God could have chosen to send a fully grown Messiah into the world just as God began the human race with a fully grown man. Here are some reasons to consider why it was necessary for Jesus to be born a baby.

First, Jesus came as a baby to fulfill Scripture. Isaiah prophesied in 7:14 that God would give them a sign, A virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. From the beginning of the Bible, God promised a child, who would be our first glimpse of hope. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). This prophecy was fulfilled at the cross. The death of Jesus was the death blow to the serpent , and the means by which we are saved from the power of sin and the serpent.

Jesus also came as a baby so that He might be examined and seen for His perfection, just as the Passover lamb had to be examined for a period of time. The Lamb of God was subject to scrutiny during His life, so that He might fulfill all righteousness and be declared, Worthy is the (spotless) Lamb who was slain (Revelation 5:12).

Jesus had to experience infancy and childhood in order to be truly human and to qualify as our Sympathetic High Priest. In the unseen, untold years of His life, He experienced all the challenges of growth and temptations of youth and adulthood. The result was that He could sympathize with our weaknesses because He was tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Therefore, let us draw near to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Jesus came to earth as a baby in order to be the rightful heir to David’s throne. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore (Isaiah 9:6-7).

God had promised David that he would establish a kingdom for your offspring… who shall come from your body” (2 Samuel 7:12; c.f. Psalm 132:11). This future king, who would be a physical descendant of David, would establish a kingdom that lasts forever. Jesus had to be born in the line of David to be the rightful heir to the throne of David.

God may have been saying in the incarnation that He wants to be known in the context of a relationship. His plan of redemption necessitated that Jesus live an observable, demonstrated life of righteousness to fulfill the law and so that man would have responsibility in his choice. Love is not love unless it is freely chosen. Because God was willing to be incarnate, the human race was able to do the unthinkable . . . to actually see God and not perish. Rejoice! The Prince of Peace, Immanuel-God in the flesh, invaded earth!