The birth of Jesus Christ is full of meaning. When Jesus was born, God became man; the Son of God clothed Himself in a true human body and soul. He enfleshed Himself. This is the meaning of the word “incarnation.” “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God…and the Word became flesh and lived among us” writes the Apostle John (John 1:1, 14). This is why the name “Immanuel” is so appropriate for Jesus: in the person of Jesus Christ, God was literally, bodily with us (Matt. 1:23).

But why? Why did Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the second person in the holy Trinity, come into this world as an infant born in a manger in Bethlehem? Jesus was born in order to die. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Jesus’ death was a purposeful death: He died for the sins of His people. The angel Gabriel said to Joseph concerning Mary, the mother of Jesus, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).  After Jesus died and rose again the apostle Paul wrote, “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3). Dr. John MacArthur connects the birth of Jesus with the cross with these stark words, “Here's a side to the Christmas story that isn't often told: Those soft little hands, fashioned by the Holy Spirit in Mary's womb, were made so that nails might be driven through them. Those baby feet, pink and unable to walk, would one day walk up a dusty hill to be nailed to a cross. That sweet infant's head with sparkling eyes and eager mouth was formed so that someday men might force a crown of thorns onto it. That tender body, warm and soft, wrapped in swaddling clothes, would one day be ripped open by a spear. Jesus was born to die.”

Praise God that Jesus didn't stay dead!  Because of who He is (the Son of God, the divine Word who had become flesh), his death actually worked.  Christ's death on the cross accomplished the redemption of all who had been given to Him (John 6:37).  Therefore, Jesus "was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification" (Rom. 4:25).  The manger in which Jesus was laid as a new-born infant could not contain Him.  And, the tomb in which the crucified body of Jesus was buried could not contain Him either.  Jesus was born in order to die but He died in order to conquer death (1 Cor. 15:54).  Hallelujah!  Jesus lives!