What If Jesus Had Not Come

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