The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14 At Christmas, we celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. God came down from heaven and entered our world. Why did Jesus come? The entire New Testament answers that question. Paul tells us that Jesus came to reconcile us to God. “In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them” (2 Cor. 5:19). John tells us that “the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world” (1 Jn. 4:14). Hebrews tells us that He came to “destroy the one who has the power of death” and to bring “many sons to glory” (Heb. 2:10, 14). Revelation tells us that He came to ransom people for God “from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9). Does Jesus Himself ever speak directly about why He came into the world? Yes. Perhaps the best-known example is “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (Jn. 10:10). What a marvellous promise! On other occasions, Jesus speaks indirectly about why He came: “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Lk. 19:10). “The Son of Man came... to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45). But there are seven occasions where Jesus tells us directly and personally why He came into the world. Three of them are recorded in Matthew and Luke. Four of them are recorded in John. Over the next month, we are going to hear from Jesus’ own words about why He came into the world. Of the many reasons mentioned today, which one sounds most important to you right now?
