WHAT IF JESUS HAD NOT COME?

LUKE 2:1O-11

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Many of you have seen the classic movie, It’s A Wonderful Life, with Jimmy Stewart. The film tells the story of George Bailey, a man who gets to see what would have happened differently in the world if he had never been born. As it turns out, his life had been an influence for good in many people’s lives and in ways that he had never considered. Now let us take that premise and apply it to the Lord Jesus Christ. What if Jesus had never been born?

 

I. NO CHRISTMAS OR OTHER CHRISTIAN-RELATED HOLIDAYS – No Jesus means no Christmas. No carols, cards, pageants, parades, trees, lights, manger scenes. No Valentine’s Day [because no St. Valentine], no St. Patrick’s Day, no Easter, No Independence Day, no Thanksgiving.

 

II. NO UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – At least not as we know it. The USA was found primarily by Christians wanted to worship the God of the Bible according to the dictates of their own consciences. Do not believe the revisionists who try to deny or minimize the part Christians played in the founding of this great nation. Pilgrims, Puritans, and others came here to escape religious persecution and establish a nation on godly principles. One of the great mottoes of the Revolutionary was “No King but Jesus”.  By extension, think of the great causes the U.S. has been involved in promoting. What about the things America has fought? What would have happened if the U.S. had not been around to fight fascism, Nazism, Communism to name just a few? No Jesus would promote dark days indeed.

 

III. NO GREAT CHRISTIAN PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS – Were you aware that the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the YMCA, and the YWCA all started as solid Christian organizations. That is just the tip of the iceberg. Hundreds of thousands of hospitals, orphanages, churches, schools, and universities [including Harvard and Yale] would never have come into being if it were not for the birth of Jesus approximately 2000 years ago?

 

IV. NO GREAT REFORM MOVEMENTS – The Reformation opposed unscriptural practices and teachings. Without Jesus there would have been no Reformation, no Great Awakening. England had revivals with Wesley and Whitfield while France had a bloody revolution. Without Jesus Wilberforce would not have led the fight against slavery in England. William Carey would never have gone to India and been instrumental in ending the practice of burning wives and children with the body of the head of the family when he died. Again- just the tip of the iceberg.

 

V. NO BIBLE – The Old Testament would have been proven false with the promises of the coming redeemer broken. The New Testament would never have been written. The misery the world would experience without God’s Word is immeasurable. When you consider that most of this world’s misery is due to people ignoring or denying the Bible what if it wasn’t here at all? We would never know the real character of God- His holiness, justice, righteousness, love. In fact- we would not know God. Jesus demonstrates love, compassion and mercy. What about Truth? Many great inventors and scientists were inspired by the Word of God- Galileo, Newton, Carver, the Wright Brothers… 2 words… iceberg- tip.

 

VI. NO SALVATION – The world would still be waiting in vain for a Saviour. Everyone would be without hope and without God in the world.

 

BUT JESUS WAS BORN! HE DID COME! HE DID DIE AND WAS RESURRECTED! LUKE 2:10-14, 1 Timothy 3:16

 

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.