Thoughts on the Holiday in the Rear View Mirror

The birth of Jesus is an important, historic event which we should never forget. But one thing that has always puzzled me is why only two of the four gospel accounts depict this beautiful scene and why the epistles don't explicitly focus their attention at all on the virgin birth, the shepherds, or the star.

We could spend time on why Matthew and Luke decided this was necessary for their gospels but Mark and John didn't but I don't know how helpful that would be for the limited space of this post. Instead I want to call of us to remember as the new year approaches and the tinsel disappears exactly why we celebrated a birth that occurred thousands of years ago. That is, what were all four gospels in agreement about as to why this birth was important. As we approach a new year leave another Christmas behind we must ask, why did Christ come into the world? Here are a few answers to this question that are very important to remember.

Jesus was born to be the true representation of God on Earth.

"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son..." (Hebrews 1:1-2)

Jesus was born to save his people from their sins and the necessary judgment on their sin.

"...you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10)

Jesus was born to live a perfect, righteous life.

"Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." (Matthew 3:15)

"But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify." (Romans 3:21)

Jesus was born to die a sacrificial death.

"My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." (Matthew 26:42)

"About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?'—which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'" (Matthew 27:46)

"God put forward [Christ] as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith." (Romans 3:25)

"Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures..." (1 Cor. 15:1,3-4)

Grace and Peace,
Stephen