Why Did Jesus Come to Earth? 3 Time-Tested Reasons to Be Thankful for the First Christmas
in Faith, Salvation
Have you ever wondered why Jesus came to earth? Christmas has been so overtaken by human tradition and commercialization that few may even stop to wonder what it is all about. Surely something must be behind thousands of years devoted to an annual celebration that crosses continents and cultures. So what is it about the Jesus story that has kept the celebration alive so long? Why are devout Christians so vehement about protecting what has become a prepackaged holiday marked by Amazon shopping and Mariah Carey's undying anthem? Setting aside the Starbucks seasonal drinks and credit card debt, here are three time-tested reasons to be thankful for the first Christmas.
He Took Your Sin Upon Himself
Jesus came to earth to take the sin of each one of us on Himself. This means He literally came to lift your sin off from you and place it upon Himself, thereby releasing you from it. Of course, this was a process and required Jesus to fulfill God the Father's plan. Sin must be paid for according to God's Word: "...for the wages of sin is death...," (Romans 6:23). Since death in this context means both a physical and spiritual death (separation from God forever in hell), it is a price no one wants to pay. Amazingly, God doesn't want you and I to pay that price either, but someone had to do it.
Enter Jesus--Son of God, God the Son, Savior, Redeemer, Messiah--He goes by many names. God's plan was that a member of the Godhead would take our sin upon Himself and pay its price on behalf of each person, crediting that payment to the account of all who believe.
"...that whosever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16.)
Isaiah 53, written over 700 years before Christ came to earth, gives account of His sin-bearing purpose. "...and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity [sin] of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). And we see this concept often in the New Testament, explicitly in 1 Peter 2:24, "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree..."
This is step one in God's plan to restore us, to remove our sin debt and add it to His own account. But you must first admit to yourself and Him that you have sinned against Him or broken His laws (laws meant to protect you and honor Him). Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Once you own your sin, you are ready to give it over to Him for permanent removal.
When you understand that He took your sin upon Himself, you can truly appreciate the next reason to be thankful for the first Christmas.
He Suffered to Pay the Price for Your Sin
Both the gospels of the New Testament and Isaiah 53 outline the suffering of Christ on our behalf. Jesus, as God the Son, was the divine sacrifice for our sins. As our sins, even of those yet to be born, were place upon Christ by God the Father, He received the shame and punishment submissively and silently. God the Father and God the Son acted out this divine plan for our good.
Jesus suffered intensely on the cross, receiving the punishment and making the payment for your sin--so you would never have to do so. That is the next part of the plan. First, Christ took our sins upon Himself, and then He suffered for them, received the punishment for them. But He was never guilty, being fully God in a human body, He was tempted but never gave in. He lived a sinless life and yet died as a criminal, paying for the sins of the ones He loves, which is all of us.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Jesus came to Earth to pay the price for your sin, but he was no martyr: He was a willing sacrifice.
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again... (John 10:17-18)
Jesus' heart's desire is that YOU receive the benefits of His sacrifice, which is why He came to Earth. Next, we will consider how to take that final step with Jesus.
Jesus Restores You to God
It's a gift. A gift that cost Him everything and cost you nothing. You can be restored to God when you fully believe that you have a sin debt that you can't pay but Jesus did, that He suffered for you, and you call out to Him and ask for His gift of forgiveness, cleansing, and salvation, He gives it to you. That simple and that mind boggling. He already purchased the gift a couple thousand years ago, but it becomes yours when you believe and receive it. It's a spiritual transaction, according to Romans 10:9:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
The sin he suffered, died, and rose again to remove from us is a big deal. Remember earlier we said that it separates us from God--forever. This is quite an important gift He offers as it sets you free from sin, allowing you to have an open relationship with God that was not possible before you believed and received that Jesus stepped in and took your place. This means you can begin living life with Him now and remain with Him for eternity after this life ends. That is complete restoration!
Christmas Is About God's Love for You
So this Christmas, any day of the year you read this, remember that this season (or whatever the distraction of the day is) isn't about the hype, the hurry, the demands of culture, or even tradition. It's about the love of an awesome God for His people, specifically, for you.
He removed your sin and placed it upon His own account; He suffered so you wouldn't have to; He has (or will if want Him to) restore you to a beautiful relationship with Himself that starts now and lasts for eternity. The baby in a manger came with purpose and a divine plan that always existed.
So today, respond to Him in these three ways:
Receive Him--call out to him, turning your heart from your sin, ask Him for His gift.
Emulate Him--trust Him with your life, follow Him, and pour out your soul for Him and others as He leads you.
Share Him--spread the good news with others, telling them why Jesus came to Earth.
Want to know more about having a relationship with God? Watch this video.
