Why Christ Came: 31 Meditations on the Incarnation

31 Meditations

by Joel R. Beeke, William Boekestein

Traditionally, at Christmas we think about the story of Christ's birth. It feels like Christmas when we picture Joseph and Mary, the shepherds, the angels, and the manger holding the Christ child. But to appreciate the magnitude of the main point of the story, we need to learn from the rest of the Bible why Christ came to earth. In 31 meditations, the authors show us some of the reasons for Christ's advent so that we can more deeply celebrate His birth. Useful for individual or family use, these devotions show us how Christ's birth is connected with the rest of His ministry and explain the importance of His coming for our lives.

Genres: Devotional, Nonfiction, Theology, Christmas, Christianity, Christian, Christian Living

108 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 2013

About the author

Dr. Joel R. Beeke serves as President and Professor of Systematic Theology, Church History, and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He has been in the ministry since 1978 and has served as a pastor of his current church, Heritage Reformed Congregation, since 1986. He is also editor of the Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth, editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books, president of Inheritance Publishers, and vice-president of the Dutch Reformed Translation Society. He has written, co-authored, or edited fifty books and contributed over fifteen hundred articles to Reformed books, journals, periodicals, and encyclopedias. His Ph.D. (1988) from Westminster Theological Seminary is in Reformation and Post-Reformation Theology. He is frequently called upon to lecture at Reformed seminaries and to speak at conferences around the world. He and his wife, Mary, have three children: Calvin, Esther, and Lydia.

Reviews

[Eric Durso · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short Christ centered chapters.

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

For many, the topic of the incarnation of Christ is reserved solely for the Christmas season with the singing of Christmas songs, putting up of decorations, and the reading of the Christmas story in remembrance of Christ coming to earth as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in the manger. While acknowledging the fact that Christ came to earth, such an approach, one limited to Christ being that little baby in the manger, overlooks to a great degree the fullness of what the incarnation is about and why it matters. Dr. Joel Beeke and Pastor William Boekestein, in their book Why Christ Came: 31 Meditations on the Incarnation, rightly position the doctrine of the incarnation in its proper place in theology as well as in our basic understanding of why Christ came to earth.

The authors present their overview of the incarnation and its vital importance in 31 short yet power packed chapters, each beginning with a passage or two that is elaborated on with great theological skill, focusing on that particular chapter’s subject matter in a way that will be appreciated by scholar and layman alike. I was very impressed with the amount of information provided in each chapter and more significantly, the utilization of the Heidelberg Catechism throughout the book to further drive home the book’s subject matter. Arguably, many readers might not be familiar with the Heidelberg Catechism which is quite unfortunate. Thankfully, Beeke and Boekestein utilize that excellent document in a way that is not overly scholarly in tone which allows the reader to recognize that the doctrine of the incarnation is not some fly by night or newly instituted belief.

Given the books overall brevity, it can be read almost at a single sitting or spread out over 31 separate devotional type readings. This makes this book very useful for a number of purposes such as personal bible study, small group bible study, or even for use in a larger church setting such as a sermon series through the purpose of the incarnation using this book as a study guide for the congregation. The multiplicity of uses makes this small tome a very handy work.

Reading through this book made me thirsty to study the incarnation on an even deeper level. The authors readily admit at the outset “this little book cannot begin to exhaust the riches of the great mystery that God became man.” Recognizing that fact, the authors do provide a useful list of additional commentaries and books for the reader to utilize should they have a desire to study the topic of the incarnation in greater detail. With that said, the amount of information provided by Beeke and Boekestein is truly sufficient to provide the reader with a firm understanding of what the incarnation is about, why it matters, driving them to a greater appreciation of the One who came from Heaven to earth to give His life for us filthy sinners.

I would truly encourage everyone to pick up a copy of this excellent book. While there certainly are many other books on the market that explore the incarnation of Christ in great scholarly detail, I would argue that Beeke and Boekenstein’s effort stands among them all as a valuable resource. Terse yet deep with a simplistic profundity that demonstrates a careful and clinical approach to this important subject matter, Why Christ Came will provide the reader with information on that very subject in a way that will drive them to fall more in love with our Savior who came to earth out of love and obedience to the will of the Father. Understanding what that means will in turn provide that all important spark that will make you want to love God and to do His will even more.

I received this book for free from Reformation Heritage Books via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Advent devotional.

[Kevin Sorensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timely release! If you order it now, you'll have it in time to do a reading each day for a month leading up to Christmas, the celebration of Christ's advent.

Here's the Table of Contents:

Preface

To Do the Will of the Father
To Save Sinners
To Bring Light to a Dark World
To Be Made Like His People
To Bear Witness to the Truth
To Destroy the Works of the Devil
To Give Eternal Life
To Receive Worship
To Bring Great Joy
To Demonstrate True Humility
To Preach the Gospel
To Bring Judgment
To Give His Life a Ransom for Many
To Fulfill the Law and Prophets
To Reveal God's Love for Sinners
To Call Sinners to Repentance
To Die
To Seek and Save the Lost
To Serve
To Bring Peace
To Bring a Sword
To Bind Up Broken Hearts
To Give Us the Spirit of Adoption
To Make Us Partakers of the Divine Nature
To Reign as King
To Restore Human Nature to Holiness
To Be a Faithful and Merciful High Priest
To Be the Second and Greater Adam
To Satisfy Our Deepest Thirst
To Be Loved by God's Children
To Reveal God's Glory
This is a solid 'little' book. It's little only because it's about 3-4 pages per chapter, so each chapter can be used as a daily reading, whether for personal devotions or for family worship times. It's solid too. I'm not aware of another book like this that will offer as much 'meat' in a small package. As I read through it, I found myself drawn into worship of Jesus Christ, who came to save sinners, the likes of me and you.

I highly commend this book to you. Get it now and prepare for one of the most meaningful Christmases you've ever known.

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why Christ Came: 31 Meditations on the Incarnation

Short and sweet, a solid little book

Many pages and many books have been written about what the incarnation of Christ means and how it affects us. Some are huge tomes that are unapproachable by the average non-superhuman reader, while others simplify it down to almost non-sense. I am pleased to say that Joel Beeke and William Boekestein’s little book on the incarnation does neither of these. This book is deep enough for the seasoned theologian and accessible enough for the average church attendee. What Beeke and Boekestein have done is taken a lifetime of studying the incarnation (which means that Christ came in the flesh) and streamlined it into 31 daily meditations on like the title says “why Christ came”. And they do it very well. Each of the readings is three to four pages long, perfect for a short read in the mornings while doing your Bible study. Or to read with your family as you sit down together for Bible study time. I can just picture reading through this as my family prepares for advent season. This book will keep our focus on what really matters at Christmas, which is not the presents and the fun, but what Christ did in coming to this little mud-ball of a planet. I especially enjoyed chapter 19 where the authors discuss why Christ came to serve, I was impacted by their words and the different quotes from not only this chapter but throughout the book. This is a great little book, I give it five stars.

[Alex Houston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read my review here:
http://reformed-at-last.blogspot.com/...

[Shawn Trautman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent meditations on the incarnation of Christ. My favorite quote from the book -

Wilhelmus à Brakel explains, “The reason one does not rejoice in the incarnation is for lack of holy meditation upon the subject, its miraculous nature, the promises, the Person, the fruits and this great salvation brought about by His suffering and death. What reason for rejoicing would he who does not attentively reflect upon this have?”

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a theologically rich Advent devotional, but the writing and use of the KJV made it less accessible for our school age kids when we read it. It's in our Advent book collection, so I definitely think it will be used again, but I wouldn't use it with school age kids. Teenagers who read lots of classics may be able to listen and understand better.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some books are appealingly written, but their content is a little shaky. This one is the opposite. The content is solid and worthwhile, but the writing style acts as a bit of a barrier, making it hard to pay attention.

Still, a worthwhile Christmas devotional, if not the most engaging.

[Cynthia Schnereger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Fabulous Advent Devo

Boekestein and Beeke have given us a treasure of Scripture that testifies to Jesus in all His humanity and glory. Come. Read. Draw closer to Him this Advent season!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several of the Reformed Heritage 31 day devotionals and they have all been little books filled with great truth and profit. Why Christ Came? Not just for advent but to be read anytime, especially as a start for a time to have a great theme to meditate on. Highly recommend !

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good devotional material that looks at all the reasons Christ came to live and die as the God-man and what He accomplished for both the glory of God and for His people.

[Anna Chviedaruk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Самое чудесное адвентское чтение, которое я читала. О чём ещё размышлять в Рождество. Прекрасная книга: ясная и глубокая, хоть и такая краткая.

[Laura Currey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about why Christ came.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good little nook to read at Advent.

[Ron Comoglio · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very thorough treatment of the question of why the incarnation. And as the authors say the subject is inexhaustible.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mention the word Christmas to most of your friends, family, co-workers, or even complete strangers, and thoughts of a little baby born in a manger and surrounded by Joseph, Mary, shepherds, and three wise man almost immediately come to mind. The manger scene is mostly portrayed as a very pristine place where Jesus comes out clean from Mary's womb and immediately wrapped in swaddling clothes, there are no bugs crawling around on the floor, and all of the animals have almost stopped what they are doing and are watching the scene unfold before them with seemingly understanding eyes. The fact is that the manger was nothing like that. Jesus came out of the womb dirty just like we did and had to be cleaned up, there were definitely bugs crawling around on the floor, the smell coming from the manger was probably enough to take anyone's breath away because of all the different animals kept in there, there weren't just three wise men and they didn't see Jesus right after He was born, and the Shepherds themselves reeked of sweat from a hard days labor. The point is that things are not always what they seem at first glance, and we should always be willing to dive deeper into the Word to find out exactly what was going on during any given event. And, the best way to get everything out of a text of Scripture that God would have us get, is to ask certain questions of the text and then answer said questions. American evangelicals seemingly gravitate to the "who, what, where, when, and how" of a given text of Scripture, but we either gloss over the "why" because of how much time it is going to take to answer that question, or we just simply ignore altogether because we would rather go on believing what we have naively always believed (see my description of the manger scene above as a small proof of that). The Incarnation, God becoming man, might be a truth that we are all familiar with, but can most of us put into words "why" the Second Person in the Trinity took on flesh and was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was imputed with our sins, crushed by the Father on the Cross, died, was buried, and then rose again on the third day.

"Why Christ Came: 31 Meditations on the Incarnation" is a devotional-type book that deals with the "why" question of the Incarnation of Christ. The book makes no claim to be an exhaustive look at all of the reasons why Christ came to die for man's sin, but it does provide the reader with 31 excellent meditations on why our Saviour, whose beauty and worth is almost indescribable, came to this earth as a man. Each chapter is 3-4 pages in length, so, like some of the other reviewers have said, this would make a great devotional book for you to read together with your family throughout the month of December. It presents a unique side to the birth of Christ by answering the "why" question of Christ's incarnation, which is something that has almost been neglected in modern history. There is no mistaking that the authors, Beeke and Boekestein, desire to cultivate a longing in their readers to dig deeper into the Word of God and reap the rewards of a heart that longs for the truths about the Incarnation of Christ. Furthermore, the moralistic nature in which a lot of people read their bibles is a foreign concept to these authors, because this a book that makes much of what Jesus did and not on what we can do to earn favors, or get our "wishes granted", by celebrating/seeing Christmas like most Americans do. My hope and prayer is that God uses this book mightily to drive His children back to a time in church history where we were not afraid to ask all of the major questions (who, what, where, when, how, and why) of a text of Scripture, and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, repent and adjust our lives according to what the Word says (and not what we think it says or want it to say).

I received this book for free from Reformation Heritage Books via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I look forward to anything by Joel R. Beeke, President and Professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. I call him the busiest man in Christian publishing because he is authoring and editing so many new books each year and has resurrected so much Puritan material.

In the Preface, the author writes, "Learning the reasons for Christ's advent will help us more deeply celebrate His birth, allow us to see more clearly how it is connected with the rest of His ministry, and help us understand its importance for our lives." I think the book succeeds very well in this objective.

However, I was rather taken aback by what he writes soon after, lamenting the general lack of knowledge and apologetics: "Suppose someone asked you, 'Why did Jesus come to earth?' You could probably come up with one or two reasons." If you want to offend some of the readers, even if it's a minority, that's a pretty good way to do it. I read this paragraph a few times, hoping I was misunderstanding. That sounds very condescending to me. As an exercise, without having seen the table of contents yet, I thought of six major reasons Christ came. When I saw that some of the chapters were narrower in scope, I could come up with 6-10 more. One of my pet peeves is when authors make broad assumptions about the reader.

Thankfully that was an aberration--the only one that I saw. The whole book is very positive in tone and links why Christ came to how that affects our lives in a personal way.

Each chapter is about three pages long and is titled "To...", stating a purpose, with a verse or passage of Scripture, sometimes two, as a heading. The content of each chapter is topical, based on the chapter title. It's meaty material. It would be difficult to write fluff based on Why Christ Came, but I'm sure there are plenty up to the task (down to the task?). But not here. There are a few anecdotes sprinkled in, but not as much as you would find in most devotional material. There are also some quotes from Reformed theologians from the past, the Heidelberg Catechism, and often a versification of part of a Psalm at the end of a chapter. And there is a lot of Scripture. Everything written is backed up by the Bible.

There are a few end notes, but they are only for sources of quotes. All Scripture references and quote authors are noted in the text of the chapter.

There are only other two other very minor negatives or things I would change based on my preferences. First of all, using the KJV. I have no problem with the translation. It's wonderful. But some of the verses quoted in key areas were totally lost on those not well versed (get it?) in 17th century English, like "sore amazed", quoting Mark 14:33 on pg 3. One of these centuries, I think we're going to have to get past this. The other is that some of the chapter's content will wander from the title, even within the three pages. I don't think this is really a problem, since the book most likely won't be used as reference material. It would seem a bit more organized and focused if the author kept the material closer to the title or used a different title.

But that was a long paragraph on a couple of tiny nitpicks. This is an unusual devotional in that it teaches the reader so much and pulls together so much Scripture in only three pages for each subject. I hope people don't think of this as a "Christmas Devotional", because it's something that should be meditated on all the time and can also be kept for when wanting to read something short. It's one that could always be left on the coffee table or nightstand.

This book was provided by Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for a fair review.

You can find this at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle formats.

[Bob Hayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why? Every young child’s favorite word is “why?” Why do we have to go to bed now? Why can’t we have licorice for dinner? Why do we have to always brush our teeth?

With the hustle and bustle of another Christmas season upon us. It is the grown up children among us who are asking “Why?” Why make such a fuss with wrapping paper, ribbons and bows, when the kids are just going to break the toy in a couple days and complain about it. Why go through with painful family trips to the in-laws, awkward holiday parties at work and endure the rush at the mall?

Christmas ultimately is much more than gifts and toys, we know. It is about a baby in a manger, and a donkey standing in the stable (or is the donkey really part of the picture?). The routine nature of Christmas choirs and holiday schedules threaten to have us asking “Why?” even as we think about the Christ child. We get it, Christ came. Can’t we make more of a fuss over the cross and the empty tomb?

Meditating on the incarnation

Against this backdrop, authors Joel Beeke and William Boekestein present 31 meditations on the incarnation in a little book titled "Why Christ Came." Unlike many Christmas devotionals, this book does not recount the Scriptural account of Christ’s birth. It doesn’t play gotcha about the donkey and other extra-Scriptural additions to the Christmas story. Instead this book focuses on the big question: Why. Why is it so special Christ came?

In thinking about the Scriptural teaching concerning why Jesus came, what purposes he aimed to fulfill, and what reasons compelled him to come, our hearts will be redirected from the contemporary holiday bustle and even from a traditional churchly pursuit to a fuller contemplation of the very nature and work of the God-man, Jesus Christ.

Each of the 31 meditations are short and fit in 3-4 pages (with large font). The entire book can be read in a little more than an hour, if you are a slow reader like me.

Why Christ came

The chapters focus on the reasons for Christ’s incarnation and include some of the following answers:

* To Save Sinners
* To Destroy the Devil and His Works
* To Bring Great Joy
* To Reveal God’s Love for Sinners
* To Bring Peace
* To Bind Up Broken Hearts
* To Make Us Partakers of the Divine Nature
* To Be a Merciful and Faithful High Priest
* To Satisfy Our Deepest Thirst
* To Reveal God’s Glory

As you can see, these aren’t the typical Christmas devotions. The authors include a Scripture-packed exploration of each theme and often add poems, excerpts from a Psalter, and quotes from the Reformers or other notable Church leaders. As a Baptist, I appreciated the many quotes from the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession and the like. Those documents are not very familiar to me and yet they are rich in Scriptural reflection.

Evaluation

The authors are definitely Reformed, but mostly steer clear of controversial matters. And apart from one or two statements that might seem questionable to some, the large part of the work will meet with approval from any gospel-loving Christian who is hungry for Christ.

This small and readable work has a catchy cover and an inviting tone. I encourage you to pick up a copy and add it to your Christmas reading this year. It would make for a great series of family devotions or for personal devotional reading during the advent season.

Disclaimer:

This book was provided by Reformation Heritage Books. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a positive review.

[RH · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Divine occurrence of the Nativity scene is often spoken of and rendered in a storybook like fashion during the Christmas Season and throughout the rest of the year. Few think on and ponder the prophesies that tie into the Gospels -- and thus lose the true meaning of why Christ came. If you were to ask a typical American churchgoer the reason for the coming of Jesus, they would likely reply like this,

"Jesus came to earth because He loved me and wanted to die for my sins and save me so that I wouldn't have to go to hell."

This reply, although no doubt given with good intentions, is unequivocally dangerous to those seeking to find the true reason. God's zealous pursuit of His glory is always the reason for Him doing things in a certain matter. All other reasons fall under the umbrella of His Name being supremely magnified. His glory is the goal, and all other reasons are simply venues of His working things to the praise of His glory.

In Why Christ Came, Joel Beeke and William Boekestien have captured the reasons and true spirit of the Christmas message. This is an excellent book of biblically founded explanations of why God's Son came in human flesh to earth. Written in simple layman's terms, it is a beautiful book of reflection on the incomprehensibility of the incarnation. You will undoubtedly see the Messiah's coming in a new light and from a vast number of different angles. The authors start with the topics strung throughout Scripture and finally end with the ultimate reason of God's glory being achieved and revealed to utterly depraved men. It truly encapsulates the fullness and the beauty of Christ's first coming. This is an easier read for the fact that each chapter is about two pages long-- permitting you to read a lot or a little! You will treasure this gem of a book, with much Scripture backing its every point. This collection of meditations on the incarnation would be a great book for one to read near Christmastime or to use in daily family worship throughout advent-- or during any other time of the year! Meditation topics are as follows:

1) To Do the Will of His Father
2) To Save Sinners
3) To Bring Light to a Dark World
4) To Be Made Like His People
5) To Bear Witness to the Truth
6) To Destroy the Devil and His Works
7) To Give Eternal Life
8) To Receive Worship
9) To Bring Great Joy
10) To Demonstrate True Humility
11) To Preach the Gospel
12) To Bring Judgement
13) To Give His Life a Ransom for Many
14) To Fulfill the Law and the Prophets
15) To Reveal God's Love for Sinners
16) To Call Sinners to Repentance
17) To Die
18) To Seek and Save the Lost
19) To Serve
20) To Bring Peace
21) To Bring a Sword
22) To Bind up Broken Hearts
23) To Give us the Spirit of Adoption
24) To Make us Partakers of the Divine Nature
25) To Reign as King
26) To Restore Human Nature to Holiness
27) To Be a Merciful and Faithful High Priest
28) To Be the Second and Greater Adam
29) To Satisfy Our Deepest Thirst
30) To Be Loved by God's Children
31) To Reveal God's Glory

If you want a deeper taste of God's pursuit for His Glory, His unmatched grace and His sovereign plan, you will treasure this book!

*Thanks to Cross Focused Reviews for sending me a free copy of this book in return for my honest review

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Traditionally, at Christmastime we think about the story of Christ's birth. It feels like Christmas when we picture Joseph and Mary, the shepherds, the angels, and the manger containing the Christ child. But to appreciate the magnitude of the main point of the story--that the eternal Son of God assumed our flesh-and-blood human nature--we need to learn from the rest of the Bible why Christ came to earth."

Suppose you were asked the question, "Why did Jesus come to earth and live here in human form?" How confident are you that you could answer the question with more than two or three reasons? In the form of a small booklet with only 105 pages, the authors provide their readers with numerous thoughts and meditations to answer this question. It contains wisdom from several historical sources that have been overlooked, forgotten or neglected for a long period of time. In these meditations, our understanding will deepen as we explore the Bible passages that point to Christ's coming and quotes from men of faith who penned their reflections on Scripture.

Meditation is a beneficial exercise all of us would be wise to learn. For me, meditation means taking in information either familiar, completely new, or as a reminder of something I may have forgotten, and spending time pondering their meaning and implications for my life. Sometimes the benefits are to expand my understanding--for enrichment. The new information may be a puzzle piece that slips into place. Many "Aha!" moments come to me at these times. At other times, the new perspective or information is meant for me to share with someone else.

When meditating on the thirty-one points Why Christ Came, I experienced several "Aha!" moments, and my appreciation for the relationship I have with Jesus Christ expanded. This is something I'm sure the authors desire for everyone who delves into this short but pithy book. I look forward to making this book a part of our family Advent tradition for many Christmases to come.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this commentary from Cross Focused Reviews (A Service of Cross Focused Media, LLC)and Reformation Heritage Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Roger Leonhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

We often hear the phrase: "Jesus is the reason for the season", but do we know the reason that Jesus came in the first place. Christmas has become a romanticized time that people think of a baby in a manger and wise men bringing gifts, but do we truly think about what He came to accomplish?

I have read a few books by Beeke and they have never been disappointing. Beeke is a theologian who can take complicated theology and explain it in layman’s terms, giving anyone the ability to understand.

Here, Beeke takes the theme of the birth of Christ and shows that it is much more than what we think of at Christmas. He gives 31 reasons Christ came to earth. Each of the 31 chapters is filled with scripture and quotes from Church leaders from past and present.

Taking a look at the Table of Contents shows the diversity of chapters:

Preface
1. To Do the Will of the Father
2. To Save Sinners
3. To Bring Light to a Dark World
4. To Be Made Like His People
5. To Bear Witness to the Truth
6. To Destroy the Works of the Devil
7. To Give Eternal Life
8. To Receive Worship
9. To Bring Great Joy
10. To Demonstrate True Humility
11. To Preach the Gospel
12. To Bring Judgment
13. To Give His Life a Ransom for Many
14. To Fulfill the Law and Prophets
15. To Reveal God's Love for Sinners
16. To Call Sinners to Repentance
17. To Die
18. To Seek and Save the Lost
19. To Serve
20. To Bring Peace
21. To Bring a Sword
22. To Bind Up Broken Hearts
23. To Give Us the Spirit of Adoption
24. To Make Us Partakers of the Divine Nature
25. To Reign as King
26. To Restore Human Nature to Holiness
27. To Be a Faithful and Merciful High Priest
28. To Be the Second and Greater Adam
29. To Satisfy Our Deepest Thirst
30. To Be Loved by God's Children
31. To Reveal God's Glory

The incarnation is as important as the cross. Without Jesus coming to earth as a man, we could not have been redeemed. He did not come to do a few miracles and tell people to live good lives. He came to release mankind from the bonds of their sin and bring them into reconciliation with the God of the universe.

This book would be a wonderful gift to friends and family members during this Christmas season. It was a tremendous read. Buy a dozen and hand them out to everyone you know.

I recommend it and give it 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book, free of charge, from Reformation Heritage Books and Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for an honest review.

[LaRosa Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

When most of us think about Christmas we usually think about the same things from year to year. We usually read through the gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth as we picture the Messiah as a baby in a manger. It’s not often that the Christmas season makes us think of the life of Jesus Christ and the actual reason(s) why he came to this earth. Sure, we like to think about Emmanuel & Christ being with us, but do we take in the full depth of why God came to earth in the form of a man?

It is with this thought in mind that Joel Beeke & William Boekestein penned the book Why Christ Came: 31 Meditations on the Incarnation. Meant to be read as a daily devotional, this book takes us through thirty-one different reasons why Jesus was born and became God in the flesh. Some of the reasons offered in this book are quite familiar to us, such as to save sinners or to give eternal life. But, what about reasons like bringing a sword, to receive worship, or to bear witness to the truth? Do we often think about those reasons? Truth be told, as the authors state in the preface to their work, “The number of reasons for which Christ came into the world may ultimately surpass the number of people He came to save.” So, while this book may offer thirty-one reasons why Jesus was born, it is by no means an exhaustive list. The goal of this book is to get you thinking more deeply about the incarnation during Christmas so that we’re focusing not just on the baby but all the reasons, benefits, and blessings that are to be had in his coming.

The beauty of this book is that the sections are very short and can even be used as a part of a family devotion for the Christmas season. Not only will your intimacy with the Lord become greater as a result of this resource, but you will be in a better position to appreciate the incarnation. It is my plan to use this book as a part of my family’s Christmas tradition. Each day in the month of December we will read a chapter as we reflect upon his birth.

It doesn’t matter where you are in your walk with the Lord, this book will prove fruitful as you read it. It only take 5 minutes of your day to read a chapter and you’ll discover yet another reason to appreciate why our Savior came as a baby who was born in a manger. I’m not a big fan of “Christmas” books, but I believe that this is one of a few that is a must have, so I recommend adding it to your collection & reading it this Christmas season, as well as throughout the rest of the year.

[Kevin Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m shocked to admit this to all of you, my faithful readers, but this is the first book by Joel Beeke that I’ve ever read. However, after having read this small devotional, I know this will not be the last book by Joel Beeke that I will have ever read!

Why Christ Came is a small book that might have a huge impact on your Christmas this year. With thirty-one, short devotional readings it would make a great book to buy this month and work your way through during the month of December. In other words, this is not a stocking-stuffer, order your copy today (and I would encourage you to do just that).

Each reading contains a bite-sized Biblical truth that is profound enough for meditation and short enough not to feel too overwhelmed by its depth. Christmas tends to be one of those often-rehearsed stories that we all just become comfortable with while forgetting the “wonder of it all.”

Why did Christ leave the glories and splendor of Heaven to endure the humility of humanity? Why did God take on human flesh? This book explores these questions in a meaningful way that will leave you glorifying Christ and reveling in the fullness of the gospel. I think that is what I enjoyed most about this book – its emphasis on the gospel. From the very first reading we are reminded that “The good news of the gospel is that Christ has come to do God’s will as the Mediator for those who trust Him.” (page 4)

“Jesus both declared the will of God and performed it. He warned the people about the judgment of God, and then endured that judgment for His people. He then promised eternal comfort by shedding His precious blood for them.” (page 48)

“Those [II Peter 1:5-7] are incorruptible virtues or spiritual graces that were lived out and embodied for us in the righteousness and holy human life of the Lord Jesus Christ. What He has done for us He also works in us through His Holy Spirit as we abide in in Christ through faith.” (page 84)

These gospel-saturated quotations are just a few of the gems found in this work. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for ways to escape the commercialization of Christmas and regain a stronger focus on Christ.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher for review. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

[Barbara Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

n the preface of Why Christ Came: 31 Meditations on the Incarnation, authors Joel R. Beeke and William Boekestein state that “Learning the reasons for Christ’s advent will help us more deeply celebrate His birth, allow us to see more clearly how it is connected with the rest of His ministry, and help us understand its importance in our lives.” They add that it also helps when people ask us why Jesus came to have a fuller knowledge of the answer to that question.

They discuss 31 reasons the Bible says Jesus came but acknowledged there are multitudes more. They range from the familiar, like “To Die,” “To Seek and Save the Lost,” “To Do the Will of the Father,” to others you might not have thought of right away, like “To Bring Peace,” “To Bring a Sword,” and “To Demonstrate True Humility.”

Each selection is only about three pages but is packed with references and thoughts about that day’s subject. The writing is not warm and fuzzy nor what one usually thinks of as “devotional,” but it is a rich treasury.

There were just a couple of places I disagreed with the authors. One was “The most important way to seek Christ is in the public worship of His church.” We need that, but equally important is private seeking of Him in His Word in our own homes. Another was the assertion that “Jesus gives us a precious glimpse of His humanity…He experiences the fear of death as we do.” I don’t think it was just a human fear of death that caused His anguish (they quote Calvin as calling this His “cowardice”), but the thought of all that would be involved in taking our sin and its penalty on Himself. They also write from a Reformed/Calvinistic view, and while I agree with a reformed view of faith in many particulars, I disagree on a few.

But mostly I found much food for thought here and enjoyed thinking on its truths during the Christmas season.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

If someone asked YOU "Why did Christ come?" what would YOU say? Could you share the why of the gospel message?

Why Christ Came is a wonderful, little book that I would strongly encourage every believer to read and perhaps even read often. It is a gem of a book that from start to finish focuses on the WHY. It isn't the only Christian living book that focuses on the why, of course. But it is concise and so Christ-centered that it may just be the BEST book you'll ever read about the why. (I'll amend that to read the best book outside the Bible itself.)

Why Christ Came could easily be considered a devotional book. There are 31 readings on WHY Christ came. One could easily read one a day in any month with 31 days and benefit from it using it as a traditional devotional. But it isn't only a devotional book. One could easily read it over a period of a day or two and benefit just as much.

You might be tempted that this is a seasonal book. That it is a devotional book for the month of December, perhaps, or maybe March or April--whatever month Easter happens to be. But, in my personal opinion, that would be silly--foolish--to think that the incarnation was relevant only once or twice a year. Every single day is a day to CELEBRATE the fact that Jesus came to dwell among us.

I think that believers should preach the gospel to themselves daily. Believers need to dine daily--find refreshment--from the gospel. The gospel may seem basic and simple at first, but, there is depth, substance, a certain RICHNESS to it that leaves one speechless.

Each chapter states one reason why Christ came. That one reason may be drawn from one text of Scripture--or several verses. Each chapter directs readers back to the heart of the gospel.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s that time of year when my thoughts begin to turn to the fast approaching Advent season.
Our family, from youngest to oldest, looks forward all year to Advent and the special things we do together to recognize the season and prepare our hearts for Christmas. It’s kind of a hobby of mine to collect devotionals and resources we can use to help us focus on the season.

One of my most recent acquisitions is Why Christ Came: 31 Meditations on the Incarnation. This little devotional is a unique twist on the usual. Instead of just focusing on the Christmas story as told in the Gospels, it delves into all of Scripture to show how essential the incarnation is and why Christ came.

From the publisher’s description:

“When thinking about Christ’s birth, we often focus our attention on Luke’s detailed gospel account. But to appreciate the main point of the story—that the eternal Son of God assumed our flesh-and-blood human nature—we need to learn from the rest of the Bible why Christ came to earth.”

The 31 short devotions each focus on a different reason why Christ came:

Read the whole review here: http://homewithpurpose.net/2013/11/wh...

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful Christmas book, but it is about so much more than Christmas. This book spends 31 chapter explaining the glorious reasons why the Eternal Son of God came into the world. I enjoyed reading it this Christmas season but I think I would even like to read it during other parts of the year so that I can reflect on the inexhaustible glories of the incarnation all year long.

[Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise and style of this book is very similar to Piper's "Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die". This isn't your traditional advent book, looking at the details surrounding Jesus' birth, but is a great deeper treatise of why He came. The meditations are short and take less than 10 minutes per day, making this a nice devotional to read during advent season.

[Allen Haynie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This devotional book explores thirty-one biblical reasons for Christ’s coming into the world, helping it's readers reflect on the meaning of the incarnation. Each chapter presents a Scripture text, a brief meditation and practical application.