As the year comes to a close and Christmas draws near, many Christians take time to reflect and meditate on the birth of Jesus. Growing up, I always wondered why Jesus’ date of birth was never mentioned in Scripture, because birthdays are such a beautiful thing to celebrate, especially the one belonging to our Saviour, Jesus Christ. But I soon realised that it may not have been mentioned because God does not want us to place emphasis on the exact date of His birth, but rather on the reason He came in the first place.
Matthew 1:21 says, “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Jesus had a mission and a purpose for coming to earth, and that was to save us from the sin of the world and from our sinful nature, so that we may one day meet the Lord and spend eternity with Him in heaven.
Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem, not in comfort, but in humility. As Jesus grew, He lived a life filled with compassion, truth, and perfect trust in our Heavenly Father. He healed the sick, welcomed the outcast, forgave sinners, and taught about God’s kingdom in ways people could understand.
John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”
This means that when Jesus came, He chose to live among people, not above them or separate from them. In doing so, He demonstrated His love for us in a deeply personal way.
But Jesus’ life was always moving toward the cross. He did not come simply to teach or inspire, He came to save us from sin. At Calvary, Jesus took our sin upon Himself, offering forgiveness and new life to all who would receive it. “He was wounded for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5).
Then came the moment that changed everything. Jesus rose from the grave, defeating sin and death forever. Because He lives, hope is real, forgiveness is possible, and the future is secure. “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
But the story does not stop there. In John 14:3, Jesus promises, “I will come again and receive you to Myself.” In this promise, we have hope, trusting that the same Jesus who came once will come again to make all things new.
So what does this mean for us today?
It means we don’t just remember Jesus at Christmas, we follow Him. We live with humility because He came humbly. We show compassion because He showed compassion. We choose love, forgiveness, and faith because He first chose us. And we live with hope, even in a broken world, because we know how the story ends.
This season, as we reflect on the birth of Jesus, may we remember why He came, and may His life continue to shape the way we live each and every day.
SL