John 1:1-3 reads, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." Jesus, according to John, was and is God. But He, as God, became human for John 1:18 informs us, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." Why did He do this? Why did Jesus come to this world as a human being?
The answer to this question is found in Luke 19:10. It reads, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." His reason for coming into this world, being made flesh, living as a human was so that He might "seek and save the lost." His entire life must be viewed in light of this purpose. All He did was aimed at accomplishing this purpose.
Consider the miracles He performed. Why did He do them? Many believe it was to relieve suffering. And it is true many found such relief. When Jesus healed the lame man no doubt that man’s life was improved.
He was no longer dependant upon acts of kindness from others for transportation. He would be able to work to support himself and his family. When the healing involved someone near death, there certainly was relief for the family members, especially if the one healed was a child. Certainly miraculous healing relieved suffering, but that was not the purpose for miracles.
John informs us of their purpose in John 20:30, 31 where he wrote, "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." John’s purpose in recording the miracles performed by Jesus was twofold: produce faith in Jesus "that ye might believe," and as a result of faith obtain salvation, "have life through his name."
How did miracles do this? They provided proof that Jesus was who He claimed to be, the Son of God. As such He possesses all authority in heaven and on earth (see Matthew 28:18). Peter argued on Pentecost for the creditability of Jesus based on His miracles, "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know." Those listening to Peter knew of Jesus’ miracles, and Peter said the miracles testified that Jesus was approved by God. Thus Jesus spoke truthfully, He is the Son of God, He is the Savior of the world.
When Jesus claimed "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me" in John 14:6, He was truthful. There is only one way to the Father and it is Jesus’ way. He commissioned the apostles to carry the message of salvation into the whole world beginning in Jerusalem. They were to see that "that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:47). As they went out with this message they were not alone for Jesus promised the help of the Holy Spirit in the work so that they made no mistakes in the message (See John 14:26; 16:13,14 for examples of the promise). The Lord recorded examples of their work in the book of Acts.
Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. He proved His authority by performing miracles which the New Testament writers recorded as a permanent record for all generations. The apostles were sent out with the message of repentance and remission of sin which is recorded in the New Testament.