why was jesus born

Why Was Jesus Born

Today we will talk about why Jesus was born. Many Christians do not know what this means. Understanding the reasons behind Jesus’ birth is essential to grasping the heart of our faith. His coming into the world was not just an event—it was the unfolding of God’s incredible plan for humanity. Be in a mode of meditation as we read through God’s Word, and let’s explore this beautiful truth together!

The Promise of a Savior

The birth of Jesus is popularly referred to as the fulfillment of prophecies made in the Old Testament. The Old Testament is replete with passages that foreshadow the coming of a Savior. Understanding the roots of these promises brings a sense of hope and anticipation to Jesus’ arrival. In the Hebrew language, the term “Messiah” translates to “anointed one,” symbolizing someone chosen by God to lead and deliver His people. This term encapsulates the essence of why Jesus came. Not only was He anticipated, but He was needed to restore a broken relationship between God and humanity.

Isaiah 7:14 informs us, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” The name “Immanuel” means “God with us.” This signifies that God chose to enter our reality, emphasizing His deep desire to reconnect with humanity. Furthermore, the mention of a virgin birth reflects not just the miraculous nature of Jesus’ entry into the world, but it speaks volumes about God’s intervention in human affairs.

God’s announcement in Micah 5:2 also foretells where this Messiah would be born. It says, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” This illuminates God’s amazing plan that the Shepherd of His people would come from the smallest of places, emphasizing God’s frequent choice of the humble and lowly.

To Reveal the Nature of God

Another critical reason for Jesus’ birth was to reveal the nature of God to mankind. In John 14:9, Jesus says, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” Jesus embodied the character of God in human form. This means that through the life and actions of Jesus, we can gain an understanding of who God is and what He values. The New Testament often emphasizes the love, mercy, and grace God pours out onto humanity, qualities that are fully manifested through Jesus’ life.

Hebrews 1:3 states, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” This implies that knowing Jesus is essential to knowing God. Through His teachings, parables, and interactions, we see the heart of God as loving, forgiving, and just. Jesus often shared stories—such as the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)—to illustrate God’s relentless love towards us, which is essential for us to internalize as followers of Christ.

As represented in Colossians 1:15, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,” we recognize that who Jesus is serves as a mirror reflecting the qualities of God. The significance of Jesus’ birth, therefore, lies in the fact that through Him, we gain insight into God’s identity and His desires for our lives.

To Fulfill the Law

Jesus’ birth also serves a greater purpose: to fulfill the Jewish Law. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus states, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” The Law, delivered to Moses in the Old Testament, set standards meant to guide God’s people toward living righteously. However, due to human sinfulness, living up to the Law became an impossible task.

With Jesus’ coming into the world, He fulfilled every aspect of the Law perfectly, exemplifying how to live according to God’s commands fully. Romans 10:4 affirms this by stating, “Christ is the culmination of the Law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” This means that through faith in Christ, we receive the righteousness that the Law requires—something we could not achieve through our strength alone.

Furthermore, in Galatians 3:24, it says, “So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.” The significance of Jesus being born as a human was to bridge the gap between the Law and grace; He is the fulfillment of the Law which brings us into a new covenant with God.

To Reconcile Us back to God

At the core of Jesus’ purpose for being born lies the mission of reconciliation. We see a powerful verse in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 that states, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.” This highlights one of the most incredible aspects of Jesus’ mission—He came to heal the rift caused by sin between humanity and God.

The concept of reconciliation is beautifully captured in Ephesians 2:13, which says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” His birth, life, death, and resurrection serve the purpose of restoring our relationship with God. Because of Jesus, we can draw near to the Father, experience forgiveness, and live in newness of life.

Additionally, Romans 5:10 reminds us, “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” This assures us that Jesus’ birth was fundamentally tied to our salvation, emphasizing that through Him, we can attain true and lasting peace with God.

To Offer Salvation and Eternal Life

Jesus’ mission goes beyond reconciliation; He came to provide salvation and the promise of eternal life. John 3:16 beautifully encapsulates this truth, stating, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” His birth marked the beginning of His journey toward the cross, where He would ultimately pay the price for our sins, offering us a pathway to eternal life.

In his first letter, John captures the essence of this gift beautifully. 1 John 5:11 states, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” The offering of salvation is intimately tied to Jesus’ identity and purpose—it is through Him that we can experience the joy of everlasting life with God.

Furthermore, Jesus’ words in John 14:6 reinforce His role as the way to salvation: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” This illustrates the uniqueness of Jesus’ birth and mission— He alone provides the means for us to have a restored relationship with God and the hope of eternity.

Final Thoughts

In reviewing why Jesus was born, we see a rich tapestry woven from Old Testament prophecies, revealing God’s nature, fulfilling the Law, and providing the ultimate act of reconciliation. His coming into our world was not an accident but part of a divine plan pointing toward great hope.

Through Jesus, we understand God’s love and grace more clearly. We learn that we’re not defined by our flaws, but rather by the amazing work Christ did on our behalf. Most importantly, we find that through faith in Him, we can enjoy a meaningful relationship with God and the promise of eternal life.

Let us always remember the extraordinary reasons behind Jesus’ birth, embracing the hope and joy it brings into our lives and the lives of others.

Further Reading

30 Bible Verses About Getting Closer To God (With Commentary)

30 Bible Verses About Removing People From Your Life (With Commentary)

30 Bible Verses About Israel (With Explanation)

30 Bible Verses About Being Lukewarm (With Explanation)

4 Ways to Encounter Grace and Truth: A Study on John, Chapter 4