Why Was Jesus Born?

This last Sunday, we discussed the birth of Christ in Sunday School. It was a good discussion.

One of the questions that was asked was why was Christmas celebrated on December 25. That is a good question. December 25th is most definitely not when Christ was born. That date was chosen by Constantine in the 4th century. It was actually the date on which the pagans worshiped their sun god. In an attempt to appease both Christians and pagans, Constantine let the pagans keep their celebration date, but said that the holiday would be in honor of the birth of the Son of God. The birth of Christ probably took place sometime between April and November—after the winter season and in between the two rainy seasons.

While December 25th is not the actual date for Christ’s birth, it is good to celebrate the amazing fact that God entered the human scene as a newborn baby.

Another thing we talked about are some of the contrasts we see in the birth of Christ. For example, Bethlehem means “house of bread” in Hebrew. Jesus, the Bread of Life, was born in the house of bread. We see the Word of God (John 1) born as a speechless baby. The announcement of Christ’s birth was first made to shepherds tending their sheep on the Judean hillsides not far from Bethlehem. Jesus is both the Lamb of God (John 1:36) and the Good Shepherd John 10). There are other contrasts too. Can you see any others?

The birth of Christ is a great miracle, but we must ask the question, “Why was Jesus the Christ born?” Not to be a good example or a great Teacher, though, he was both of these. He did not come to enlighten us. He came to do far, far more than all these things. He came to die on the cross so that we might live. God is perfect love, but our determination to push God off and to run our own lives our own way have separated us from God. He loves us, yes, but we chose to go our own way. The consequence is that we died spiritually and unless our debt of rebellion is paid, we will be eternally separated from God. Our sin is against an infinitely perfect, holy God. There is no way we can earn God's favor. We can turn over a new leaf, but that does not undo what we have done and what we are. So Christ came. God became a human, though He did not give up His deity, and 33 years later He gave his life in our place, as if he were the one who sinned, yet he never did. His was an infinitely, perfect sacrifice. Now, God promises that if we believe that Christ died in our place, rose back to life three days later and we yield the control of our lives to him, God will make us right with himself, forgive us of our sins and give us a new and eternal life.