limited area of the planet. Also he came to the descendants of Abraham (who enjoyed a privileged relationship with God at the time) to offer them exclusively a special privilege in connection with his being their Messiah.

QUESTION # Did Jesus make exceptions and help non-Isaelites? Yes, Jesus made exceptions on a case by case basis, but usually made it clear that is exactly what he was doing. He indicated that non-Israelites would one day enjoy the same special privileges as the Jews.

QUESTION # What did Jesus mean when he said that " the world may know that thou hast sent me"? He meant that everyone would eventually recognise that he (Jesus) is the son of God sent to earth to fulfil a divine commission. We call this "the Good News"

Musical presentation “Good News”!
https://www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#e ... g_94_VIDEO




I hope that the above has helped you put the scriptures you cited in perspective. If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to post them below.


Regards,

JEHOVAHS WITNESS