Jesus Came and was Born (Part 2)
Why Jesus Came and Was Born, Part 2
The birth of Jesus is often described in terms of peace, joy, and celebration, yet the New Testament reveals that the arrival of Christ brought division, exposure, judgment, and light. His coming was not simply the birth of a child, it was the arrival of truth in a world shaped by darkness and deception. The message of Christmas, if taken seriously, must go deeper than sentiment and holiday tradition. It must confront us with the reasons Jesus came and the transformation his arrival demands.
One of the most overlooked truths is that Jesus came to divide mankind. His presence forces a choice because his identity cannot be ignored. When Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, he demolished the foundation of every religious system that reduces him to something less. Mormonism presents a created and evolving figure, the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach a lesser divine being, and Islam acknowledges Jesus only as a prophet; yet, Jesus claims to be God manifest in the flesh, the Creator of all things, the Judge of all humanity, and the Savior of all who believe. His claims dismantle every theological structure that seeks to use him without submitting to him. Division is not an unintended consequence of his coming; it is the unavoidable outcome of encountering truth that demands allegiance.
Jesus also came to take away man’s cloak of sin. If he had not come, humanity could continue hiding behind religion, morality, and self-righteousness, pretending to be spiritually acceptable. Isaiah wrote that all of our righteousness is as filthy rags, and the story of Adam and Eve shows humanity’s natural instinct to run, hide, and cover shame. The coming of Christ removes the illusions that humans build to justify themselves. In the presence of Jesus, fig leaves are useless, garments lose their worth, and the soul stands naked and ashamed before God, needing to be clothed with the righteousness that only Christ provides. Revelation describes humanity as wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, and Hebrews declares that all things are naked and open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Jesus sees through the coverings we use to hide our guilt, whether they are made of leaves from a garden or garments from a fishing boat. His coming exposes and humbles us that he might redeem us.
The birth of Jesus demands more than a seasonal acknowledgment. It demands a personal response. He came to divide truth from error, piercing the soul, heart, mind, and conscience of man, the peace of a home for the sake of eternity, and he will smite the nations at his second coming. He came to strip away self-righteousness and pride to expose the sin and error of one's ways.
The birth of Jesus is often described in terms of peace, joy, and celebration, yet the New Testament reveals that the arrival of Christ brought division, exposure, judgment, and light. His coming was not simply the birth of a child, it was the arrival of truth in a world shaped by darkness and deception. The message of Christmas, if taken seriously, must go deeper than sentiment and holiday tradition. It must confront us with the reasons Jesus came and the transformation his arrival demands.
One of the most overlooked truths is that Jesus came to divide mankind. His presence forces a choice because his identity cannot be ignored. When Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, he demolished the foundation of every religious system that reduces him to something less. Mormonism presents a created and evolving figure, the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach a lesser divine being, and Islam acknowledges Jesus only as a prophet; yet, Jesus claims to be God manifest in the flesh, the Creator of all things, the Judge of all humanity, and the Savior of all who believe. His claims dismantle every theological structure that seeks to use him without submitting to him. Division is not an unintended consequence of his coming; it is the unavoidable outcome of encountering truth that demands allegiance.
Jesus also came to take away man’s cloak of sin. If he had not come, humanity could continue hiding behind religion, morality, and self-righteousness, pretending to be spiritually acceptable. Isaiah wrote that all of our righteousness is as filthy rags, and the story of Adam and Eve shows humanity’s natural instinct to run, hide, and cover shame. The coming of Christ removes the illusions that humans build to justify themselves. In the presence of Jesus, fig leaves are useless, garments lose their worth, and the soul stands naked and ashamed before God, needing to be clothed with the righteousness that only Christ provides. Revelation describes humanity as wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, and Hebrews declares that all things are naked and open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Jesus sees through the coverings we use to hide our guilt, whether they are made of leaves from a garden or garments from a fishing boat. His coming exposes and humbles us that he might redeem us.
The birth of Jesus demands more than a seasonal acknowledgment. It demands a personal response. He came to divide truth from error, piercing the soul, heart, mind, and conscience of man, the peace of a home for the sake of eternity, and he will smite the nations at his second coming. He came to strip away self-righteousness and pride to expose the sin and error of one's ways.
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