Why Did He Come

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we approach the celebration of the birth of Your Son, Jesus Christ, we are reminded of the profound truth expressed in John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Lord, we thank You for the incredible gift of love demonstrated through the incarnation of Jesus. In the midst of the joyous festivities of Christmas, help us to reflect on the deeper significance of this season. Your love is the reason for our hope, the source of our joy, and the foundation of our salvation.

As we exchange gifts and share in the warmth of family and friends, let us not forget the ultimate gift—the gift of Your Son, who came to bring light into our world and salvation to all who believe. May our celebrations be a reflection of Your love, and may we extend that love to those around us, just as You have shown us.

In the busyness of the season, grant us moments of stillness to ponder the miracle of Christ's birth. May the message of John 3:16 resonate in our hearts, reminding us of the immeasurable love that led to the Savior's arrival in the humble manger.

Thank you, Father, for the grace bestowed upon us through Jesus. May the spirit of Christmas be a reminder of Your enduring love and the hope we have in Christ. In His precious name, we pray.

Amen.

You Must Be Born Again

3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus[a] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again[b] he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.[c] 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born again.’ 8 The wind[e] blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you[f] do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.[g] 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.[h]

For God So Loved the World

16 “For God so loved the world,[i] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

John the Baptist Exalts Christ

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).

25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”[j]

31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

I. The Setting of John 3: Let's begin by setting the scene in John 3. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, comes to Jesus by night seeking answers. In the stillness of the night, a conversation unfolds that would reveal the heart of God and His redemptive plan for the world.

I. The World in Need:

In the opening chapters of Genesis, we witness the beauty of God's creation—everything declared good in His sight. Yet, as sin entered the world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve, a shadow was cast over this perfect creation. Humanity, once in communion with God, found itself separated and in need of redemption.

Verses: Genesis 3:6-7, 15"So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked." "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."

II. The Heart of God's Love:

Amidst the brokenness and separation caused by sin, God's heart remained full of love. John 3:16 unveils the depth of God's love for the world—a love so profound that He devised a plan to reconcile humanity to Himself.

Verse: John 3:16"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

1 John 2:15–17

This is the world that God loves enough to send his Son to rescue (Jn. 3:16).

The Necessity of Sending Jesus:

1 John 4:9-10"In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

The Imperative of Love:

God's love is not a passive sentiment but an active force. It propelled Him to take decisive action.The sending of Jesus was not a mere response to human need but an expression of God's character—love in action.

The Purpose of Redemption:

John 3:17; Colossians 1:19-20"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."

Jesus came not to condemn the world but to save it. His mission was one of redemption and reconciliation.The significance of the manger is intertwined with the cross—Christmas finds its meaning in the ultimate sacrifice on Calvary.

The Gift of Eternal Life:

Verses: John 3:16; Romans 6:23"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The ultimate purpose of sending Jesus was to offer the gift of eternal life. Christmas is not merely a celebration of a historical event but an invitation to receive this life-transforming gift.

Jesus Was the Necessary sacrifice

Gods love for us, was the reason.

Jesus brought with and through himself eternal life

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we draw near to the conclusion of this time together, our hearts overflow with gratitude and awe for the profound truths we've explored today. We thank You, O God, for the indescribable gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. In sending Him into the world, You revealed the depths of Your love and the lengths to which You would go to redeem us.

Thank You, Lord, for the precious reminder from John 3:16 that "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." Today, we stand in awe of Your active and intentional love, a love that led to the manger in Bethlehem and ultimately to the cross on Calvary.

As we reflect on the meaning of Christmas, we are overwhelmed by Your grace and mercy. Your love, dear Father, is not a distant and passive emotion but a dynamic force that shaped the course of history for our salvation. We praise You for the gift of Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer.

Lord Jesus, thank You for willingly stepping into human history, taking on our flesh, and becoming the bridge between heaven and earth. Your life, death, and resurrection have brought us the assurance of eternal life. We stand before You, forgiven and reconciled, grateful for the hope that springs from the empty tomb.

Holy Spirit, continue to reveal the reality of God's love to us. May the truth of Christmas not be confined to this season but echo in our hearts throughout the year. Empower us to live as recipients of Your love, sharing the good news of Jesus with a world in need.

As we leave this place, may Your love guide our steps, Your grace sustain us, and Your peace envelop us. May the message of Christmas resonate in our lives, transforming us into vessels of Your love and bearers of the eternal life found in Jesus Christ.

We offer this prayer in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.