Why did Jesus come to earth?

Isaiah 9:6-7 has been on my heart for a couple of weeks during this Christmas season.
"For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. "

This prophesy was spoken by Isaiah hundreds of years before Jesus was born of a virgin in an ordinary manger in Bethlehem. Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies spoken about him in the Old Testament.

Why did Jesus come? He came to save people from their sin and to sacrifice himself, taking our punishment for our wrongdoing. Sin separates us from God, but Jesus came in the likeness of man and was obedient to death on a cross to save us from God's wrath. We can only be right with God through Jesus Christ. No other god died for us on a cross to pay our debt for our sin, and make a way for us to go to heaven.

Before he died on the cross Jesus told his disciples "I will ask the Father and he will send you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of Truth." This Counselor is also called the Holy Spirit, who is responsible for illuminating the Word of God so that we can see him clearly, and see ourselves for who we truly are. His job is to lift up the Son. I pray that tonight, at South Bay Church's first Christmas eve service, that Jesus would be exalted above all else. I pray that men and women and children, some who have never understood the meaning of Christmas . . . would see Jesus clearly for the first time and lay down their lives at his feet. That the veil would be removed from their eyes so they can see their sin and respond to the grace and forgiveness of Jesus. We can not be saved by being good and loving people. We can only be saved through faith in Jesus. That's why he came to earth, and thats what I celebrate at Christmas time.