When Jesus was born, only a few people realized He was more than a typical infant. The same is true today. Many people attend Christmas Eve services and observe holiday traditions but fail to consider three important questions: Was Jesus really God? Why did He come to earth? What does this have to do with me?
Genesis, the first book of the Bible, begins with these words: "In the beginning God . . ." What evidence is there that Jesus existed from the very start? First of all, the fourth gospel opens with a claim of His preexistence: "In the beginning was the Word [that is, Jesus] . . . and the Word was God" (John 1:1, 14). Jesus also testified to His own preexistence when He asked God to glorify Him "with the glory which I had with You before the world was" (John 17:5). A second proof would be His demonstrations of divine power. Jesus caused the blind to see, the lame to walk, and the dead to live again. His own words provide additional evidence. He said, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30) and "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).
The second and third questions can be answered at the same time. Jesus came to earth not to judge us, as some think, but to rescue us (John 12:47). He walked among us that we might know who God is. He died in our place so we could receive eternal life and become part of God's family.
At this special season, look for opportunities to tell people what Christmas means to you. Be sure to include the answers to these three questions.
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