Why did Christ come?

Most days I read the Bible and God speaks to me, then I record what He said in my words. But sometimes I just need someone to preach to me. Today both happened. First, the devotional is a mini sermon, answering the question in the title: “Why did Christ come?”

One reason Jesus Christ came into the world was to establish righteousness for us as a perfect human being. He restored what we lost in our sin. God requires righteousness from us, but we are guilty: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Jesus came to live without sin and in perfect obedience to establish righteousness before God for us. He is my representative . . .  

“For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19)

A second reason Christ came was to redeem his people by dying as our Substitute. He satisfied the wrath of God against sin when God took all our sin and put them on His Son. The law of God is satisfied by this trade: His righteousness for our sin.

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Jesus also came to glorify his Father. The unseen God became visible so we can know what He is like and so we can know Him. The love of God is seen in the salvation and sacrifice offered through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son.

“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:3)

As I read these things, I am drawn to worship and thanksgiving. But the Lord was not finished speaking to me. The second reference was from Isaiah and again speaks to why Jesus came. Both sets of answers are personal but this one is right now where I am at. My sister is with us for a few days. She has a form of dementia that robs her of remembering words and where she puts things. I am grieving; the person she was is no longer the person she is now. Sometimes I am annoyed and frustrated, but mostly brokenhearted as I watch her in her foggy prison. Jesus came to mend my sorrow, but also to build up and eventually restore her. She is His child and eventually will live in a perfect body with a clear mind.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.” (Isaiah 61:1–4)

Because I know all this is true, my sadness is somewhat lifted and I know that as this good word settles into my heart and I contemplate the promises of God with expectation. Perhaps full joy will return, but if not, I know there is a better day ahead.

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Jesus, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10) This is true for me, but also true for my dear sister.

Heaven on earth?

An age-old question asks, “If God is good, why do we have sickness, accidents, disasters…?” For the non-Christian, the answer is that “God is not good,” but for Christians, the answer is much more complex. We know that God is good, so what do we do with evil? How is it to be defined? What causes it? What do we do about it?

Jesus confronted the question before His crucifixion. He was totally innocent of any wrong-doing, but those who hated Him were going to put Him to death. As the man who is God, He said,

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.” (John 12:27)

Jesus knew the purpose of His death. He dreaded the suffering, even sweating blood as He prayed about it. Yet the Bible says, “Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith… for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

Jesus saw beyond the disaster of His unwarranted crucifixion to the plan of God the results that would come of it. Further, He knew that the sin of others was behind this, but instead of railing against them or what they plotted, He said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

That is our problem. We are so bent on having our own way that we are blind to the consequences of saying ‘yes’ to sin and ‘no’ to God. The greater population does not see or agree that sin is the reason for all the nasty stuff in the world either. We really don’t know what we are doing.

I’ve done it; I’ve blamed God for “allowing” my sin. I’ve also said to my children, “You make me so impatient” when the impatience is my response. Children have no power to make anyone do anything. God did give us the ability to choose. He also offers us Jesus. Instead of doubting the goodness of God, a better question might be, “Why do I sin when God offers me a solution?”

I cannot make others behave the way I want them to behave. When others sin, even against me, Jesus set a pattern of response. He looked beyond the immediate discomfort and pain to the plan and promises of God, and instead of fighting His circumstances, He yielded to them. He could do that because He knew that God “works all things for good to those who love Him” (Romans 8:28) and that God is in charge of disasters.

I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things. (Isaiah 45:7)

One day I will be in a sinless condition and a sinless place. That is why Christ died — that sinners like me could look forward to a very real deliverance from disaster and calamity and from our own sin. In the meantime, I can choose what I do about the mess that is in the world, and about the way I am treated by other sinners.

For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. (1 Peter 2:20–23)

Faith in Christ means more than copying His example. He lives in my heart and gives me that same trust in my Heavenly Father. Because of Jesus, I know that God is just and in control. He has shown me that suffering helps me know two great truths: the depth of my sin and the depth of His forgiveness, grace and mercy. If I were plopped into heaven without either, it would not be heaven but a selfish indulgence.

Wanting a disaster-free world can be a compassion because I hate to see others suffer, but it can also be a sinful desire to be free of everything that hinders me from wanting and having my own way. 

Seeing the glory of God

The prophetic events foretold in the Old Testament have been described much like two mountain peaks with a valley of time between them. Those looking at the descriptions can see only the mountain tops, so they assume all these events happen at the same time.

For instance, the coming of the Messiah is often prophesied as if He would save His people and rule the world — in one advent. This is why many of the Jews wanted to make Jesus a king and have Him free them from Roman rule. However, saving came first. The role of king has been reserved for the second mountain peak. Now, we are in that valley of time. Note the words of this prophet . . .

A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:3–5)

These verses are tied to both events, the first and second coming of Jesus Christ. The first sentences are quoted in the Gospels. John the baptizer was the voice who cried to the people to prepare the way of the Lord. He did this prior Jesus’ appearance as a babe.

The last line in this passage from Isaiah is a grand mixture. The first phrase says, “the glory of the LORD shall be revealed.” Compare this to what John wrote about Jesus first coming . . . 

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Yet the second part says “all flesh shall see it together.” That did not happen then. In fact, “all flesh” has yet to see the glory of the Lord. This is not going to happen until He comes again, the second mountain peak.

In the valley of time, the glory of the Lord is not seen. For one thing, Satan and sin keeps people in darkness, as Paul wrote, “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

However, a day is coming when Jesus will return, not as a child in a manger, but as a King and a judge of the whole earth. Isaiah said that His glory would be revealed and all would see it. This is confirmed by Jesus Himself.

And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. (Luke 21:25–28)

Matthew and Mark add that, “He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:31).

All will see Him and His glory, but not all who see His glory will be included in that gathering. Nevertheless, all will realize who He is and fall on their knees before Him.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9–11)

Because Jesus humbled Himself and became one of us dying for our sins, at His name, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord, just as Isaiah said.

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Oh Lord, today’s newspaper uses words like “the magic of Christmas” without realizing that what many sense is the presence of Your Holy Spirit. Political correctness tries to remove the Your name from this celebration. Many earnestly believe that the real meaning of Christmas is about gifts and Santa Claus. This is sad.

However, one day everyone will know the truth. You are the One who became flesh and lived among us that all flesh might see You and be glad. You offer redemption and forgiveness of sin. I pray that eyes will be opened to see and accept Your offer now, instead of waiting until You return as Judge when they must reluctantly bow and confess that You are Lord.

As for me, I don’t want my worship to be “one day” but fully today — and every day. Grant me grace also to proclaim Your glory, telling others that the manger child is God with us — that they may see and hear and know and glorify You.
(Photo credit)

Why was Jesus born?

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.  (Mark 10:45)

Christmas is only the beginning of the reason for this season. May His birth, His entire life, His atoning death, and His victorious resurrection produce deep and lasting joy in every heart!