Why He Came

by Sergio Valori

ach year the Christianized world celebrates or in some way commemorates a season called Christmas. The majority, who live without understanding or illumination, welcome it as a holiday during which they can get time off work, visit family and friends, receive gifts and enjoy parties abounding with food and drink. They have little or no knowledge about the significance of the holiday. It is a season that fits well into the world’s philosophy of eating, drinking and being merry.

"In Jesus, we see a purely human baby lying in a manger, a totally human boy reading the scriptures and learning, just as we can."

This philosophy of a darkened world is increasingly impacting even the ranks of Christianity, in its diabolical efforts to remove God from our society. Witness to this was a recent church-yard scene of a huge balloon of Frosty the Snowman with a sign in front of it: Happy Holidays. Though I am not certain, this church might be numbered among those whose ‘advanced’ and modernized theology now substitutes the word ‘woman’ for ‘virgin’ in the story of Jesus’ birth.

We can step out of the darkness into somewhat of a twilight zone and find a dimension of Christianity where a few rays of light still linger. In such arenas, salvation is preached and the stories of Jesus’ birth as told by the writers Matthew and Luke are solemnly revered. Here, the season is characterized by sermons on Jesus’ birth, the beautiful songs of Christmas, candlelight services, the traditional Christmas tree, special lighting, cantatas, church dinners and many other special functions.

In contrast with the world, a degree of commendation must be given, for in this realm there is evidence of a strong determination to “keep Christ in Christmas”, to explain “the reason for the season” and to align with the story of Christ’s birth as given in scripture. The message emphasized in this season is vital to the objective of ‘saving souls’ and getting people ready for heaven. What can we say? We can at least align ourselves with Paul’s heart in Philippians 1:18 as he rejoiced in the preaching of Christ, regardless of the mode, intent or objective.

But for those who hunger for the whole truth and who are intent on pursuing God’s full purpose, some questions must be asked. Why did Jesus come? What was God’s intention in allowing His son to suffer and die? What was really on His heart? Was the main purpose really to take people to heaven?

Our text from Hebrews indicates that God’s purpose for sending Jesus was to “bring many sons unto glory”. Let me quickly say that this is not equivalent with bringing many newborn babes to heaven. The context from Hebrews 2 speaks nothing of the popular themes of living in a mansion or walking on streets of gold but goes far deeper than that. In a few short, yet powerful phrases, we are given a broad panoramic view of God’s full purpose for man, ranging from the time of the creation to the grand climax of “the world to come”.

Let us examine the context of Hebrews 2:1-10, point by point.

First is given a charge of carefulness against the possibility of drifting away from God’s message. “We ought to give the more earnest heed…”

The message spoken is not to be treated lightly or casually. It must be received so as to grip us strongly and hold us fast as an anchor of our souls. From my experiences in fishing, I can attest how easily one can drift with the incoming tide. In a matter of minutes, one can be carried many yards off course, often without realizing it. We are warned against allowing His word to “slip away from us”, for every disregard or disobedience to the word brings with it a dimension of divine judgment.

Secondly, the matter of neglect is addressed. “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation…? The word ‘neglect’ does not mean to totally ignore something but to ‘treat it lightly’. The same meaning is found in the reaction of the guests invited to the wedding of the King’s son: “…they made light of it.” (Mt.22:5) I am reminded of the way I sort mail. I have two stacks, one for important things that will require serious processing and one for matters that will receive but a fleeting glance. May I ask, how seriously do we treat the awesome call of God to the Kingdom?

It is indeed a matter of the awesome call. The matter of the huge magnitude of man’s call and destiny comes with great force. In my own words, it says to me, “Remember God’s plan. He has not placed the world to come in charge of angels, but in charge of man. Your calling is to prepare you to rule and reign with Christ in the world to come!”

"God’s desire is to have a family of sons just like His first-born, Jesus."

Ah, yes, this is the point of reference. This text is not a long discourse, not by any means, but with a few short statements, God conveys a powerful picture of man’s calling and destiny. To him who has an ear to hear, the statements strike deep within the heart to give notice and to spark attention.

First, “What is man?” We have all asked it. Who am I? What am I here for? What is life all about? As God asks this question, all ears should be wide open, for we should all be earnestly wanting and awaiting an answer.

The second question quickly follows the first: “…why are you mindful of him?” This means, “Why do you pay so much attention to him?” or “Why do you extend so much care to him?” If we have not asked this, we should have. Why has he placed us on a planet so conducive to the sustaining of human life? Why are the sunshine and the rain given to both the just and the unjust? By now our attention should have become aroused to want to hear the answers.

The answer is not given until the matter of our weak and frail human makeup is interjected. “Thou madest him a little lower than the angels.” Do we who are daily and keenly aware of the full gamut of human futility need reminding? Yes, for we are shortly to be introduced to a divine one who allowed himself to become human and who, in spite of monumental human limitations, made it back to the glory He laid down.

The person who first reads the statement that follows must surely be stunned by a bolt of disbelief, awe, wonder, curiosity or a vast combination of many emotions, for who would have imagined it? Who would ever have thought that sinful, base, weak and lowly man would have such a majestic, awesome and glorious calling?

But there it is: “…thou crownest him with glory and honor and didst set him over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet.” (v.7,8)

This statement takes us back all the way to the creation in Genesis 1 and links us with God’s statement of purpose stated in verses 26-28: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness and let them have dominion…and God said, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it…” This statement makes it clear that God’s original purpose was to have in man an instrument that could be entrusted with the governing of His Kingdom. He was to bear God’s image, be clothed with His glory and share in His authority. Let us be clear that this has always been God’s purpose for man and that He has never deviated from it.

Then comes a statement of fact which surprises no one and over which no one will argue: “But now we see not yet all things put under him.” (v.8b) It is easy to agree that man in his present condition of sin, debauchery and wretchedness is unfit to govern God’s righteous Kingdom. But we must go on to include also Christianized or “religious” man who chooses to remain in a carnal, immature, worldly and unholy condition. I will be so bold as to say that this description embraces the vast majority of the church. We say this because a large portion of the church is today in a Laodician state, lukewarm, worldly, immature, devoid of His glory, wretched, spiritually poor, blind and naked. It is badly infected with the spirit of the world.

Is there any hope?

The next statement is like a sudden burst of light which causes our head to turn up from the dark downward spiral we have been painting: “But we see Jesus…!!”

We see Him! We see Him! Jesus comes into view at a critical point! He comes into the picture to give man hope of fulfilling his awesome calling!

But how do we see Him? Do we try to form an image in our minds? Just what is the meaning of the statement, “We see Jesus?” It is imperative here that we see Jesus, a reference to the Son of Man, not Christ the anointed one. We see the one who had emptied Himself of all the glory and position He held with the Father and took on Him the nature of the seed of Abraham.

"Because He grew and attained to full stature, we can too."

It must be emphasized that Jesus did not rely on His divinity or His deity in the process of maturing or overcoming! If that were the case, none of us would have hope of making it back to glory. We must see Him as a man, relying totally of the grace of God. The same grace that Jesus appropriated is available to us in our quest of making it back to glory.

In Jesus, we see a purely human baby lying in a manger, a totally human boy reading the scriptures and learning, just as we can. At age 12, His parents had lost track of Him on a trip to Jerusalem. Where was He found? We see Him in the temple, discussing the scriptures with the doctors of the law, who were amazed at His understanding and answers. As a human, he was gaining knowledge and understanding of God’s ways and plan, just as we can. When found, He declared to His dumbfounded parents, “…Know ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Lu.1:49) Even at age 12 we see a life seeking the Father’s will and aligning Himself totally to the Father’s purpose.

But we see Jesus! We see Him growing. He increased in wisdom and (spiritual) stature and in favor with God and man. By the time He was thirty years of age, He was a full-grown Son, ready for ministry. Before He had done any miracle or preached any message, the Father’s voice came out of heaven at John’s baptism and declared, “Thou art my beloved Son. In thee I am well pleased.” (Lu.3:22)

What do we see in much of the church scene today? Shallowness and immaturity. We see babies being fed the milk of the word and kept happy in an environment of hype and entertainment. At the same time, all creation is waiting for sons to come to maturity to bring deliverance from the bondage of corruption! (Romans 8:19-20) The main theme of much of Christendom today is ‘being saved and going to heaven’, but beloved, this is not the meaning of God ‘bringing many sons to glory.’ God’s desire is to have a family of sons just like His first-born, Jesus. May God give us this vision and this hope!

What else do we see in Jesus? A human life of suffering and perfect obedience. “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.” (He.5:8) Every human instrument chosen of God for His purposes will be exposed to the test of suffering in order to learn obedience. Jesus showed us that a man governed by the Holy Ghost can live a life of obedience and that there is the potential of immense gain in our exposure to human suffering. He showed that man exposed to the full gamut of human trial and experience can be made perfect, or be brought to full spiritual stature. O, the hope and encouragement that this brings to the human dilemma!

Hebrews 2:10 can be amplified this way: “It was fitting and proper of God, by whom are all things and for whom are all things, in His plan to bring many sons unto glory, to make the captain (or author) of their salvation perfect through suffering.” It was so right, so proper, if God had purposed that man regain his lost glory and dominion, that He should offer mankind hope by sending Jesus, not only to redeem us, but, as a man, to walk a pathway that would enable Him to regain the glory He laid aside.

Let us fix our eyes on Him. Because He grew and attained to full stature, we can too. (Gal. 4:19; Col.1:28) Because He overcame and was granted a position in His Father’s throne, we can also make it as overcomers and be given the same privilege. (Rev. 3:21)

To the natural mind, it all sounds too high and unattainable.

So did the angel’s message to the virgin Mary. But her response to it was, “…be it unto me according to thy word…” She believed the word and abandoned her life to it. When Elizabeth saw her, she prophesied to her and said, “…blessed is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” (Lu.1:45)

The angel had also said, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Lu.1:37)