December 11. Why Jesus Came.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things,

that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death

were subject to lifelong slavery.

Hebrews 2, 14, and 15.

This, I think, is my favorite Advent text because I don't know any other that expresses so clearly the connection between the beginning and the end of Jesus' earthly life, between the incarnation and the incarnation and crucifixion.

These two verses make clear why Jesus came, namely to die.

They would be great to use with an unbelieving friend or family member to walk them step

by step through your view of Christmas.

It might go something like this, a phrase at a time.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood,

the term children is taken from the previous verse

and refers to the spiritual offspring of Christ, the Messiah. See Isaiah 818,

Isaiah 5310. These are also the children of God, John 112. In other words, in sending Christ,

God has the salvation of His children, especially in view. It is true that God so loved the world that he gave Jesus.

John 316. But it is also true that Jesus was especially gathering the children of God who are scattered abroad, John 1152.

God's design was to offer Christ to the world and to effect the salvation of his children.

See 1. Timothy 4.10.

You may experience adoption by receiving Christ, John 1.12. He himself likewise

partook of the same things, flesh and blood. This means that Christ existed before the incarnation.

He was Spirit. He was the eternal Word. He was with God and was God, John 1-1, Colossians 2-9.

But he took on flesh and blood and clothed his deity with humanity. He became fully man and remained

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