We know where  He came: the little town of Bethlehem within the ancient Roman Empire.

We know when  He came: over 2,000 years ago, most historians now place the actual birth circa 4-6 B.C.

We know what  He came to do: to be the Savior of not just the Jewish people, but for the whole world.

We know how  He came: the Christmas story we’ve heard over and over, a baby born in a stable to young and unexpected parents.

So we know the who, where, when, what and how – but why?  Why did Jesus come?

It is the most important question with an answer that is so simple, it can knock you off balance if you’re not sitting down:

He came because God loves you.

Ok, next question you may say, well then why does God love you? This answer, incredibly and simply, is the same.

...because He loves you.

When this simple truth gets drilled deep in your soul, the more awe-some it gets. When Moses first spoke the words to the nation of Israel in the verses above out of Deuteronomy 7, and the echo of this declaration would reverberate through the rest of Scripture. God is unchanging, He has always been a God of extravagant, almost scandalous grace, and He always will be. God told, Israel, “I love you....because I love you.”

It’s that simple, it’s that true, and it’s that good news that is powerful enough to make dead bones live again, to awaken a soul and set it on fire.

The apostle John gives his own version of Moses’ words in his gospel: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

It gets better. His eternal love guarantees that He loves you just as much today as He did the day Jesus was born in a manger. For those who trust in Jesus, He loves you even in your worst moments, He forgives you for all past, present, and future sin, and He loves you into a growing maturity and affection that you will have for Him in return.

He loves you enough to sanctify you well after all the Christmas decorations are put away, He loves you through the battle against private sin, He loves you in the teaching of His Word, and He loves you by providing the supply of all your deepest needs in life.

So in those moments when you are overwhelmed by His grace in the face of your failure, in those moments when you’re tempted to ask or wonder why He would give you another chance, remember this:

He loves you, because He loves you. That’s it. That’s the message.

Merry Christmas.