“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10

Christmas is the time of year we celebrate Jesus’ coming. After all, the word “Christ,” which means “Messiah,” is in the word Christmas. Many of the songs we sing and hear on the radio are still about Him. But why did He come?

Not For Power. Jesus Christ did not come to gain earthly power.

“The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, ‘I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’ ” (Luke 4:5-8) For us, this may be the equivalent of being offered the presidency of the United States or the head of a major international business.

Not For Fame. Throughout His ministry, Jesus commanded those He healed to not tell anyone (Matthew 8:4; 9:30; Mark 1:44; 8:30; Luke 9:21). We, who live in capturing the moment of notoriety through all types of media, may find this strange and even foolish. However, Jesus was not interested in the lure of fame and seizing the moment for His own personal advancement.

Not For Wealth. “Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.” The first stanza of the popular Christmas song, “Away in a Manger,” demonstrates the lowly way in which He came. He did not grow up in a palace but in the home of a simple carpenter. Jesus Himself said during his three-year ministry: “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20).

Why did He come? Jesus tells us plainly in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” The true meaning of Christmas was part of God’s great plan from the beginning of the world. He came to seek and save you and me from being lost in our sin. Christmas is a reminder that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son …” (John 3:16a). Why did He come? Look in the mirror and you will see why He came.

William “Carey” Northington

William “Carey” Northington of One Master Ministries in Xenia may be contacted at OneMaster.org.