Dear Church,

Have you ever wondered what was on Jesus’ mind as He was being born?   No, this is not a trick question.  Amazingly, the Bible gives us an answer.  Hebrews 10:5-7 offers a glimpse into the heart of Jesus as He entered the world:

“Therefore, as He was coming into the world, He said:
‘You did not want sacrifice and offering,
but You prepared a body for Me.
You did not delight in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings.
Then I said, “See – it is written about Me in the volume of the scroll –
I have come to do Your will, God!”‘

The phrase “as He was coming into the world” points to the preexistence of Christ.  Jesus didn’t “begin” in Bethlehem.  As the second Person of the Trinity, He has no beginning.  This is why He declared, “Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58).

When Jesus said, “You did not want sacrifice and offering”, it must have shocked the Jewish religious system.  Sacrifices and offerings were central to their faith, prescribed by God Himself.  But as Hebrews 10:4 explains, “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”  These sacrifices pointed to something greater – the ultimate Lamb of God, who would take away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

Finally, Jesus declares that He came to do God’s will.  Even as an infant, Jesus understood His purpose.  Before He was born, the Son knew He has come to earth for a specific mission, to pay the debt for our sins.  This is why “the word became flesh and lived among us.”(John 1:14)

This Christmas, reflect on the purpose of Christ’s birth.  He came to fulfill God’s will and offer us the greatest gift – Himself.  You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you look to the Father and say, “I’ve received Your gift.”  John 1:12 says, “yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Have you done that?

Be encouraged,
Mathews