As the Son of God was concluding His earthly ministry almost 2000 years ago, He prayed to God His Father the prayer recorded in John 17. At the heart of this prayer is His declaration "I have finished the work which You have given Me to do" (v.4b). He acknowledged that He had come to earth on a mission, and He announced that His mission was accomplished.
What was the mission God sent His Son to accomplish?
"He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him"
(v.2b). This declaration teaches us ...
1) God has given a people to Jesus Christ. These are all the men and women God has graciously predestined to be the recipients of His saving grace, and to be His chosen and adopted children (Ephesians 1:3-6; Romans 8:28-30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Revelation 13:8). Jesus Christ says of them, "They were Yours, You gave them to Me" (John 17:6,9,24).
2) Jesus Christ has purposed to give eternal life to all those given to Him by God. Two facts must here be emphasized. i) He did not purpose to merely offer eternal life, but to actually bestow it. He did not come make salvation a mere possibility, but a glorious reality. ii) He did not attempt to give eternal life to all mankind. He Himself declared He had come "as the Son of Man ... to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28; cp. 26:28). The "many" are identified by the angel who foretold his birth: "you shall call His name JESUS [i.e. Savior], for He will His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). He is an utter failure if He neglects to give eternal life to every one of God's elect, or if one of them perishes.
What assurance does the Son of God give to His Father that He has accomplished His mission? "Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost" (v.12). (Judas Iscariot, "the son of perdition" mentioned in this verse, was an insincere follower of Christ who died in unbelief. He is a grim reminder that you should "be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure" [2 Peter 1:10].)
Jesus Christ has not only purchased eternal life for His people, but also ascertained that they will receive it – through believing His gospel (John 3:15f). Therefore, He has purposed that every one of God's elect will hear and believe the gospel.
He declared that those who were alive during the days of His earthly had already heard and believed (v.8): "For I have given to them the words [i.e. the gospel] which You have given Me; and they have received them." And He furthermore declared, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word" (v.20). He has ascertained that all His people will hear and believe the gospel, and thereby receive eternal life.
He therefore shouted in victory in His dying breath, "It is finished!" (John 19:30). And His Father has replied, "For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.... By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities" (Isaiah 53:8,12).
This is the glorious gospel of "Mission Accomplished!"
It is not a message of "Mission Attempted!" Preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ do not say, "Jesus Christ has done all He can to save you; now the rest is up to you. He will save you if you will let Him."
Neither is this glorious gospel the proclamation of "Mission Aborted!" Not a single person for whom Jesus Christ has died will suffer in the lake of fire. Satan will never deride Christ saying, "See all these poor damned souls in the lake of fire with me. You tried to save them, but you failed to complete what you commenced, and I have won!"
Rather, the Son of God will at the last day report to His Father, "Here am I and the children God has given Me" (Hebrews 2:13).