Why did Jesus come? In church, the most common explanation for why Jesus came is penal substitutionary atonement (PST)--which is one way of understanding why Christ came. But, is it the most important understanding of Christ's purpose in coming to earth?
Recently, at a party, I was speaking with a non-practicing Jew (who, by the way, was a lovely man exuding humor and grace) who I believe questions God's existence in large part due to his understanding of the OT. His understanding is taught by many who purport to be Christians--that (before Christ) God was interested mainly in the Jews; and that God instructed the Jews to wipe out peoples for the benefit of the Jews. In other words, many Christians proclaim a God of "ethnic cleansing." But, is that God's true character? What does Christ's advent say about God's character? Perhaps this is the most important understanding of why Christ came.
Before we get to that, let's look at the most widely held doctrine of why Christ came--PST. It's a shorthand way of describing that Christ came to die to make peace between man and God. It's one way to understand what the angels said: "Peace on earth, good will to men." The angels weren't proclaiming world peace; rather, the angels were proclaiming peace between God and man. Through the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement, we understand that Christ's death set things right between God and man--His death (penal) instead of us (substitutionary) resulted in peace between God and His children (atonement). And, I believe in this doctrine, but I think there is a more helpful way of understanding why Christ came.
When one reads the Old Testament, we see that the Jews believed that God was relating primarily to one group of people (them). We see that the Jews believed that God directed them to kill other ethnic groups for the benefit of the Jews. But, there are portions of the OT which refute these ideas.
In Gen. 14:18-20, Abraham gives tithes to Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God, the King of Salem (Jerusalem is the "new" Salem). Christ is even referred to as a type of Melchizedek. Heb. 7:1-22. In the Book of Jonah, we see an unwilling preacher sent to proclaim God's mercy to the Ninevites. So, it is clear that God was relating to others besides the Jews--that God was interested in all peoples, not just the Jews.
As to the "bloodthirsty" God, many of the peoples that the Jews killed practiced child sacrifice and other evil religious practices. So, one can view the Jews as the instruments of God's justice. But, one also might view God as one who promotes "ethnic cleansing." The God of "ethnic cleansing" is belied by such passages as Exodus 22:21 and Lev. 19:33-34, where God commands the Jews to be gracious to strangers. So, the OT may provide an unclear vision of God--does He love or hate strangers (non-Jews)? God sent Jesus so that there could no longer be any ambiguity in our interpretation of God's character.
When we focus on Christ, we see that He embraced all peoples. In fact, Jesus socialized with the non-religious people--those who appeared least deserving of God's mercy. So, Christ's appearance makes it clear that Christ came for all peoples--not just the Jews who were practicing religion. In fact, the religious people were shown to be the farthest from God.
When we focus on Christ, we see that He did not come on a white charger to kill the Romans and liberate the Jews. If God was the God that so many find in the OT, a God who kills other people for the benefit of the Jews, then this is what Christ would have done. Instead, Christ let the religious people and the Roman authorities kill Him!
What kind of God is Christ--a God that makes it clear, once and for all, that He is for all people and that His works are carried out in a non-violent fashion.
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