With Jesus’ birthday celebration just two days away, this is a fitting time for us to remember why Jesus came into the world. This passage begins with the memorable declaration “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. . . .” Because of his great love, God sent Jesus.

John’s gospel also tells us that Jesus came into the world as a matter of life and death: “. . . that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John also clarifies that Jesus’ purpose is to save the world, not to condemn it. In these verses we see that Jesus’ saving work has both personal (“whoever believes”) and cosmic (“the world”) audiences in view. Jesus’ birth is good news for you and me and for the whole of God’s creation! God wants us to be saved for eternity.

Finally, God’s desire is that people will live by the light of Jesus’ life. John contrasts people who live in the light with those who live in darkness, noting that “people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” Darkness is a way of life. But so is the light. “Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light.” Jesus came into the world so that we can embrace God’s way of life as our own here and now.