Today, we, along with billions of people around the world, celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who incarnated as a fully human being. The question is, why did God become Man? The answer is because the world needs Him, as is the theme of our Christmas this year. Because our time is limited, I will only share three main needs of the world that ONLY Jesus can provide:
1. The world needs Jesus to reveal the true God. As human beings created by God in His image, humans are given a spirit to relate to God. There are other creatures that have similar DNA to humans, around 98% to 99%, namely gorillas and chimpanzees. But they cannot pray to God. Humans are the only creatures created by God that have the ability to connect with God.
Unfortunately, the first humans that God created chose not to obey Him. They sinned against their Creator. Sin did not destroy human intelligence and did not eliminate their spiritual aspect. However, sin contaminated all aspects of their lives: their thoughts, emotions, bodies, relationships with others, motives, and their spiritual ability to connect with God (in theology we call this "Total Depravity"). That is why, even though humans are aware that there is something greater and more powerful than themselves and know that this universe must have been created by someone, they do not know who the true God is.
As a result, humans try to create various figures or objects that they consider to be gods. That is why in every culture and nation, there are various kinds of gods that they created themselves. For example, the ancient Semitic people in Canaan and Phoenicia worshiped the god Baal, the god of storms, rain, fertility, and war. The Babylonians worshiped many gods, with their main god being Marduk, the patron god of Babylon. The Greeks and Romans worshiped the Twelve Olympian Gods, where Zeus was the king of the gods. The Egyptians worshiped Ra/Amun-Ra, the sun god, the creator, etc. Each belief and religion claims that their god or deity is the true God.
The human condition before Jesus came was like four blind men holding different parts of an elephant's body. Then they made statements about what the elephant was like. The first man said that the elephant was like a sturdy pillar, because he was holding the elephant's leg. The second said, "No. The elephant is like a rope," because he was holding the elephant's tail. The third said, "You're wrong! The elephant is like a big snake," because he was holding the elephant's trunk. The fourth confidently said, "You are all mistaken! The elephant is actually like a wall," because he was holding the elephant's belly. They gained a complete understanding of the elephant's form when someone guided them to touch all parts of the elephant.
In the Old Testament, God did reveal Himself through the prophets. However, Jesus' coming to the world to FULLY REVEAL to spiritually blind humanity who the TRUE GOD is. Hebrews 1:3a says: "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." Jesus said about Himself: "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). So if you want to know who the true God is, look at Jesus! Study His word in the Bible. The world needs Jesus to reveal the true God.
2. The world needs Jesus to give His true peace. Many people are abundant in wealth, living in very expensive homes, but cannot sleep because their hearts are restless. Money can buy temporary pleasure and enjoyment, but not inner peace. Alcohol can make us forget our problems, but it doesn't solve them. Entertainment can make us laugh, but our hearts still cry out. Blaise Pascal, a French philosopher and mathematician said, “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”
He is right! Indeed, nothing can fill that empty space, neither wealth, power, nor the satisfaction of worldly desires. The sinful human heart can only experience true peace when Jesus dwells within it. In John 14:27, Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Notice what Jesus said: “I do not give to you as the world gives.” In Acts 12:6, we see that this extraordinary peace from Jesus was given to the apostle Peter. So when King Herod imprisoned him with both his hands bound by two soldiers beside him, he remained calm and even slept soundly. This was despite the fact that King Herod had just killed the apostle James, so it was likely that Herod would also kill him.
ONLY JESUS can give us the true peace. You and I, and billions of people who believe in Jesus, have experienced the peace that He has given us, enabling us to remain strong in the midst of the difficulties and suffering we experience. Isaiah 9:6 calls Jesus the "Prince of Peace," signifying His role in bringing ultimate peace. Peace on earth happens when Jesus transforms humans hearts!
3. The world needs the Savior. Humanity, having fallen into sin, is like someone who has fallen into a deep hole. Whatever efforts they make to get themselves out of the hole will not succeed. The only way for him to get out of the well was if someone above stretched out a rope to him and pulled him up. Let's see this video:
Morality, ritual, worship, religion, and human intelligence cannot free humans from sin, which will destroy them. Praise God, Jesus came to the world. Through His death and resurrection, He was able to pull humans out of the pit of death and grant them eternal life. Only Jesus can save humanity because He is both God and Man. If He is only God, then Jesus cannot represent humanity, replacing the punishment for sin. If He were only human, then He would not have the power to defeat death.
hat is why, in John 14:6, Jesus stated something that no one else could say, including the prophets and founders of religion: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
The Lord Jesus said, “I am the way,” not just a way, but the way. Jesus was not a teacher or religious founder who showed various uncertain paths to salvation. He is the way to salvation. Then Jesus said, “I am the truth.” Jesus was not just a moral example; He is the truth. In Him there is no sin or blemish. He embodies the highest truth, revealing the character of God. He is a perfect Man. His whole life expressed God's truth. Then, He said, “I am the life.” Jesus not only promised a better life; He himself is the Source of life. He is the Savior of the world who forgives our sins and gives us eternal life.
JESUS is the ONLY PERSON who reveals the true God, who can give true peace, forgive our sins, and grant us salvation and eternal life.
If you haven't accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, accept Him now. He came for you. Merry Christmas!
