December 19th, 2023
As we approach Christmas, everyone is buzzing with the holiday atmosphere. The streets and stores are packed with people making last minute Christmas purchases. Some are preparing to travel while others are preparing to host family for the holidays. There are meals to cook, presents to wrap, and events to attend. It’s the only time of year you’ll consistently hear Christian music played everywhere you go. The First Noel and Silent Night ring out in the grocery store and tiny, baby Jesus is portrayed everywhere. Many that don’t even go to church have a beautiful nativity scene displayed in their homes.
However, if you asked them why He came, would they know? If we ask ourselves why He came, do we know? Let’s not lose sight of the fact that Jesus isn’t just a baby in a manger. There is so much more to the story! The purpose of His coming wasn’t His birth, although it’s a joy to celebrate. That was just the beginning. Jesus is the plan of the Father for everyone that would ever live!
Prior to the incarnation of Jesus, there were sacrifices, daily, as a reminder that sin separated man from God. However, as Hebrews 10:4 says,
“It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
Priests went into the Holy of Holies, but not often. God spoke to His people, but most would hear His Word spoken only from the lips of another. God’s longing has always been to be close to all of His people. His heart has never changed and for that reason, Galatians 4:4-5 says,
“When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
God gave His absolute best so there weren’t just daily sacrifices for sin, but a complete removal of its stain. The blood of Jesus was shed so that we could be absolutely free from sin once and for all! Romans 3:22-25 says,
“For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.”
If God only sent Jesus to remove our sin, though, couldn’t He have sent Him as a fully grown man, just to suffer and die? It could have been over in a moment, instead of the 33 years that Jesus lived among humanity. He came in humility, as a baby. He needed protection and care as He grew. He fasted, suffered, and knew grief and loneliness. He went through everything we go through, because He didn’t just come to bear our sin, but our grief, our sorrow, our sickness, and all of our suffering. Hebrews 2:17 says,
“He had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”
He came to live like us, so we could live like Him. He fulfilled His purpose for you, for me and for everyone that’s ever lived. This week, I want to share some of the reasons that the Bible says He came. He’s so much more than a baby in a manger. He didn’t even come just to get us to heaven! Let these truths encourage you, this Christmas season:
Jesus came to fulfill the law. (Matthew 5:17)
Jesus came to call sinners. (Mark 2:17 and 1 Timothy 1:15)
Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. (Matthew 20:28)
Jesus came to give His life as a ransom. (Matthew 20:28 and John 12:24-27)
Jesus came to reveal the heart of the Father. (John 3:16 and John 6:38)
Jesus came to seek and save the lost. (Luke 19:10)
Jesus came to bring light. (John 12:46)
Jesus came to bear witness to the truth. (John 18:37)
Jesus came to bring righteous judgment. (John 9:38)
Jesus came to save and not condemn us. (John 3:17)
Jesus came to declare good news. (Luke 4:18)
Jesus came to proclaim freedom for the captives. (Luke 4:18)
Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted. (Luke 4:18)
Jesus came to destroy all the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8 and Hebrews 2:14)
Jesus came to give us adoption as sons and daughters. (Galatians 4:4-5)
Jesus came to redeem and purify a people for His own possession. (Titus 2:14)
Jesus came to give us peace that cannot be taken away. (John 14:27)
Jesus came to bear our sickness and heal all who come to Him. (Matthew 8:16-17)
Jesus came to give us access to the Father by His blood. (Hebrews 10:19)
Jesus came to give us life, and life more abundant. (John 10:10)
Jesus was the propitiation that we could never have offered for our sin. There is nothing we could have done to be purified, to be whole, or to be free, if Jesus had not come. He’s not a baby anymore! He’s glorified, at the right hand of the Father, even now making intercession for us. His face shines like the sun and His hair is white like wool. When He returns, He’ll not be coming as a baby again. He’ll be coming back riding a white horse, with the armies of heaven behind Him, to save those who are “eagerly waiting for Him” (Hebrews 9:28).
This Christmas, are you waiting for the King? Is your heart anticipating the One for whom you were created? The Father put forth His Son so that we could be His sons and daughters. At this time of year especially, we encourage you to remember that He has so much more for you! He’s the greatest gift we could ever receive. He’s the fullness of heaven, the heart of the Father, made flesh, and there is absolutely nothing more worthy of celebration! Merry Christmas!
However, if you asked them why He came, would they know? If we ask ourselves why He came, do we know? Let’s not lose sight of the fact that Jesus isn’t just a baby in a manger. There is so much more to the story! The purpose of His coming wasn’t His birth, although it’s a joy to celebrate. That was just the beginning. Jesus is the plan of the Father for everyone that would ever live!
Prior to the incarnation of Jesus, there were sacrifices, daily, as a reminder that sin separated man from God. However, as Hebrews 10:4 says,
“It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
Priests went into the Holy of Holies, but not often. God spoke to His people, but most would hear His Word spoken only from the lips of another. God’s longing has always been to be close to all of His people. His heart has never changed and for that reason, Galatians 4:4-5 says,
“When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
God gave His absolute best so there weren’t just daily sacrifices for sin, but a complete removal of its stain. The blood of Jesus was shed so that we could be absolutely free from sin once and for all! Romans 3:22-25 says,
“For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.”
If God only sent Jesus to remove our sin, though, couldn’t He have sent Him as a fully grown man, just to suffer and die? It could have been over in a moment, instead of the 33 years that Jesus lived among humanity. He came in humility, as a baby. He needed protection and care as He grew. He fasted, suffered, and knew grief and loneliness. He went through everything we go through, because He didn’t just come to bear our sin, but our grief, our sorrow, our sickness, and all of our suffering. Hebrews 2:17 says,
“He had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”
He came to live like us, so we could live like Him. He fulfilled His purpose for you, for me and for everyone that’s ever lived. This week, I want to share some of the reasons that the Bible says He came. He’s so much more than a baby in a manger. He didn’t even come just to get us to heaven! Let these truths encourage you, this Christmas season:
Jesus came to fulfill the law. (Matthew 5:17)
Jesus came to call sinners. (Mark 2:17 and 1 Timothy 1:15)
Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. (Matthew 20:28)
Jesus came to give His life as a ransom. (Matthew 20:28 and John 12:24-27)
Jesus came to reveal the heart of the Father. (John 3:16 and John 6:38)
Jesus came to seek and save the lost. (Luke 19:10)
Jesus came to bring light. (John 12:46)
Jesus came to bear witness to the truth. (John 18:37)
Jesus came to bring righteous judgment. (John 9:38)
Jesus came to save and not condemn us. (John 3:17)
Jesus came to declare good news. (Luke 4:18)
Jesus came to proclaim freedom for the captives. (Luke 4:18)
Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted. (Luke 4:18)
Jesus came to destroy all the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8 and Hebrews 2:14)
Jesus came to give us adoption as sons and daughters. (Galatians 4:4-5)
Jesus came to redeem and purify a people for His own possession. (Titus 2:14)
Jesus came to give us peace that cannot be taken away. (John 14:27)
Jesus came to bear our sickness and heal all who come to Him. (Matthew 8:16-17)
Jesus came to give us access to the Father by His blood. (Hebrews 10:19)
Jesus came to give us life, and life more abundant. (John 10:10)
Jesus was the propitiation that we could never have offered for our sin. There is nothing we could have done to be purified, to be whole, or to be free, if Jesus had not come. He’s not a baby anymore! He’s glorified, at the right hand of the Father, even now making intercession for us. His face shines like the sun and His hair is white like wool. When He returns, He’ll not be coming as a baby again. He’ll be coming back riding a white horse, with the armies of heaven behind Him, to save those who are “eagerly waiting for Him” (Hebrews 9:28).
This Christmas, are you waiting for the King? Is your heart anticipating the One for whom you were created? The Father put forth His Son so that we could be His sons and daughters. At this time of year especially, we encourage you to remember that He has so much more for you! He’s the greatest gift we could ever receive. He’s the fullness of heaven, the heart of the Father, made flesh, and there is absolutely nothing more worthy of celebration! Merry Christmas!
1 Comment
I too am waiting for the King! So grateful to be a true son, brought in by the spirit of adoption! Abba Father! Thank you for Your Son. Jesus thank you for the Spirit. Never the same. What a gift!