Why Jesus came

Here in Japan, it is Christmas Eve, and though Psalm 40 is not often (if ever) thought of as a “Christmas psalm,” it does give us the reason for Christmas.

We find it in verses 6-8.

You do not delight in sacrifice and offering;
you open my ears to listen.

You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering.

Then I said, “See, I have come;
in the scroll it is written about me.

I delight to do your will, my God,
and your instruction is deep within me.” (Psalm 40:6-8)

Though David speaks these words, the author of Hebrews sees its ultimate fulfillment in Christ (Hebrews 10:5-9).

David was merely saying, “You don’t just want sacrifices and offerings from me, you want my whole life.”

But when Jesus said them, he was saying, “The reason this world needs a Savior is that all the sacrifices and offerings people can offer cannot wash away their sins.”

Then Jesus tells the Father, “I have come to do your will.” 

And so Jesus came to this earth as a little baby. Throughout his life, he did his Father’s will, never falling into sin.

Then on the cross, he followed his Father’s will by dying to take the punishment for our sin. 

That’s the meaning of Christmas. 

So with David, let us proclaim God’s faithfulness and salvation to this world, declaring to them his grace and his truth found in Jesus. (9-10)

And with David, let us cry out in praise,

The LORD is great! (16)