A Christmas Carol: W2 - THU
A purpose, a battle, and a sacrifice A Purpose - Why did Jesus come into our world in the first place?
A Battle - He came knowing the journey wouldn’t be easy.
A Sacrifice - He took on our sins, so we could take on His rewards.
Jesus knew full well what he was getting into when he came to our world. He knew it wouldn’t be a cake walk, and yes, he even knew what would have to happen and what he’d have to endure to save us. Yet still, he came.
He left the perfect world of heaven with full communion with God the Father and God the Spirit, to have his diaper changed, learn how to walk, and likely be made fun of at some point at school.
For almost 30 years, he lived among us in quiet; listening, observing, studying, working. Then, he came into the light, was baptized by his cousin, and began his public ministry through the act of baptism. When he came up out of the water, heaven announced his identity, “This is my son, whom I love, with whom I am well pleased.” Not everyone got it, but the enemy did, so he went on attack.
Sure, we have certain stories of Jesus encountering the devil and his demons, but rest assured, the devil was always looking for an opportunity to attack and stop Jesus from fulfilling his purpose. And he thought he had him in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus first fell the unspeakable horror of being separated from communion with the Father and the Spirit as he began to take on the sin of the world, but for our sake and for the joy set before him (Hebrews 12:2), Jesus resisted and ultimately fulfilled his purpose.
He died on that cross, taking on our sin, so that we could be made right with God. He earned the right to remove our filthy rags, and cover us in His robe of righteousness. Now, it’s not our works that are looked at as to whether or not we shall be saved. When we choose Jesus and give Him our life, it’s His works that are seen, not ours. Jesus saved us, every last one of us. The choice is ours. Will we receive the gift, the present that his presence brought?
- Matthew 1: 20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
- Luke 19: 10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
- Mark 2: 17 “I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
- Mark 10: 45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
- John 3: 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
A Battle - He came knowing the journey wouldn’t be easy.
- Luke 4:13 When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.
- John 14:30 “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 31 but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.”
- Luke 22:52 Then Jesus spoke to the leading priests, the captains of the Temple guard, and the elders who had come for him. “Am I some dangerous revolutionary,” he asked, “that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? 53 Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.
A Sacrifice - He took on our sins, so we could take on His rewards.
- Luke 23:46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21: For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Jesus knew full well what he was getting into when he came to our world. He knew it wouldn’t be a cake walk, and yes, he even knew what would have to happen and what he’d have to endure to save us. Yet still, he came.
He left the perfect world of heaven with full communion with God the Father and God the Spirit, to have his diaper changed, learn how to walk, and likely be made fun of at some point at school.
For almost 30 years, he lived among us in quiet; listening, observing, studying, working. Then, he came into the light, was baptized by his cousin, and began his public ministry through the act of baptism. When he came up out of the water, heaven announced his identity, “This is my son, whom I love, with whom I am well pleased.” Not everyone got it, but the enemy did, so he went on attack.
Sure, we have certain stories of Jesus encountering the devil and his demons, but rest assured, the devil was always looking for an opportunity to attack and stop Jesus from fulfilling his purpose. And he thought he had him in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus first fell the unspeakable horror of being separated from communion with the Father and the Spirit as he began to take on the sin of the world, but for our sake and for the joy set before him (Hebrews 12:2), Jesus resisted and ultimately fulfilled his purpose.
He died on that cross, taking on our sin, so that we could be made right with God. He earned the right to remove our filthy rags, and cover us in His robe of righteousness. Now, it’s not our works that are looked at as to whether or not we shall be saved. When we choose Jesus and give Him our life, it’s His works that are seen, not ours. Jesus saved us, every last one of us. The choice is ours. Will we receive the gift, the present that his presence brought?
- Put Jesus’ purpose for coming into this world into your own words and write them out somewhere.
- How do you think Jesus was able to continue to fight off the schemes of the evil one?
- What does it mean to you now, to know that when you accept Jesus as your Savior, He covers you completely?
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