Pastor chuck’s 2014 christmas countdown blog 12 22

Pastor Chuck’s 2014 Christmas Countdown Blog #3 – I love that when we see Jesus, we see what God is really like – and it’s all about love! It happened on a silent night - Two thousand years ago; God sent to us His only Son because He loved us so. The greatest story ever told is not of shopping malls; It's how God's Son was born on earth to love and save us all. In the Gospel of John, we get the “back story” of Christmas and why Jesus came to earth Before anything else existed, there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. He created everything there is—nothing exists that he didn’t make. Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to all mankind . . . But although he made the world, the world didn’t recognize him when he came. Even in his own land and among his own people, the Jews, he was not accepted. Only a few would welcome and receive him. But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them. All those who believe this are reborn!—not a physical rebirth resulting from human passion or plan—but from the will of God. And Christ became a human being and lived here on earth among us and was full of loving forgiveness and truth. And some of us have seen his glory —the glory of the only Son of the heavenly Father! . . . No one has ever actually seen God, but, of course, his only Son has, for he is the companion of the Father and has explained him . . . For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 1:1-4, 9-14, 18, 3:16 – LB) According to John, Jesus came to show us what God is like, to show us how much God loves and to show us that we can become His children. This is what Christmas is all about – having a relationship with God. And it’s not just for everyone – IT’S FOR YOU! As you consider that coming of Christ at Christmas, read these insightful words from Max Lucado.