This time of the year we are bombarded with the programming of the season. Many of these television specials have the word “Christmas” in their title or somewhere in their script but most fail in pointing out the true meaning of Christmas—
that God became man and dwelt among us
that God the Son would come in the form of a meek and humble baby in a manger
that God the Son would grow up becoming a man who had no sin
that God the Son would be executed on a Roman cross as a common criminal
that God the Son would, as our substitute, die paying the penalty for our sin which is death
that God the Son would rise from the dead three days later!
One of my favorite Christmas season shows is Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed.
It is the post-war tale of a savings-and-loan manager who struggles against a greedy banker in a small town. Through the help of an angel named Clarence, who is trying to win his wings, do-gooder George Bailey (James Stewart) recognizes his life as wonderful and truly rich, only after being shown what his small town would be like if he was never born.
* As a boy George would save his younger brother Harry from drowning. His brother eventually would grow up to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.
* He would also keep the local pharmacist from mistakenly giving poison to a young child.
* George’s acceptance of a high school girl who was considered “loose” would keep her from going head long into prostitution.
* George’s business ethics and authentic concern for the common townsfolk would keep the greedy banker, Mr. Potter from taking over the town.
But one day George Bailey goes through a tremendous trial and wishes to God that he would “never have been born.” His wish is granted by God who assigns the angel Clarence the task of showing George what life would be like if he was never born.
* As a result George's younger brother Harry dies
* The grief-stricken pharmacist becomes the town drunk after mistakenly poisoning a child.
* The high school girl becomes the town harlot.
* The small town is taken over by Mr. Potter, the greedy banker. It is renamed Pottersville and becomes a town of greed and vice.
* George’s children aren’t born because he isn’t around to marry his sweetheart Mary who eventually becomes an old maid.
Towards the end of George’s nightmarish vision of what it would be like if he had not been born, the angel Clarence would utter one of the more memorable quotes from the movie, “Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives, and when he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?”
George Bailey would learn that life just wouldn’t be the same if he wasn’t around.
Today, we want to imagine for a moment what would life be like if Jesus hadn’t been born. Jesus Himself raised that question the night before He was crucified (John 15:22).
Some two thousand years ago Jesus came to this world, and made an impact deeper than that of any other personality that has touched this world. His influence pervades all the realms of life. His influence pervades literature and government and law and religion and art and music. All the spheres and realms of life have been personally influenced by Christ and Christianity.
What if He had not come? Where would the world be at this moment if Christ had not been born?
When Jesus was born three-fifths of the world was entrenched in barbarism.
Before Christ was born, especially those in the Western Hemisphere, tribal cultures were known for their brutal forms of slavery, human sacrifice and cannibalism. One change brought about by Christianity is emphasis on kindness toward enemies and avoidance of torture.
(Mat 5:38 NKJV) "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
(Mat 5:39 NKJV) "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
(Mat 5:43 NKJV) "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
(Mat 5:44 NKJV) "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
If Jesus would not have come, slavery and other forms of inhumane atrocities would still be considered as common practice all around the world rather than something that's deplorable and needs to be done away with.
When Jesus was born women were treated as property
When Jesus came on the scene, times were especially rough for women. Christianity’s teachings on the treatment of women were radical for the time. Christ was never quoted as saying anything demeaning or derogatory to women.
On the other hand, the Koran has teachings that denigrate women:
[Sura 4:34] The men are made responsible for the women, and GOD has endowed them with certain qualities, and made them the bread earners. The righteous women will cheerfully accept this arrangement, since it is GOD's commandment, and honor their husbands during their absence. If you experience rebellion from the women, you shall first talk to them, then (you may use negative incentives like) deserting them in bed, then you may (as a last alternative) beat them. If they obey you, you are not permitted to transgress against them. GOD is Most High, Supreme.
Women living during the time of Jesus could hardly leave their homes. When her husband had guests over, she was not even allowed to sit in the same room. Their status was extremely low among the Romans, where the father of the family had the power of life and death, even over his wife.
In ancient cultures, a wife was the property of her husband. Aristotle said that a woman was somewhere between a free man and a slave. In India, widows were voluntarily or involuntarily burned along with their husband at his funeral. Christian missionaries were a major influence in stopping these century-old practices and ideas.
In the Gospel of John, chapter four, Jesus’ disciples were amazed that He would talk to a woman in public. It was a commonly held viewpoint that men talked only with prostitutes in public.
Even in Rome, if a Greek man was walking about outside with a woman, that was his mistress, not his wife.
Christianity also weakened the practice of polygamy, as Jesus made it clear that a man has but one wife.
Christianity also made it clear widows were to be taken care of.
Even today, in places where the Bible is not taught and obeyed women almost always get the short end of the stick. If Jesus would not have come women would still be treated as if they were property.
When Jesus was born the abuse of children was a commonly accepted practice.
When Jesus came on the scene, He exalted the worth of children.
(Mark 10:13 NKJV) Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
(Mark 10:14 NKJV) But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
(Mark 10:15 NKJV) "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."
(Mark 10:16 NKJV) And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.
Christianity's immediate effects were to bring an end to infant exposure; this is where unwanted children were left out in the elements to freeze or die of thirst.
In the ancient world, for example in classical Rome or Greece, infanticide was not only legal, it was applauded. Killing a Roman was murder, but it was commonly held in Rome that killing one’s own children could be an act of beauty. Christianity would expose the immorality of gladiator contests, cannibalism, incest and abortion.
When the Word of Christ began to spread among these areas the common abuse of children began to subside. Michael Jackson wouldn’t be under this much scrutiny if Jesus had not come to earth.
If Jesus had not come to earth the abuse of children would be unrestrained. In fact, I believe abortion and the abuse of children have risen over the last 50 years because the world has been systematically kicking Jesus out of their lives in the schools, courts and churches.
If Christ had not come…
When Jesus was born, these kinds of things were going on. And as His Word was taught and spread abroad, things began to change. In the places where Christ’s teachings were taught and obeyed, the deplorable treatment of people would begin to decrease.
Where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached, accepted and practiced, living conditions are improved. Where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached, people are taught how to treat their fellow human beings.
(John 13:34 NKJV) "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
(John 13:35 NKJV) "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
That was a little of what was going on during the time in which Jesus Christ was born. Now let me share with you some of how things have changed since Jesus came on the scene. If Christ had not come, certain changes in the world would not have happened.
If Christ had not come there would be no sympathy for the poor, sick, blind, bereaved and brokenhearted.
Did you know that Christians introduced what we know as the hospital in the 4th century? Before that, there were private physicians, potions and shrines, but no such thing as people being nursed or cared for in a given facility. .
The Romans, Greeks and other ancients usually did not take care of their loved ones in times of plague. Plato said you shouldn't give medicine to those who would die anyhow. But Christians did take care of their loved ones and often died themselves as a result.
The International Red Cross was founded in the 19th century by a Swiss evangelical Christian for "the love of Jesus Christ.". "Mother Teresa would not have been who she was without Jesus Christ."
If Jesus would not have come there would be no sympathy for the poor, sick, blind, bereaved and brokenhearted.
In giving His reason for coming to earth Jesus said:
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed…” (Luke 4:18 NKJV)
If Christ had not come there would be fewer forms of government which allow people to govern themselves.
Because Christianity is based on individual choice, political systems with Christian underpinnings tend to be democratic.
Democracy allows people to govern themselves. The congregational form of church government was extremely important in the Massachusetts Bay colony. So was the Presbyterian form of government, where elders govern. Some have said the U.S. government is patterned much like the Presbyterian Church.
While America’s constitutional government is not specifically Christian, it can be argued that its roots are taken from biblical doctrines.
* At least 50 of the 55 signers of the U.S. Constitution were orthodox Christians.
* Our Constitutional system of checks and balances is a direct result of the biblical doctrine of the sinfulness of mankind.
* America’s foundational idea of “The Rule of Law” rather than the dictatorial authority of man traces back to the Old Testament, beginning with the Ten Commandments.
* The idea that all men are created equal as enshrined in the Declaration of Independence is a biblical doctrine.
Jesus Himself said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, till all is fulfilled.” (Mat 5:17-18)
If Jesus would not have come there would be fewer forms of government which allow the people to govern themselves.
If Christ had not come there we would have no parables to learn lessons of life from.
Try to imagine life without the teachings of Jesus found in the parables he told.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan -
(Luke 10:33 NKJV) "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.
(Luke 10:34 NKJV) "So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
If Jesus would not have come we would have minimal interest in showing compassion to those who are downtrodden and in need our help. There is an insurance that has as it’s slogan: "Like a Good Neighbor, State Farm Is there." Where do you think that slogan comes from?
The Parable of the Prodigal Son -
(Luke 15:20 NKJV) "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
If Jesus did not come to earth, we would not know the lesson of forgiveness the Father offers to us and expects us to offer to others who offend us.
If Jesus did not come to earth, our patience would be thin towards those who squander our friendship, resources or trust.
If Jesus did not come to earth most parents, pastors and others in authority would give up on their rebellious children before they returned home with sorrowful hearts.
The Parable of the Faithful Servant
(Mat 25:20 NKJV) "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.'
(Mat 25:21 NKJV) "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
If Jesus would not have come we would not know our responsibility to invest the gifts, talents and abilities the Lord has given us in order to reach souls so that God is glorified.
If Jesus would not have come we would not sense the urgency to work while the Master’s away, expecting a full reward when He returns.
The Parable of the Rich Fool
(Luke 12:15 NKJV) And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."
If Jesus would not have come we would not know the futility of coveting materials and wealth.
If Jesus would not have come we would base our esteem on what we have rather than who we are in Jesus Christ.
If Jesus would not have come we would be hoarding up things that moths can destroy, rust can corrode and thieves can steal, rather than eagerly awaiting our inheritance from above.
If Christ had not come we would have no biblical roles for marriage
We have already seen how Christianity was considered radically pro-woman at the time of its founding.
During the time of Christ, the most attractive and most sought after women in the Roman world were notoriously immoral and the most flattered and honored. The immoral women often aspired to the highest culture.
For a woman to appear in public with braided, decorated hair and showy attire, especially if she displayed any gifts of eloquence or culture was to proclaim herself one of the immoral, leisurely, educated, self-indulgent class.
The homes of virtuous, domestic women were dull and wearisome; they were household slaves who saw little of "society." The drudgeries and slavery of domestic life among the pagan ancients made their women unattractive to the world.
Homemaking women were not educated, had no influence beyond home, socially were slaves; given in marriage without consent; restricted in conversation with men; confined to their homes; having few privileges- no books; ruled over by lords and masters, they grew to be noisy, talkative women, quarrelsome drudges.
Pagan women never were equal to men - if they ruled men it was by using their sexuality rather than dignity and character. When their physical beauty faded, their power left with it.
Paganism offered no consolation to the downtrodden, injured and neglected woman. No one offered thoughts of an abundant, endless quality of life; there was no encouragement to beauty, peace, serenity. No thought was given to immortality, God's forgiveness, God's love, or future joy. There could be no contentment among women proclaimed by their Creator as spiritual equals to men, yet treated as animals.
Christ’s teachings began to change all of that. In his letter to the Ephesians Paul wrote instructions to both the husband and the wife that cut against the grain of the barbaric practices of that day.
Christian wives were to submit to their husband’s leadership, not because they feared his physical strength or beating but because they loved the Lord Jesus. Christian husbands were to cease from domineering their wives like the pagans of that time. They were to love their wives as Jesus loved His bride the church. Christian husbands were to nurture and cherish their wives like they would their own bodies.
If Jesus would not have come, wives would be treated as property not as a fellow heir of Christ and a delicate vessel to be honored, nurtured and cherished.
If Christ had not come we would have never found out what God was like
If you know your theology you know that God has revealed Himself in creation. You and I can look all around and see that there is an intelligent Designer who has framed the world. The earth couldn't have come about by the cataclysmic events such as a "Big Bang." Order doesn't come out of disorder.
So we see the beauty of the earth and have to conclude there is an intelligent Designer.
Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
The book of Romans tells us, "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead…”
However, because of the sinful nature of man, man didn't give glory to God for His creation. Man didn't seek to find out more about this God who made the heavens and the earth. Man began to worship the creation rather than the Creator.
You see this happening all the time on some of the "nature" shows on the Discovery Channel. Man is awestruck with creation but refuses to give glory to God for creating it.
Finding out what God is like by observing His creation was not enough. So God reveals Himself more specifically in Jesus. This is what Christmas is all about. Christmas is about God becoming man and hanging out among us so we can see what He is like.
(John 1:10 NKJV) He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
(John 1:11 NKJV) He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
(John 1:12 NKJV) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
(John 1:13 NKJV) who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
(John 1:14 NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
In John chapter 14 Peter says to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."
Jesus answers him and says, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (John 14:8-9)
Up until this time Peter had creation to look at. From studying creation he would come to know that God was powerful and intelligent.
Up until this time Peter had the writings of the Law and the Prophets. From studying the Law and the Prophets He could tell that God is holy and righteous.
Up to this point, man had difficulty getting a clear picture of what God was like. But when Jesus came on the scene God was revealed. This is why Jesus is called Emmanuel, meaning "God with us."
Like Peter we can look at and learn from Jesus that God is love. We can learn from Jesus how to please God. Jesus said of Himself, “I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.” (John 8:28)
This is why John would write the words, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life; the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us…" (1 John 1)
But it doesn't stop there. Not only would we have been ignorant about what God was like if Jesus did not come; God would not have learned what humans were like.
I know this sounds like heresy—God “not knowing something.” But before you burn me at the stake listen to what the Bible says on this topic:
If Christ had not come God would not have learned what we were like.
(Luke 2:52 NKJV) And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Luke tells us that Jesus grew (1) intellectually, (2) physically, (3) spiritually, and (4) socially. Thus He grew and matured like any other person.
As Jesus grew from a baby to manhood, he learned (as God) what it meant to be human. In another place of Scripture it says:
(Heb 5:7 NKJV) who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,
Through His intense human experiences, Jesus learned experientially (as a human) many things He wouldn’t have learned if he hadn’t become man. In fact, the writer of Hebrews goes on to say:
(Heb 5:8 NKJV) though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
The phrase "learned obedience by the things which He suffered" does not mean that Jesus was ever disobedient but rather that He learned (through experience as a Man and through all His temptation and suffering) what it meant to suffer and triumph in a way He did not experience before the incarnation.
This truth is expressed in one of my favorite Scriptures:
(Heb 4:15 NKJV) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
(Heb 4:16 NKJV) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
The Bible says that because Jesus knows, He can sympathize with your weaknesses. (Heb 4:15-16) In other words, He is touched with the feeling of your infirmities. Our young people put it like this, “Do you feel me?” The Bible says “yes!” Jesus can feel you!
I don’t know about you but I am more comfortable sharing my problems with someone who has become familiar with my situation. Being a pastor, I am more comfortable talking to other pastors about pastor problems. Another pastor can “feel”me.
The Bible is telling us because Jesus knows how we feel, we can "come with assurance to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. "
If Jesus had not come as God in the flesh, we would have grounds to question whether God understood what we were going through when we had problems. We would have a reason to doubt whether God could “feel us” in our trials and difficult circumstances.
But He knows! He feels us! So we can go to Him with our burdens; he will understand because He’s been there.
The Bible also says that because Jesus sympathizes with us--He can intercede for us as our faithful High Priest.
In other words, because He has experienced our pain and suffering, He can go before God the Father on our behalf.
If you told me that you have a bad case of the flu and asked for my prayers I can pray for you. But it is my experience of having a bad case of the flu that helps me to “feel you” and really go to the Father and PRAY for you. Because He has experienced what we are going through He can go to the Father on our behalf. If Christ had not come God would not have learned what we were like.
If Christ had not come there would be no salvation.
If Jesus would not have come to earth there would be no salvation. If Jesus would not have come to earth there would be no deliverance from sin and death.
In Galatians 4 Paul writes that Jesus came to earth to bring us salvation.
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Gal 4:3-5)
Before Christ came to earth we were under the law—for the Jews, it was the Law of Moses; the Gentiles, it was the law of God written in our hearts.
The Law would accuse us of sin. The Law would continually crush and grind us under the guilt of sin. By the Law is the knowledge of sin.
When the Law says "Do not steal, covet, bear false witness and murder…" if you are human, you have done most if not all of those things—if not by your hand then in your heart. You and I are under the judgement of God and if Jesus had not come to set us free from the bondage of sin we would still be in our sins.
If Christ had not been born, I would still be running the streets; running women and being run by them. I would still be living a promiscuous life as a fornicator and an adulterer.
Outwardly, I would appear like a model citizen but inwardly I would be corrupt—selfish, mischievous—always looking out for #1. I would be a thief and a liar. If I was still alive, this would be my life if Jesus Christ had not been born.
The Apostle Paul pens a graphic description how folk are before the coming of Christ into their lives:
(Titus 3:3 NIV) At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
This is how the world would be if Jesus had not come. But Christ has come.
Over two thousand years ago God sent His Son to earth to be born in humble means. He would grow up as a man. He would teach the Father’s truth. But wicked men would nail Him to a cross as they would a common criminal. But this was all part of God the Father’s plan to redeem the human race from sin and death.
While nailed to that cross, Jesus would bear the penalty of sin for us all by dying. But God the Father, the Judge of the universe would raise His Son from the dead three days later as an acceptance of His sacrifice—paid in full!
Salvation is now offered as a free gift to whosoever will call on the name of the Lord Jesus, turning away from their sin.
Paul would go on to write in Titus chapter three:
(Titus 3:3 NIV) At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
(Titus 3:4 NIV) But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,
(Titus 3:5 NIV) he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
(Titus 3:6 NIV) whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior…
This is why we celebrate Christmas! It is the birth of God’s Son and our Savior from sin!
This is why we celebrate Christmas! This is why we give gifts to one another. We give gifts to one another because God has given us a Gift: Salvation through His only Son.
(John 3:16 NIV) "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.
George Bailey discovered that his life did have a purpose. He did have a wonderful life after all.
The original script of It’s A Wonderful Life called for the movie to end with George falling to his knees reciting the Lord's Prayer.
Listen to the words of a movie critic commenting on Capra’s decision to end the movie this way:
“Wisely, Capra recognized that an overly religious conclusion would not have the emotional impact of George's friends rushing to his side in his hour of need.”
Who did they learn compassion from anyway?
Yes, Jesus has come into the world. But there is another place He wants to be. He wants to be in your heart and life.
There is an old hymn I used to sing when I was a boy.
Come into my heart, into my heart; Come into my heart, Lord Jesus
Come in today, come in to stay, Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.”
If you sense the need to trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior—If you want to receive His forgiveness from sin today, pray in this way: "Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life, turn away from sin and trust You as my Savior. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be."
