What If Jesus Had Not Come?

Galatians 4:4-6

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

The birth of Jesus Christ is one of the most pivotal events in all of history. Even from a secular perspective, the world would look so much different if Jesus had not been born.

For one, we wouldn’t use His birth to calculate the year all over the world (AD/BC). Also, Christianity would never have spread, meaning the world would look extremely different in a geopolitical sense. Many other religions, like Islam for example, would also look very different because they are founded on some of Jesus’ teachings as well.

Not only that, the lives of followers of God would also be very different. We would still be living under the Law of Moses, which would bind us to obedience to rituals instead of living by the power of God’s Spirit in our lives.

Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection gives us hope, not only for this life but for the life to come that His word tells us about. Jesus’ coming also gives us hope that we would see our loved ones who have died, in a new life, free of pain and sickness.

Jesus’ coming also gives us hope of a better world, free of crime and disease and death, so we know for sure that this life we live is not all there is.

It’s hard to even conceive how much our lives would be different had Jesus never come! But thank God that 2,000 years ago, a baby was born who would change the world forever. And it’s by the gift given to us on that Christmas so long ago that we’re able to live in the freedom of grace.

Jesus’ coming tells us how to live victoriously among wicked people, stupid people, haters and hypocrites. His coming gives me a glimpse of the paradise He went to prepare for us.

Thank God for the gift of Immanuel—God with us, for his immeasurable gift of Jesus Christ to the world!