Have you ever wondered why Jesus came in the first place? Was it just to appear among people, walk as they walked and talk as they talked? Was it to experience what it would be like to have emotions on a human level or find out what it was like to enjoy food, fun and fellowship? Actually, John the apostle answers these questions of why Jesus came in our verse today. In First John chapter three and verse five he wrote:
And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
John has been sharing with us throughout this book about how God desires fellowship with people. He also let us know early on that sin separates people from God, and that God Himself did something about that separation – He sent His Son Jesus to pay the price for our sins and to take them away.
In the Old Testament of the Bible, there had to be a sacrifice for the sins of the people. Once a year the high priest would go into a room within the Tabernacle called the Holy of Holies to offer a sacrifice on behalf of the people of Israel. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and that entrance would occur only once per year. There was great preparation of both the High Priest and the sacrificial lamb that was to be offered. The High Priest was to go through many ceremonial washings, and the lamb was to be without spot or blemish. In other words, the lamb had to be one that was born without any flaws, and it could not have acquired any blemishes during its life. This lamb was offered on behalf of the people as a sacrifice for their sins. Without this offering there would be no remission of the people's sin, but once the lamb was offered the people's sins were forgiven. The writer of the book of Hebrews put it this way in chapter nine verse twenty-two:
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Jesus was revealed, manifested, as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He was born of a virgin, Mary, so He had no original sin. He also lived without any sin during His life, and these things made Him our perfect sacrifice. Jesus' very reason for appearing was to give His perfect sinless life as the substitute for our sins so that we could now have access to God and thereby have fellowship with Him.
For all who will read these precious words of the apostle John and realize the purity of Jesus who knew no sin, and yet gave His life to take away our sins, God awaits only one response: for us to ask Him for forgiveness of our sins and thank Him for the sacrifice of Jesus that makes it possible for all who will to have fellowship with Him.
Next time we shall take a look at this question: Is it possible to live without sinning? Read ahead, and let's share together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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