If Jesus Christ had not come, we wouldn’t have Christmas. There wouldn’t be trees with fancy ornaments, colored lights, or tinsel. No treats, special cookies or turkey dinners. No gifts or Christmas cards. There wouldn’t be family get togethers or Christmas parties. There wouldn’t be a bunch of sentimental fluff set to music or TV specials hour upon hour. There would be no church choir cantatas, Sunday School programs, Christmas Eve services, or Christmas carols.
But is this why Christ came? Did He choose leave Heaven’s glory, choose to become man through the virgin birth just so there would be a Christmas Day? Did He decide to come to earth to give us a holiday? A season of overspending and celebration? Did He want the human race to have a few days off work, have some fun in early winter?
I think most of us, without hesitation, would say, “No, that is not why Jesus came.” None of those reasons will cut it when considering the Lord’s miraculous birth in Bethlehem. And yet, have we so clouded the real reasons for His coming with all the trappings and decorations that we have forgotten why He came. The simple fact is that the majority of the world has never heard the real reason why He came. And frankly, they like it that way.
Society never actually wanted the Incarnation. “Emmanuel, God-with-Us” does not sell computer games, diamonds, cologne or plasma TVs. Society may endure the cute stuff—rustic stable, adoring shepherds, fluffy sheep, cows, donkeys, holy family, infant Jesus, gift-bearing kings, the star, angels… But don’t leave out Santa Claus, reindeer, fir trees, holly, and presents. This is what they really want. The malls and big box stores will also keep some of the traditional hymns and carols, but in upbeat arrangements that remove them from the realm of real worship. They are sung in crooning tones or driving beat so that no one can understand the words, and best of all, so no shoppers are offended.
I would like to share four reasons Jesus came:
Jesus Came to Call Sinners
“And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31–32
The Lord Jesus came to issue a call to the human race—one that applies to each and every person born into the world. He came to call sinners, not the righteous. Why is that so? Because if He had issued a call to the righteous, no one could ever respond.
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:10, 12, 23
He calls today because repentance is the only way for you and I to find forgiveness—the only way to escape eternal judgment in the flames of hell.
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
Jesus Came to Give His Life
“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28
See, unlike so many earthly men who seek only the best for themselves, the Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth to serve others. He was constantly ministering and helping others, rescuing them in their times of need. The pinnacle of His serving was when He laid down His life, shedding His precious blood as a ransom for our sin, yours and mine. The God of the Bible sent His Son to die for us, so we would not have to die.
“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2
Because of what Christ did for me, I can say today with complete assurance that my sin is forgiven. I have been set free by His work upon the cross. His mighty declaration on Calvary —It is finished!—set the record straight for all who will turn to Him in repentance and faith.
Jesus Came to Bring Light
“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. John 12:46
We live in a dark world—these are dark days spiritually in which we live. There is almost a sense of impending doom. But for those who have come to Christ, there is His light to guide our steps and give us direction, hope, and comfort. We don’t have to remain in the dark.
“The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” Matthew 4:16
What I find so strange, is that people see the Light, but instead of coming to the Light, they turn from Him. Now, there is a reason, I know. Light is revealing and His Light reveals our hearts and the ugly sin that resides there. Frankly, people don’t want to leave their sin.
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19
But we can love the Light and walk in the Light, having fellowship with God and other believers.
“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5–7
Jesus Came to Give Abundant Life
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
There are lots of thieves in this world—physical and spiritual thieves. They do not have your eternal best intentions at heart. They see you only for what you can do for them—what they can take from you. There is no compassion or love in them.
The Lord Jesus Christ is just the opposite. He came to give you life—abundant life. I wrote about our sin earlier, and how we need to understand that there is a wage we have earned for our sin. It is called death—with all that death includes, now and in eternity. But God has a gift; it is called eternal life.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
The question is will you receive the gift He offers you? Will you turn from your sin, listen to His call, and come in repentance? Confess your sin to Him and accept His full forgiveness and His eternal, abundant life.
So… what does Jesus’ Coming into the world mean to you? A chance to climb an aluminum ladder in the cold to hang a few colored lights? A few extra days off, shopping and more shopping? Tinsel, music, TV specials… or does it mean so much more?
The coming of Jesus Christ had far a greater purpose than what we see promoted today. It was an invitation to repentance, redemption, and forgiveness. Freedom from darkness and opportunity to walk in the Light, possessing eternal life now, and thriving in His abundant life.—all can be ours through Jesus Christ.
“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” 1 John 5:12
