The message and love of Jesus Christ are still shaking the world.

But why did Jesus come? What was His mission?

In the trial leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus…

Jesus was very clear about His mission and purpose.

Luke 19:10

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.

Paul told Timothy

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).

This is evident when you read the first 4 books of the New Testament or the Gospels. Jesus healed the sick, opened blind eyes, forgave sinners and raised the dead.

When Jesus showed up things always got better for the oppressed, the sick and the sinner.

Jesus’ presence brought hope and healing to people.

Jesus didn’t die for religion, He died for relationship.

Jesus came to give us life. A better life than we ever thought possible.

John 10:10b [The Message]

I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

Jesus came to give us a better life.

It is “Zoe”, the God kind of life. It is a life unimaginable by the human intellect. It’s so GOOD only God could give to us.

A lot of people think that God sent Jesus to punish us but He didn’t. He came to give us life that would never end.

Jesus didn’t die for religion, He died for relationship. Religion: Rules and regulations without relationship.

Jesus came to give us a better life. A life that was impossible to experience without Him.

Living the good life and experiencing a better life come through the work of Christ and Christ alone.

That’s why we celebrate Easter. Jesus was God coming to us, to love us and to save us. Religion could never get us to God that’s why God had to come to us.

JESUS came to destroy the power of sin and death. Jesus came to get us back to where we belong.

Easter is all about relationship. It’s all about Jesus coming to us to get us back in relationship with our heavenly Father.

So, how do we get back into relationship with God? What path will lead us back to God?

Here are three stories that reveal three things that will help us develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Priest: (He wasn’t a priest he was a religious leader.)

The thing that is revealing about Nicodemus is his intrigue and desire to understand the person and message of Jesus.

It’s where all relationships begin. A desire to learn and understand.

A better life begins with a desire to know Him. It starts by asking questions and discovering who Christ really is and what He came to accomplish.

A lot of people believe that they have been too bad for God to love them. It’s not about how bad we’ve been, it’s about how good He is.

This woman received from Jesus what everyone else wouldn’t give her… Forgiveness.

· First, a relationship with Jesus begins with a desire to know Him.

· Second, a relationship with Jesus grows when we receive His forgiveness.

· And Third: The Criminal

The Friday before the resurrection. Jesus was nailed to a cross between two criminals. Their responses to Him were extremely different.

The third and final thing that leads you and me into an eternal relationship with Jesus is… To place our trust in Him to save us.

The criminal on the cross couldn’t do anything to prove his love and trust in Jesus. He could only receive the GIFT of Salvation Jesus was providing.

The better life we are looking for is found in Jesus Christ. His death, burial and resurrection made it possible for you and me to receive forgiveness and salvation.

Jesus came to bring us back into relationship with our Heavenly Father. He came to get us back to where we belong and nothing could be BETTER than that!