Learn

A Life-Altering Story

There are lots of intact historical transcripts that can be found in museums and universities around the globe. We have access to the accounts of major historical events and information on impactful, history-changing individuals. These accounts shape what we know about the past, what decisions we make in the present and what the future can hold for each of us.

Did you know that there are no original manuscripts of biblical text still in existence? And yet, the Bible is the most life-altering book we have today. Four books in the Bible — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John — are collectively referred to as the gospels. These four books each hold an account of Jesus’ life and specifically hold the most life-altering story of history and of today.

In Greek, euangelion is the word “gospel” and its direct translation means “good news.” The four books in the Bible that are called the gospels, each having a summarized account of Jesus’ life, are directly translated to mean good news. Jesus is good news.

Jesus’ Coming Brought Change 

As Mary and Joseph trekked to Bethlehem, life as they knew it – not just for Mary and Joseph, but for all who worshiped God – was about to be different. Everything was about to change for everyone, for all of eternity. 

This good news story started in Bethlehem in an unassuming town and in a stable behind a crowded, sold out inn. The inaugural announcement of this good news story was given by angels in the middle of the night to lowly shepherds, humble and unassuming.

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.'

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12, 15-16)

The announcement that the angels provided to the shepherds was good. And not only that, it was good news that brought about great joy. And this good news of great joy was for all people. The shepherds were the first to hear it, which started the sharing of this good news to all people.

What Was The Good News?

This good news of great joy was the fact that Love Himself was born. The birth of Jesus was the beginning of the most radical love story the world has ever seen. 

In 1 John 4, we read that God is love. In the simplest of ways, in the purist forms, we find a name for love. The love we have from the Trinity – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit – is a beautiful gift. The love of Jesus is made known to us as the gift of salvation. 

Jesus’ ultimate act of love to the world is recognized and celebrated each year at Easter time when we remember the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. During this time of year around Christmas, however, our attention is focused on the arrival of Love. Jesus came to earth in human form, assuming a physical body in order to save all of humanity.

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” (John 1:14a)

The love of Jesus is the most amazing type of love, the most amazing kind of gift. And, it comes with the most unexpected price tag. 

The Gift of Love

For Jesus, love cost Him His life. His sacrifice was His own life. He loved to the point of death. 

For us, this gift of love costs absolutely nothing. The gift of salvation is just that, it is a gift. It’s not something we can earn or work for. It’s not something we deserve. No matter what we do (or don’t do) and no matter what we say (or don’t say), because of our sinful nature, we are unworthy. This gift of love and eternal life is a gift that we could never purchase on our own.

But Jesus made it possible. 

Because of Jesus, we have a gift in front of us. The gift of love is sitting here, just waiting for us. Wrapped beautifully, adorned with shimmering paper, with a huge bow and a tag on the top of the gift. And as we reach for the gift, we get a glimpse of the freedom and hope and love that we’re about to receive. 

We read the tag that’s atop the gift and see it’s been written with nail-scarred hands. On this gift, bought with His blood, we see the most wonderful sight: our name is on this eternity-changing gift. 

To: You, My Beloved
From: Jesus

The only thing left is to accept the gift. To reach out and take it from Jesus. To open it up, to let the wrapping paper fall to the ground. To receive the gift, receive His love, receive Jesus himself.

Salvation This Christmas Season

Remember, Jesus is the only one who can change everything in your life. He has a gift in store for you, the free gift of salvation. It costs you nothing but it cost Him everything. 

For Christians, if you have received the free gift of salvation and love through Jesus Christ, may I encourage you to approach this Christmas season from a different perspective. With a renewed hope in your heart, with a peace that passes all understanding from the Prince of Peace Himself and with a love that’s ignited by Jesus — may you be adamant and intentional in sharing the good news with others.

There are so many who have yet to find hope, who have yet to receive the peace that only Jesus brings, who might have knowledge of Jesus’s gift of love, but have yet to accept it. Showing someone how to accept the love of Jesus and make it personal in their life could make a world of difference. This Christmas season, lead them to Jesus’ free gift. Show them His love through your actions and words. Release any pressure you put on yourself to make the perfect invite, to say the perfect words, to know all the perfect responses. 

We don’t need to be perfect to be used by God. We just need to be willing! Broken but available vessels willing to be used by God in leading others to Jesus and show them His love.  

Jesus is the only one that can change everything for someone. His love – the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus – is the only thing that can change everything for all of eternity in someone’s life. 

Encouragement 

This holiday season, may we find comfort, peace, confidence and joy in the sacrificial, unconditional love Jesus gave to us that very first Christmas and the love God continues to pour upon us today.

“But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:4-8)

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave Him up for us all — how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31-32, 35, 37-39)