If Jesus Never Came
- Strength For Life
- Jan 5
- 5 min read
January 6 marks the end of the Christmas season. It is the last of the 12 days of Christmas and places us firmly in the new year. As we turn our thoughts away from Advent and toward our responsibilities for 2026, let me ask you this question. What if Jesus had never been born? Have you ever pondered that thought? If not, it is probably because at Christmas we just presume upon His birth. We celebrate it, as we certainly should. It is the birth most worth celebrating.
For the sake of imagination, though, what if Jesus was never born? There would be no Christmas carols. No Christmas cookies. No Christmas movies for debating with each other which is our favorite. If Jesus were never born, there would be no Christmas trees, Christmas lights, or manger scenes. Most of us would have never heard of "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem,” for we would know nothing of Joseph and Mary, the shepherds, or the wise men.
If Jesus had never been born, He would not have ministered for three and a half years. There would be no Sermon on the Mount: no Beatitudes or instruction to be salt and light. Thus, there would be no purpose for life. Worse than that, darkness, decay, and hedonism would rule our hearts. And it would not just be us who would suffer from sin-sickness. The woman at the well in John 4 would never have drunk of that living water. The man at the pool of Bethesda would never have been healed. If Jesus had never been born, so many miracles would have been left undone.
Without Jesus, every Old Testament Messianic prophecy would remain unfulfilled. No one to perform the miracles or to fulfill prophecies. If Jesus had never been born, then there would be no way of escape in our moments of sinful temptation. The lost would never have been found. There would be no names in the Lamb's Book of Life, for there would have been no Lamb,
If Jesus had not been born, there would be no one touched with the feelings of our infirmities to heal us. There would be no one who “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). No one would be able to go boldly into the throne room of grace during his daily prayer time.
Most of all, if Jesus had not been born, He would never have died. Genesis 3:15 would be yet unfulfilled. The serpent's head would never be crushed. There would be no substitutionary atonement offered to sinners. If Jesus had never been born, every guilty sinner would face the infinite wrath of a just God, because the wages of sin is death. If Jesus had not been born, there would have been no Resurrection, and then our preaching and our faith would be in vain (1 Cor. 15:14). If Jesus had not been born, there would be no such thing as a Christian. We would not even know the term. Instead, our eternal destination would be hell, in spite of what any annihilationist might believe.
But I rejoice to report that Jesus was indeed born. When He was, Isaiah 11:1 was fulfilled. That Rod that was prophesied to come out of the stem of Jesse entered the world. Micah 5:2 was fulfilled: He who is to be ruler in Israel, indeed he came forth from Bethlehem Ephrathah. Hosea 11:1 was also fulfilled. That Son was called out of Egypt. Matthew 2:23 describes how Jesus came and dwelt in the city called Nazareth. Perhaps more famously, Isaiah 9:6 was fulfilled: "For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." Remember also another record from Isaiah: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son” (Isaiah 7:14). In fulfillment of Isaiah, Matthew writes that “she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Paul the Apostle explains that, “when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law” (Gal. 4:4). Why did he do that? To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Paul continues: “and because ye are sons, God hath set forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father’. Wherefore, thou art no more a servant, but a son”—a new status, because Jesus was born. “And if a son, then an heir of God through Christ (Gal. 4:5-7).
Hallelujah to the Lamb of God! The fullness of time was come and the Messiah was born.
Because Jesus was born, Christians have been adopted into the family of God. Those Old Testament Messianic prophecies have been fulfilled. So many miracles were and are being accomplished. Because Jesus was born, His teachings were declared and recorded. When He taught, “the people were astonished at his doctrine, for he taught them as one that had authority and not as the scribes” (Mk. 1:22).
Because Jesus was born, he was able to die so that the wrath of God could be propitiated. He died, was buried, and rose again so we could live eternally with him. None of us have to go to eternal hell. Because Jesus was born, my mom was able to give me the gospel when I was a nine-year-old boy, and I believed savingly. Because Jesus was born, every Christian has their own testimony of when we were born again by the Spirit of God. I have a purpose for living, and so do you. Because Jesus was born, Christians can build their houses on the rock, not upon the shifting sands of culture. We are ambassadors of the good news in a world full of fake or bad news.
Because Jesus was born, Christians can come boldly into God's throne of grace, and obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:16). Because Jesus was born, Christians have victory both over death, and the fear of death. We don't fear death like the world fears death. Finally, remember how Dr. Luke records the angel saying in Luke 2:1, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord”? Just that alone should make us all want to sing “Joy to the World.” When the heavenly host proclaimed, "Glory to God,” they were expressing joy. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men! Christ was born so that we can be born again. And he lives so that we can live eternally with him. So, remember, Christ is King. And to God be the glory for that.
The above article was written by Pastor James C. Johnson. He is the pastor of NorthStone Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fl. To offer him your feedback, comment below or email us at strengthforlife461@gmail.com.
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