“You shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
When Jesus’ birth was announced, the angel also made clear what His commission would be: He came to save the people from their sins. Not because these people deserved to be saved. On the contrary. God sent his Son “in remembrance of His mercy” (Luke 1:54).
When Jesus later began to preach and to perform miracles, many people had wrong expectations about His mission. They hoped for a Messiah who would liberate them from the Roman oppression, or they were attracted by His miraculous signs. But Jesus did not primarily come to bring physical healing or political freedom; His commission was to enable spiritual salvation and restoration.
For many people in Jesus’ days, “sin” was not their most urgent problem. Salvation was not their primary concern. How is that for you? Are you aware how utterly important it is to be saved from your sins? God the Father considered this so important that He gave His only Son for it. Jesus was prepared to suffer and die for this cause. Do you understand why?