Book Review: Why Christ Came: 31 Meditations on the Incarnation

Life has many important questions like “why are we here?” “what is the meaning of life?” and “how can we know God?” Our understanding of the answers to these questions will greatly shape our life and eternity and has deep implications for us all.

There is another important question whose answer actually serves to answer all of life’s other important questions: “Why did Jesus Christ come to earth in human flesh and live in the midst of sinful humanity?” That is the question that Joel Beeke, President of and professor at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, and William Boekestein, Pastor of Covenant Reformed Church in Carbondale, PN, seek to answer in Why Jesus Came: 31 Meditations on the Incarnation.

The book is divided into 31 chapters that are three or four pages each, serving as a rich devotional study on the implications of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Scripture is the foundation and source of this devotional that is seeped in rich theology from church history, especially the Puritans (which should be no surprise if you have read any of Joel Beeke’s other works, especially Puritan Theology).

This book is radically Christ-centered and presents a wonderful theology of the incarnation, and due to the theological overlap, it serves to build a nice doctrine of Christology as well. Here are a few sample devotional topics: Jesus Came to do the Will of the Father, to save sinners, to bring joy, to bring judgment, to preach the gospel, and to reveal God’s glory.

If you’re looking for a devotional for personal or family use to prepare yourself to worship at Christmas time, there is no better place to turn than Why Christ Came by Joel Beeke and William Boekestein. I give this book my highest recommendation for those seeking to understand the full meaning of Christmas and Christ’s first coming.

See a summary of the book: 31 Reasons Why Jesus Christ Came to Earth

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