The Reason

We’ve all heard the cliché: Jesus is the reason for the season, but what is the reason for Jesus and is He really the reason for the season? Ask yourself, why did He come down in the form of a baby, live a sinless life and later die a death He did not deserve?

Matthew 1:21 gives the answer:

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

This is the reason for Jesus. God sent His son to rescue and restore us and to bridge the gap that had previously been created by sin. Jesus came to restore what was lost in the garden when Adam and Eve first disobeyed God. Therefore, we are actually the reason for the season, our souls are the reason for the season, our potential eternal destination is the reason for the season. We celebrate Christmas to commemorate the birth of the King but Jesus didn’t come to be celebrated, He came to save us.  

 In the Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah writes that:

“For unto us a Child is born... and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah’s use of such personal language shows us that everything that Jesus did from His birth to the Cross, to the grave and to His resurrection, was for every single one of us.

There is an advertisement that comes on every Christmas with the slogan, “A dog is for life, not just for Christmas.” This is to urge people to not abandon the new pets that they would’ve received for Christmas after the novelty has worn off. In a way, this is the same for Jesus. Of course, this is not comparing our Saviour to a dog, but just the attitude that society has towards Christmas. Jesus didn’t simply come for us to have a day off from work, He came to rescue us and to establish a relationship with us for eternity. Jesus is for life, not just for Christmas.  

Many people give gifts at Christmas, which is great, it is always good to give but God actually gave the greatest gift of all and this is stated in John 3:16:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

So while we celebrate Christmas and enjoy the time with our friends and our families, let us remember the reason and let us share this gift with those in our lives who haven’t had the experience of meeting with Jesus. Remind them that they are the reason for the season, that they are the reason Jesus came down as a baby, lived His life and later went to the cross. For without the baby, there would be no Cross and if there was no Cross, there would be no salvation and we would be lost.