Why did Jesus come? Philippians 2 verses 5-11

In what ways did Jesus experience the hard things of human life first hand? Poverty Rejection Genocide – under threat as a child Refugee Foster child Homelessness Social stigma of being born out of marriage Appreciation of being an outcast/on the fringe Jewish and living under occupation Misunderstood, misrepresented and rejected Falsely accused, sentenced by unjust trial Abandoned by friends Torture and execution

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) Pastor, Theologian, Anti-Nazi dissident, co-founder of the German Confessing Church, imprisoned by the Nazis for plot against Hitler, imprisoned for 2 years and hanged just days before liberation. In his Letters from Prison Described Jesus as "the man for others”, and expected the church to follow suit: “The church is the church only when it exists for others... The church must share in the secular problems of ordinary human life, not dominating, but helping and serving. It must tell men of every calling, what it means to live in Christ, to exist for others.”

Why did God become a human being? …to address the human problem of a breakdown in relationship/alienation from God, others and creation. On a rescue mission for humanity which had gone off God’s intended course To be the saviour of the world Because no human person could satisfy the justice of God To reveal God’s person and purposes, his truth and ways To establish the Kingdom of God and to call all who trust in him to live it

The Christ of Christmas meets our greatest need If our greatest need had been for education, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been for technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been for money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been psychological, God would have sent us a psychiatrist. If our greatest need had been for pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness and reconciliation, so God sent us a saviour.

Philippians chapter 2 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God,     he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges [emptied himself];     he took the humble position [form] of a slave     and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8     he humbled himself in obedience to God     and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honour     and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,     in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,     to the glory of God the Father.

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