Much has been written over the ages trying to explain why Jesus came from heaven to earth. Whole books of theology have been written on what is called the Incarnation, Jesus taking on human flesh. This article tries to show what Jesus Himself said about His coming to earth. Let Jesus tell us, in His own words, why He came to earth, so we can reflect on their significance for the world in general, and for ourselves in particular.

He Came Into The World In His Father’s Name To Do The Father’s will, Not His own Will

It was in the Father’s plan and purpose for Jesus to come to earth.

• Joh 5:43 “I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.”
• Joh 6:38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.”
• Joh 7:28 ‘So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29 I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.”’
• Joh 8:42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.”
• Joh 12:27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.”

He Came Into The World As The Light Of The World, To Dispel Darkness

• Joh 3:19 (The words are attributed to Jesus) “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”
• Joh 9:39 ‘Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”’
• Joh 12:46 “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.”

He Came Into The World To Call To Call Sinners To Repentance

• (Mk. 2:17) ‘And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”’

He Came Into The World To Fulfil the Old Testament Law And Prophecies and To Establish The New.

• 5:17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them”.
• Joh 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

He Came Into The World To Kindle A Fire .

Luk 12:49-50, “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!

He Came Into The World As The Prince Of Peace, But His Coming Would Bring Division! (People would respond differently to His message. Same message! Different responses!)

Mat 10:34  “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Luk 12:51 “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

He Came Into The World, But He Alone Knew Where He Had Come From. Others Only Thought They Knew.

Joh 8:14 ‘Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.”’

Joh 12:27  “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.”

Joh 16:28 “ I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

He Came Into The World To Be A Witness To The Truth

• Joh 18:37 ‘Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”’
• Joh 15:22 ”If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin.”

He Came Into The World To Search For And To Save The Lost.

• 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

He Came Into The World To Serve People And To Give Up His Life To Ransom Many.

• 10:44-45), “and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Many decades ago I heard a statement like this. “If you had been the only person in the world, and committed only one sin in your whole lifetime, Jesus would still have needed to come, to die for you.”  The famous hymn, “There is a Green Hill Far Away” has these words which echo that truth, “There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin, He only could unlock the gate of heaven and let us in.” Jesus was the only one equipped to be the Saviour from sin. Any sin! All sin!

• It is comforting to know that Jesus came at that first Christmas to later die willingly for the sins of the whole world.
• It is challenging to know that He came and in His amazing love for individuals, died for you and me. What should be our response to His sacrificial love on our behalf? Paul gives us the answer, “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” 2 Cor 5:14-15.

You might ask, “I understand that Jesus came and died for me, but how can I now live for Him?” It is possible by praying to the Risen Lord Jesus, a prayer such as this one, “Dear Lord Jesus, I thank You that you died on the cross to take away my sin. Come into my life in the power of Your Holy Spirit and enable me to live for You for the rest of my life. AMEN.”

I believe that if you pray a prayer such as this one, that God will take you seriously and will begin to transform you inwardly by His Holy Spirit, to become more like Him.

This Christmas 2019 could be your very best yet. I pray that it will be so, for your sake, and to His glory.

Have a truly Blessed Christmas, in Him!

Blog No.335 posted on www.jimholbeck.blog on Monday 16^th December 2019.