Throughout the ages, God demonstrated His sovereign power and control. He did this when He created and when He chose His people. From the beginning, God determined to send a Savior into the world Who would carry out His redemptive plan. Jesus Christ came into this world to be the Savior. His mission was to bring relief and salvation to a hurting world.
Luke 4:18-19 NKJV “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; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Have you ever asked the question: “What if?
What if that would never have happened? What if I had stayed in school? What if we had gone a different way? What if I had said that differently? What if?
What would the world be like if Christ had not come? What would your life be like if Christ had not come? Consider the dramatic impact that Jesus Christ has had on your life.
Since Jesus Christ came many things have changed.
We just celebrated the Christmas season and the birth of the Savior.
We are so familiar with the story that is centered around the fact that Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. His coming into this world was the reason the Angelic host sang to the shepherds. There would have been no reason for wisemen to journey to Bethlehem if Christ had not been born. There would be no star of Bethlehem or message of Mary and Joseph and a baby born in a stable. There would be no angelic host singing “Glory to God in the highest.” There would be no Christmas without Christ.
All of the things we celebrate around Christmas are directly related to the fact that Jesus the Christ came.
There is more to Christ’s coming than the celebrations and family gatherings around the holidays. There is more than the gifts and Yuletide singing.
Take a look at the wonderful things that happened in people’s lives since Christ came.
Watch what happened when Jesus came.
Christ came into this world to bring a dramatic change to the circumstances that sin, grief and death have brought. As He was ministering throughout the region of Galilee He healed the brokenhearted, proclaimed liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind. He gave liberty to the oppressed and proclaimed the day of salvation and free favor of God.
One of those great days of ministry, Jesus went to Bethany to minister to Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus.
Mary and Martha had buried their brother after he had been sick and ultimately died. When Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been in the grave for three days. Their home was filled with grieving friends, but when Jesus arrived, the dialogue changed.
John 11:21-22 NKJV Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”
The death of Lazarus seemed so final, until Christ came. That is the way it is in our lives. Many circumstances and situations have no good answers until Jesus arrives on the scene. In the presence of Jesus, Martha had hope. Jesus responded to the faith she had and said, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha did not fully understand what Jesus was saying, so, He clarified His message.
John 11:25-26 NKJV Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
When Jesus said this to Martha, Mary was still in the house with those who were comforting her. She appears to have been overwhelmed by the death of her brother. When Martha told her the Teacher was there, she arose, went to Him, and fell at His feet.
John 11:32 NKJV She said to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Mary knew that Jesus had power over life and death.
After He arrived at the tomb where Lazarus lay, Mary and Martha knew things would change. Arriving at the tomb, Jesus began weeping and praying to the Father in heaven.
John 11:43 NKJV Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”
You need to know that there is power in His presence. When Jesus speaks, you can expect supernatural things to happen.
John 11:44 NKJV And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
Since Christ came, things have changed.
- The woman with an issue of blood would have suffered until she died, but Christ came by.
- Bartimaeus would have lived and died a blind man, but when Christ came he received his sight.
- The woman accused of adultery would have been killed by her accusers, but when Christ came she found forgiveness.
- When Christ came, the lame walked, lepers were cleansed, the blind were given sight, and the deaf could hear.
- When Christ arrived on the shore of Galilee, the man who had a legion of demons was released from his tormentors.
- Mary Magdalene found deliverance, release and new life when Jesus came.
After Christ came, we began to understand more about God’s great love and grace.
Jesus Christ opened up a new and living way to God for anyone who would believe in Him. When Christ came, He made it possible for miracles and the wonderful works of God to happen in all of our lives.
The coming of the Messiah has brought many dramatic changes in the world.
Jesus Christ has changed history. Specifically, Christ has made a great change in us.
Socrates cried out in his darkness: “We look for a god, or a god-inspired man, who will teach us our duty and help us to live as we ought.”
Since sin entered, humanity has needed someone to help us. The cry of men throughout the generations has been for someone higher, better, gifted, and competent. Humanity has needed someone who would bring us to God and bring real relief from the impact of sin and death.
Jesus Christ has done so much more than that for us.
He has become for us a Savior, Intercessor, Comforter, and Divine Attorney. The Scripture tells us He is seated at the right hand of the Father and daily makes intercession for us. We have hope and a future because Christ came. We have free access to the Father since Christ came. He has made it possible for us to know the extent of God’s love, sympathy, grace, or compassion.
Remember the message the angel declared to the shepherds outside of Bethlehem.
Luke 2:10-11 NKJVThen the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
No message has been received with greater joy.
A Savior has been born. Regardless of your background or position in life, Jesus Christ is your Savior. No other name has been given whereby we can be saved but the name Jesus.
If Jesus Christ had not come, what would the world be like?
The world would be overwhelmed with deep, dark, and desperate religions that offer no real hope. The world with all of its discoveries, wisdom and knowledge would not know God. Without Jesus Christ, the depth of the darkness that comes from lives bound by sin would be unimaginable and without hope. What profit is there if we build skyscrapers, fill banks with gold, have rich oil wells and diamond mines, if there is no hope in this present world? What safety can we have if we have the best defense and the greatest levels of national security but cannot conquer the powers of evil, sin and Satan. Wheat will not last. Money will deteriorate. Houses and lands will decay. None of these things can bring hope, peace, or real joy.
Jesus Christ is the only answer for hope, peace, and joy.
If Christ had not come, we would have no adequate atonement for sin or salvation for our soul.
Throughout time, men have attempted to make amends for past mistakes, failures, and sins. They have tortured and deprived themselves. They have offered crude and terrible sacrifices. Thousands of animals have been sacrificed to try to gain peace and forgiveness. Parents have sacrificed their children to try to appease some god. Humanity has attempted to ease the ache of guilt and torment of an accusing conscience, but have been unable to find peace.
Real peace, joy and love cannot be found without Christ.
In Galatians 6:14 the Apostle said: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Only Jesus can offer an adequate atonement for sin. Through Him, the vilest sinner can be made clean. Through His cross, the wretched and terrible can be assured of salvation. All our hope is in Jesus Christ.
The three things that concern all mankind are life, death, and eternity.
Christ has the only definite, clarifying, authoritative, and satisfying word concerning life, death, and eternity.
You do not need to fear life.
You do not need to fear what life may bring. Trials may be a part of your daily routine and difficulties may come your way. You may face tests that are beyond your strength to endure. In Revelation 1:18 Jesus said, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”
You don’t have to be afraid of life’s experiences.
You can have hope and faith in this life. Jesus Christ is your Savior and Healer. He is your Provider and Shepherd. He is the Answer to your problems. In John 10:10 He said: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
You do not need to fear death.
One day everyone will face death. The Bible says: “It is appointed unto men once to die.”Through the cross, Jesus Christ “Has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
Put your trust in Jesus Christ. Cling to Him and you do not have to fear how, when, or where you shall die. Jesus Christ alone has conquered death. He alone can turn death into victory. He arose from the grave in victorious triumph. He conquered death, hell, and the grave and holds the keys of death and the grave.
You do not need to be afraid of eternity.
Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
God has provided the Savior and Jesus Christ came for you.
Because of Christ, we can face our present and the future. Because of Christ, we don’t have to fear life or death. Since Jesus came, we have hope. His death on the cross gives us courage and hope to face eternity.
Since Christ arose victorious over death and the grave, we have a Savior.
He is here now in power to save and bless. He will give new life to all who trust and surrender to Him. He will come again someday to receive all who have put their trust in Him. We shall live with Him forever.
Jesus Christ is the proof of the power, love and grace of the Father.
His death on the cross has paid for your debt of sin. His precious blood is sufficient to cleanse you of sin. His resurrection has secured His finished work. He has ascended to the Father so that you may have life more abundantly. He is coming again to bring us with Him to the Father and we shall forever be with the Lord.
Thank God that Jesus came!
Give Him your highest praise!
