WHY JESUS?
There’s no question that the most important person in the Christmas story is Jesus Himself. But the question remains why Jesus? Why did the creator of the cosmos, an all powerful deity, elect to come to earth as a human? Why did He choose to endure the indignities and problems of childhood and the subsequent teenage years in order to grow to manhood and then be a sacrifice for us? Many people of other religions, and even some in Christianity, say that God would not demean Himself in such a way, and therefore, disbelieve much of what the Bible says about Christ.
So why should we accept the story that Christ came to earth as a child and was born to a virgin in such humble circumstances as the Bible relates it to us? Why Jesus and why the story of His birth as it is told? Why should the creator of all, and the most powerful being of all, subject himself to such indignity and humility? It is this disbelief that causes many to disavow Christ’s divinity on the basis that God would not do such a thing and would not create a child - “His only begotten son” (1 John 4:9). Of course, not believing that God could or would not do such a thing puts human limits on an omnipotent and limitless God.
But the question still remains - why Christ? There are a number of reasons why God might come to earth as He did in human form.
Firstly, it could be because of man’s priority in God’s creation. The question of man’s importance is asked in Hebrews 2:
“What is man that you are mindful of him?” (Hebrews 2:6)
It is then stated:
“You have made him a little lower that the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
And set him over the works of Your hands.
You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”
(Hebrews 2:7-8)
And in addition to mankind as a whole
Jesus [as well]…was made a little lower than the angels…
(Hebrews 2:9)
Secondly, it could have been to help unify God with man. Since the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and since “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23) it makes sense…
…that He, by the grace of God,
might taste death for everyone and [make]
their salvation perfect through [His] sufferings.
(Hebrews 2:9-10)
In order to accomplish this, He had to be human Himself.
Thirdly, to free us from captivity.
…that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death,
that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death
were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
(Hebrews 2:14-15)
Fourthly, to simply relate to us. Since we all sin and are tempted into sin everyday, He came to relate to us in our environment so that it could be said:
For in that he Himself has suffered, being tempted,
He is able to aid those who are tempted.
(Hebrews 2:18)
He was
…in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
(Hebrews 4:15)
Fifthly, and perhaps most importantly, so that we can relate to Him. He can know everything about us but the opposite is certainly not true. How does a finite being come to really understand anything about an infinite deity? He is remote; far removed from our circumstances and understanding. And this is the case still with most religions in which the god worshipped is aloof and distant, striking fear into those who seek to worship him. Hence, the sacrifices that occur in order to appease and assuage such a god.
But the true God is different, even though one of His names, Elohim, means creator, powerful, and transcendent. God is also called “the Lord God" referring to a more personal, and intimate deity. So how could we relate to an all-powerful, transcendent creator unless He was willing to relate to us on our level as a human as well?
By seeing Him as He grew alongside us, we should have been able to fully relate to His message and purpose. The fact that most still do not illustrates the stubbornness and self-reliance we still retain within ourselves. It also may explain to a large extent the present situation of the world and why more may eventually be lost than what we expect.
And those may be lost just because they do not believe or understand. The Bible refers to this in the following scriptures:
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
(1 Corinthians 1:18)
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God,
it pleased God through the foolishness of the message to save those who believe.
(1 Corinthians 1:21)
“And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him;
for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.”
(John 12:47)
So why Jesus? He is the manifestation of an all powerful deity in a human form so that we could understand and relate to the loving, personal side of God. A God who only wants love and respect from us in return.
At Christmas, we should stop thinking so much of the presents we receive and give to each other and think more of the gifts of peace, joy, and hope brought to us by that fateful star (“I am the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” Revelation 22:16) that led the wise men to the house where Jesus lay so long ago.
It is something we all should think about.
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