Jesus Came

 

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

(1 Timothy 1:15)

 

My mind is lost in wonder and admiration when I think upon the fact of Christ’s coming into this world. Is it not astonishing to you that the Son of God would condescend to become the son of man, — that he who created all things would become the woman’s Seed, — that he who is Lord of all would take upon himself the form of a servant, that he might be despised and rejected of men, the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, that in the fulness of time he might die the painful, shameful, ignominious death of the cross, bearing the wrath of God due to sin in the place of guilty sinners?

 

            No wonder the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to declare, “Great is the mystery of godliness! God was manifest in the flesh!” “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us!” Behold, a virgin conceived and brought forth a Son. His name is called Immanuel, God with us! God Almighty came down here, the infinite, holy, incomprehensible God came down here in the nature of a man!

 

            That is simply astonishing! All I know to say is, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift!”

 

            Yet, my mind, indeed, my very heart and soul cries out, “Why?” Why did he come? The Holy Spirit gives the answer in plain, unmistakable, one and two syllable words in Matthew 1:21. The angel said to Joseph, Mary’s espoused husband, “Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Why did they call him “Jesus”? Here is the answer. Be sure you get it. — The incarnate God is called “Jesus” because he saves his people from their sins.

 

            The purpose of our Savior’s incarnation, the mission upon which he was sent into this world, the work he came here to perform as Jehovah’s righteous Servant was the saving of his people. He did not come here to make salvation a possibility, but a reality. He did not come here to make his people savable, but to save them. This is the will of the Father he came to perform (John 6:37-40; Heb. 10:1-10). This is the covenant engagement he came to fulfil (Isa. 49:8). This is the Father’s commandment he came to obey (John 10:15-18).

 

And that which the Christ of God undertakes to accomplish, he shall surely, without fail, accomplish. It is written, “He shall not fail” (Isa. 42:1-4). Just as surely as he obtained eternal redemption for them, he shall pour out his omnipotent, saving grace upon every chosen, redeemed sinner, and shall bring each of his ransomed home to heaven that they may be with him where he is.