Whenever someone shows up at your house when you aren’t expecting them, you naturally wonder what the cause is for the visit. In our culture, it can sound rude to bluntly ask, “Why are you here?” So, we don’t do that. We wait. We wait for some verbal clue.
Sometimes the clue can be a little cryptic, like when someone says, “So listen, I was thinking …” We assume that perhaps this is the reason for their visit, but sometimes they are just making small talk. But sometimes folks will come right out and say, “The reason I’m here is …” Those obvious statements are quite nice for those of us who struggle to catch hints, and that’s how Jesus handled His coming.
In John 10:10 Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” This is the reason that He came. This is the purpose of His ministry in His own words. When He showed up to our “house”, He told us why … so we could experience abundant life. What Jesus does in the lives of believers is experienced as something good and satisfying. It fills us. It inspires us to persevere. It makes us desire what is truly good. It creates hearts full of peace and moves us to anxiety-free activity in His kingdom. Jesus makes us more pleasant. Smiles come easily. Words of gratitude are never far away.
What Jesus does is remove our guilt and renew our thinking. He guides us into service that is a true blessing to our world. Others experience our growing patience with their quirks. We come to be known as people who are gentle and kind. Love becomes a defining characteristic in our lives. Paul tells us that there are no laws against such things … who in their right mind could outlaw such beauty? That’s what this abundant life is … beautiful!
As you think about Jesus’ coming into this world this Christmas season, praise God that His coming opened the way to eternal life in the next world; but also rejoice in the fact that He came to give you real, abundant life in this world right now!
– Deryk Pritchard, Preacher
