As we reflect on Jesus’ birth, let’s turn to Scripture to discover why Jesus left heaven and came to this earth for us.
To Give Us Life
John 3:16 states, ‘“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life”’ (AMP).
From this verse, we see the depths of the Father’s love for us. He sent Jesus to this earth, so that we may have eternal life. The Father desires for no one to perish, but for all to come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9).
When we believe in Jesus and submit to Him as our Lord and Savior, we are granted eternal life in heaven. Our future is secure in Him.
To Liberate Us from Sin
Besides giving us life, Jesus came to deliver us from the bondage of sin. As a matter of fact, Jesus’ name means “The LORD saves”.
In Matthew 1:21, an angel appears to Joseph and says, “‘She [Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins’” (NIV).
When Jesus died on the cross, He willingly became a sacrifice for us. He took upon Himself the punishment we deserved for sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). As a result, we are set free from sin. His blood cleanses us from the stain of all sin – past, present and future.
Whenever we acknowledge our sin, God forgives us and cleanses us (1 John 1:9).
To Reconcile Us Back to God
Not only did Jesus’ sacrifice liberate us from sin, but His sacrifice also gave us peace with the Father (2 Corinthians 5:18, Romans 5:1).
Romans 5:9-10 states, “since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life!” (CSB)
From these verses, we see that Jesus’ death appeases the wrath of God and reconciles us back to the Father. No longer enemies of God, but children of God through our faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26).
To Give Us Access to God
In addition, through Jesus we have access to God (Romans 5:2, John 14:6). He is our Great High Priest before the Father.
Hebrews 2:17-18 states, “For this reason He had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted” (NIV).
Because Jesus lived on this earth, He experienced suffering and pain like us. This means that He truly understands and empathizes with us as He intercedes for us. Therefore, we can boldly approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace (Hebrews 4:16).
From our study, we see that Jesus came to give us life, to deliver us from sin, to reconcile us with the Father and to give us access to the Father. He is our Life, our Savior, our Peace and our Great High Priest.
Let’s pause and take a moment to worship Jesus who willingly left heaven and came to this earth for us.
Thank You, Jesus, for coming to this earth. May we never forget all that You endured for us. You alone are worthy of all our praise. Help us to keep You as the reason we celebrate Christmas. May the Holy Spirit remind us why You came and may we encourage others with these awe-inspiring truths. We love You and honor You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflective Questions
- How will I celebrate Jesus as the reason for Christmas?
- With whom can I share these truths?
For Further Study
- See this post which explains the names given to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6: A King Like No Other
- Rediscover the joy we have in Christ from this post: 3 Reasons to Choose Joy
Republished with permission from Blogs.crossmap.com, featuring inspiring Bible verses about Jesus Christ.
