Jesus: A Mission Beyond Our Salvation

by Rex Rouis

While we often view Jesus’ primary mission on Earth as securing our salvation, His work went far beyond simply redeeming humanity. His time on the cross and His ministry before it revealed a much greater purpose. He came not only to bear the penalty for sin but also to confront and destroy the very essence of darkness and sin itself, addressing its roots in both the spiritual and earthly realms.

The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was revealed: to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8

To understand the scope of His full mission, we must first consider the origins of darkness. Scripture identifies sin as a rebellion that began not on Earth but in Heaven.

Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But the dragon was not strong enough to prevail, so there was no longer any place left in heaven for him and his angels. So that huge dragon – the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world – was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him. Revelation 12:7-9

Sin and all its effects had to be eradicated without destroying humanity in the process. It’s similar to modern cancer treatment: the goal is to eliminate the cancer and its harmful impact while preserving as much of the patient’s healthy body as possible. In the same way, darkness and sin were a pervasive force that had to be confronted, and the rebellious heavenly influences had to be dealt with and removed.

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil), and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death. For surely his concern is not for angels, but he is concerned for Abrahamʼs descendants. Hebrews 2:14-16

“And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these He has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.” Jude 1:6

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment… 2 Peter 2:4

Sin and all its effects had to be eradicated without destroying humanity in the process.

Through His death, Jesus achieved a decisive victory over the spiritual forces of evil. As Paul writes, “Having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15). This triumph assures believers that evil’s grip is broken and that the power of light will always overcome darkness (John 1:5). The victory on the cross over all types and forms of evil was complete and total.

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Colossians 2:13-15

“Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” Hebrews 2:14-15

“He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church.” Ephesians 1:20-22

The dark powers were completely caught off guard by what God was doing on the Cross. If they had known they would not have crucified Him.

Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing. Instead, we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:6-8

And now all humanity has the opportunity to walk free of the power of evil through the work of the Cross.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.’” Matthew 28:18

“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11

These passages affirm that Jesus’ work on the cross not only secured our salvation but also displayed His victory over sin, death, and the spiritual forces of evil. His triumph allows believers to live in freedom, fully confident in His ultimate authority over all powers. Through the cross, He opened the door for all of humanity and creation itself to walk in His light and truth. We each must choose to walk through that door, and one day, all of creation will follow.

Christ is victor – Christus Victor