The Self-Excluded

For Whom Did Christ Come?

All Christians  profess that the season of Advent or Christmas is the remembrance and celebration of one of the pivotal events in all human history.  We do not use the expression lightly.  We mean this to be literally true, not mere rhetorical or hyperbolic flourish.  The Living God became flesh, took on human nature, and entered into history, to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). 

He did not come to save everyone.  He came to save only His people.  At first glance such a non-inclusive mission would naturally mean He had come to save the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  The Gentiles would therefore be excluded.  As Christ's ministry transpired, however, things became a little less obvious and a little more profound.  It became clear that "His people" included the Gentiles, non-Jewish humanity.  He spoke of "another" flock, one not of "this fold" which He must bring and shepherd (John 10:16).  He did indeed come unto His own after the flesh, but His own people received Him not (John 1:14).  In the course of the rejection of Christ by many, if not the majority, of His people,  He turned to the Gentiles, the non-Jewish people, to those outside the Covenant, the temple, the law, and the sacrifices. 

At the end of His earthly ministry in the flesh He was declaring that He had come to save the world and that He would draw all people to Himself.  (John 12: 27-50).  But this was foreshadowed at the very beginning of His ministry.  Right from the outset He had made it clear that there were certain Jewish people He had not come to save.  They were excluded.  They were self-excluded insofar as they had disqualified themselves.


How?  At the outset of His public ministry, in one of the most sarcastic and cutting remarks ever made by our Lord whilst on earth, He said of the scribes and the Pharisees that He had not come to call them.  "Those who are well," He said, "do not need a physician, but those who are sick.  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."  (Mark 2: 17)  By referring to them as "well" and "righteous" our Lord was being sarcastic, but fairly and accurately so.  For the righteousness of His critics was self-diagnosed.  They were righteous in their own eyes, and therefore had no need of the Saviour of mankind.  At the end of His public ministry He denounced these very same for their extreme wickedness, corruption, and sin (Matthew 23). 

At Advent, we remind one another of the glorious coming of the Son of God into human history to save the world.  But, He did not come to save everyone.  There are plenty in our day for whom Christ did not come at all.  There are myriads who believe that they are too correct, too upright to have need of a saviour.  The very notion is not just beneath them, it is so far removed from their self-regard as to be grossly offensive. 

He came to save sinners, not the righteous.  We thank God that He came for this purpose.  If he had not, we Christians all know that we, of all men, would have no hope, and would for ever remain in the outer darkness.