(December 25th, Christmas, is the date we commonly celebrate as the day Jesus was born, yet we really do not know the exact date of His birth. Many scholars believe that Jesus was actually born in the Fall of the year rather than in the winter.)
Jesus, God's only Son, left Heaven and was born to redeem us - "When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son...to redeem them that were under the law." Galatians 4:4, 5
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in a "stinky old barn". Why did He come as a baby, and why was He born in a "barn"? Why wasn't He born in a castle, or at least in a house? In Heaven, He had everything, why would He leave it all and be born as a man, in a barn? Why were the only people to hear the news of His birth, local sheep herders, and far away strangers? What does it mean, "to redeem them that were under the law"? Are we still "under the law"?
Jesus was the Word of God,-God's thought, even His character, made audible and visible. By coming to dwell with us, Jesus revealed God to us, and not just to us, to the angels as well. Satan had claimed that those who served God were not really free but were really slaves to God's law and he also accused God of being unable to keep His own law and not really caring about people. Jesus came to prove that God could keep the Law, that those who serve God are really "free indeed". Remember that Jesus was, and is, God. The New Testament book of John tells us this in John 1:1 saying, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Jesus death proved that God really does love us, He loves us so much that He died so that we can live.
From the book of Matthew:
1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When
as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was
found with child of the Holy Ghost.
1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man], and not willing to make her a
public example, was minded to put her away privily.
1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord
appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to
take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy
Ghost.
1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he
shall save his people from their sins.
1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the
Lord by the prophet, saying,
1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they
shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden
him, and took unto him his wife:
1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he
called his name JESUS.
From the book of Luke (The first part of this story is about John the Baptist and is inserted here because it is related.):
1:1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in
order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
1:2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were
eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
1:3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things
from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
1:4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast
been instructed.
1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named
Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife [was] of the daughters of Aaron,
and her name [was] Elisabeth.
1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and
ordinances of the Lord blameless.
1:7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were
[now] well stricken in years.
1:8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God
in the order of his course,
1:9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense
when he went into the temple of the Lord.
1:10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of
incense.
1:11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side
of the altar of incense.
1:12 And when Zacharias saw [him], he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard;
and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither
wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his
mother's womb.
1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the
hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the
just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
1:18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an
old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the
presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad
tidings.
1:20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that
these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which
shall be fulfilled in their season.
1:21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long
in the temple.
1:22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that
he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained
speechless.
1:23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were
accomplished, he departed to his own house.
1:24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five
months, saying,
1:25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on [me], to
take away my reproach among men.
1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent
from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David;
and the virgin's name [was] Mary.
1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, [thou that art] highly
favoured, the Lord [is] with thee: blessed [art] thou among women.
1:29 And when she saw [him], she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her
mind what manner of salutation this should be.
1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour
with God.
1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and
shalt call his name JESUS.
1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord
God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom
there shall be no end.
1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon
thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that
holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
1:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old
age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to
thy word. And the angel departed from her.
1:39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill
country with haste, into a city of Juda;
1:40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the
babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed [art] thou among
women, and blessed [is] the fruit of thy womb.
1:43 And whence [is] this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
1:44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the
babe leaped in my womb for joy.
1:45 And blessed [is] she that believed: for there shall be a performance of
those things which were told her from the Lord.
1:46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
1:48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from
henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
1:49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy [is] his name.
1:50 And his mercy [is] on them that fear him from generation to generation.
1:51 He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the
imagination of their hearts.
1:52 He hath put down the mighty from [their] seats, and exalted them of low
degree.
1:53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty
away.
1:54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of [his] mercy;
1:55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
1:56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
1:57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she
brought forth a son.
For further study, read:
To see why Jesus would want to come here, be sure to view "The Big Picture".