HOW DID JESUS COME TO THE RESCUE?

 In the first century C.E., God's servant John the Baptist pointed to Jesus of Nazareth and said: "See, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29) These inspired words identified Jesus as the long-foretold offspring. He would offer up the promised sacrifice. Now more than ever before, there was a solid hope for sinful mankind-a complete victory over sin. - HEBREWS 9:2; 10:1-4, 12.

Jesus focused special attention on people who felt weighed down by sin and invited them to become his followers. He knew that sin was the root cause of mankind's ills. So he reached out to men and women who were known to be sinners. Using an illustration, he explained "Healthy people do not need a physician, but those who are ill do." He added: "I came to call not on righteous people but sinners." (Matthew 9:12, 13) Jesus lived up to those words. He gently forgave the sins of the woman who washed his feet with her tears. (Luke 7:37-50) He taught vital truths to the Samaritan woman at the well, though he knew of her immoral lifestyle. (John 4:7, 17-19, 25, 26) God even empowered Jesus to undo the end result of all sin-death.  How? Jesus resurrected people-male and female, children and adults. - MATTHEW 11:5. 

It is no wonder that even people deeply caught up in sin were drawn to Jesus. He showed them compassion and empathy. They felt comfortable approaching him. (Luke 15:1, 2) And Jesus commended and rewarded such ones for showing faith in him. (Luke 19:1-10) He provided a perfect living picture of his Father's mercy. (John 14:9) By word and deed, he showed that his compassionate, merciful Father loves people ad wants to help each of them to win the fight against sin. Jesus helped sinful people to want to change their ways and to follow him. - LUKE 5:27, 28. 

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