He gave hope to the hopeless.

He gave life the lifeless.

He welcomed the stranger and outcast.

He ate dinner with sinners like you and me. 

The baby born in a manger grew to speak the words of God and do the works of God.  His earthly ministry came to an end as he died on the cross for your sin.  Three days later he rose from the dead to bring you victory over sin and death.  He now sits at the right hand of the Heavenly Father waiting for you to join him in the place he’s prepared for you.

But let’s focus upon the fact that Jesus was born on what we now call “Christmas.”  Why? Why did God, the Son take on flesh and walk among us.  The theological term is “incarnation.”  As Eugene Peterson puts it, Jesus took on flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.  But Why?  I’m going to allow Jesus to answer that question.  Here are seven reasons for the incarnation in Jesus’ own words.

Jesus is God Incarnate. Fully and truly God and fully and truly man. He came to fulfill the law.  He perfectly lived the law and prophets. He lived a life we could never live so we could have eternal life which we could never gain without him.

To seek and save the lost:

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” – Luke 19:10

Jesus came to seek and save lost sinners like you and me. Apart from Jesus, we are like sheep who have gone astray. Sheep separated from the shepherd are bound to walk in dangerous places, consume dangerous things, and find themselves injured or dead.  Jesus seeks those who have gone astray in order to save them.  Jesus saves us from sin and the eternal consequences of sin. 

To call sinners to repentance:

^“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” – Luke 5:32

When Jesus seeks and saves us, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, repent of sin, and transformed. We are called to repent of our ways and follow the ways of God demonstrated by the life of Jesus.  In our failure, we repent and find grace.   Yet, with each repentance, we become more like Jesus and less like the world.

To give life:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10

Jesus came to provide abundant life here and now. A life filled with hope, peace, joy, and love. It is an abundant life filled with the hope of eternal life. The world promises full life but it over promises and under delivers. Only Jesus gives life to the full. 

To bring light:

“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” – John 12:46

Jesus came to shine light in dark places. He came to shine the light upon the darkness of the world, darkness of your evil behavior, and the deep dark corners of your heart. The darkness of sin, confusion, and despair are cast out in the light of Christ.

To testify to the truth:

“You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” – John 18:37

In a world of deception, dishonesty, lies, and half-truth, Jesus brings the full force of truth.  Those who know Jesus know truth.  Those who know truth know Jesus.  And the truth sets you free. Culture will lead you astray.  AI will lead you astray.  Jesus will lead you to truth. 

Jesus came to display the character of God. He is One of grace, compassion, mercy, love, and service. Jesus fed the hungry, gave sight to the blind, washed feet of the dirty, and willingly gave his life for the sake of others.  In Jesus we see God, love God, and personally know God.  In the testimony of his earthly ministry, we are provided an example of how we should live.

Conclusion

In the Advent season, we look back and celebrate the birth of Savior.  We also look forward and anticipate Jesus’ second coming.  We long for the day He returns for his church.  Now is the time to grab ahold of all that Jesus has provided to you and has in store for you.  May it lead you to vibrant worship.