The mood of Christmas is reflected in the “playlists” that include everything from “Joy to the World” to “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas,” and from “Silent Night” to “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Band-Aid.
But why do we celebrate Christmas? Why did the Son of God come to the earth? What was driving him? Even before Jesus’s birth, many expectations of the Messiah circulated. Probably the most prominent was for a military-type figure, a strong man like David or Judah Maccabee, who would free the Jews from their Roman oppressors.
The Jews wanted a victorious military leader and God’s judgment on their enemies. Today, people are on a quest for power, wealth, comfort, gratification, the self, etc.
Mark 10:45 tells us what was driving Jesus, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” The same point is made elsewhere in Scripture: “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21), “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost,” (Luke 19:10), “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17), That was his goal and it could only be accomplished through death. The Son of Man’s miracles, teaching, and life must be seen in the light of this singular purpose, “to give his life as a ransom for many.” God sent His Son to die for our sins.
Jesus did not come to start a holiday; he came to serve you and me. He became a man to die on a cross. He gave up his life (10:45, 32). He drank the cup (10:38). He paid the ransom (10:45). Thank God for the exalted Son of Man who, for our sakes, humbled himself to become our Suffering Servant. The service of the Son leads to hope for us.