Why He Came

After Levi the tax collector meets Jesus, he throws a big party for him(Luke 5:27-32)—“a great feast” with “a large company of tax collectorsand others” on the guest list. This socializing with despised traitors disturbs the Pharisees, but Jesus sets them straight: “Thosewho are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

As I mentioned on Dec. 14, this kind of “I have come” statement by Jesus alludes to his pre-existence outside this world, this life. That is, he’s not just saying he’d “come” from, say, Nazareth or a neighbor’s veranda: the idea is to underscore his heavenly origins—and then to speak of his purpose for entering our world that first Christmas.

New Testament scholar Simon Gathercole argues that the Gospel writers are well aware that the Son of God existed with the Father prior to his earthly ministry, and that Jesus’ many “I have come” sayings are a key way of indicating this (see his book, The PreexistentSon) (look up Gathercole on YouTube—worth your time).

Since Christmas is about God’s Son “coming” into our world, let’s review Jesus’ “I have come” sayings and ask: Why Christmas? Why the incarnation of God? Jesus came: >>To seek and save the lost (Luke19:10). >>Not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as aransom for many (Mark 10:45). >>To destroy the works of the devil(1 John 3:8). >>To bear witness to the truth (John 18:37). >>Sothat we might receive adoption as sons (Gal 4:5). >>Not to condemnthe world but so that the world might be saved through him(John 3:17). >>So that we might live through him (1 John 4:9).>>To save sinners (1 Tim 1:15). >>To proclaim release to captivesand recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who areoppressed (Luke 4:18). In order to confirm the promises given to thepatriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for hismercy (Rom 15:7-8). >>To glorify the Father (John 12:27-28).>>So that we might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10).

What magnificent, loving purposes God had, and has, for his Christmas invasion of this desperate world! And what a great heart the Lord has for rebel sinners—like me, like you! Thank the Lord for Christmas.