Why Jesus Came: A Biblical Perspective

Christmas should be a day of great joy, especially for Christians. The angels viewed Jesus’ coming as a time of joyous celebration (Luke 2:10). And we are privileged to share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men.

Christmas is a day of gift-giving. It all began when God sent us His Christmas present—special delivery! His present to us was a love-gift. He gave us Jesus, His only begotten Son.

Jesus is the best Christmas present anyone could receive!

But why did God send us His Son?

Here are 13 scriptural reasons to help us get started answering this question. I am sure that there are many more reasons, but let’s start with these.

Reason 1: The fullness of time had come and the prophecies promising the coming Messiah were to be fulfilled.

“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal. 4:4-5).

Four thousand years of history had passed since the first promise given in the Garden of Eden.

Looking back, we can see circumstances that may have played a part in the “fullness of time.” There was relative peace under Roman rule. The Romans had built roads that allowed movement from one end of the known world to the other.

Also, Greek and Latin were common languages across thousands of miles and hundreds of people groups. These circumstances aided the spread of the gospel.

Reason 2: Jesus came to do the will of the Father who sent Him.

“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38).

God is not willing that any should perish, and Jesus came to provide atonement for sins.

Reason 3: Jesus came to be the Savior of the world.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

 

“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” (1 John 4:14).

 

“And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 12:47).

Reason 4: Jesus came to reveal the Father.

“No man hath seen God at any time;

 

the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him [NIV—“made him known”; NAU—“explained Him”] (John 1:18).

 

“Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

 

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?

 

He that hath seen me hath seen the Father;

 

and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” (John 14:8-9).

Jesus claimed to speak only the words the Father told Him to speak, and to do only the works the Father wanted Him to do (John 14:10). The writer of the letter to the Hebrews says that Jesus is the brightness of God’s glory and the “express image of his person” (Heb. 1:3).

Jesus also said, “One who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me” (John 12:45). Jesus, in His attitude, actions, and words, reflects exactly the person and character of the Father.

Reason 5: Jesus came to redeem His people from their sins.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Mat. 1:21).

This promise is focusing on the Jews. Jesus came to provide spiritual salvation for the Jewish people and Paul tells us that there is coming a day when all Israel shall be saved (Rom. 11:26).

That day is spoken of by Ezekiel who tells us that God will bring the Jewish people out of the countries wherein they are scattered, “with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out” (Eze. 20:34).

On that day, he will purge from the Jewish people every rebel and those who transgress against Him, and bring the remainder of the Jewish people into the bond of the covenant (Eze. 20:35-38).

Reason 6: Jesus came to show all people how much God loves them.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

 

“But God commendeth [demonstrates] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).

Reason 7: Jesus came to provide an example for all His followers of how to live.

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Pet. 2:21-22).

 

“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1 John 2:6).

 

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5).

Reason 8: Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost and call sinners to repentance.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

 

“When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17).

 

“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32).

Reason 9: Jesus came to shed His blood, suffer, and die for our sins so He could become the captain of our salvation and bring “many sons unto glory.”

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

 

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Heb. 2:9-10).

 

“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

Reason 10: Jesus came to provide the means whereby redeemed humans could be adopted into God’s family and become children of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs;

 

heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;

 

if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (Rom. 8:16-17).

Reason 11: Jesus came to establish His Church, which is His spiritual body.

“And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:22-23).

Reason 12: Jesus came to show us how to live a holy life through the indwelling and filling of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

 

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:15-16).

Reason 13: Jesus came to ready a bride.

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

 

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

 

And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.

 

And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God” (Rev. 19:7-9).

 

“And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife” (Rev. 21:9).

Conclusion

As you join with others in worship at this Christmas season, let’s praise God for the gift of His Son! Let’s thank Jesus for coming! You might wish to review this list as you pray and express your thankfulness.

May the God of comfort, hope, and peace fill you with all joy and peace in believing at this Christmas season!