People all over the world have heard the story of Jesus’ birth. But have you ever wondered why it matters, and what difference it makes? Well, it makes a huge difference, and not just to Christians, but to everyone. The birth of Jesus was the most important event in human history – and here’s why: Jesus changed our world forever. We see and experience His influence every day.
Here are just 11 ways Jesus changed our world for the better.
1. CHILDREN
In the ancient world children were often considered of little value and were mistreated and neglected. But Jesus’ treatment of children and His teachings about them changed that and led to them being treated with compassion and care.
2. WOMEN
Throughout history women were considered inferior to men and were often considered merely the property of men. But Jesus uplifted women and treated them with respect and dignity – in stark contrast to ancient society. He saw women as equally valuable as men because all humans are made in the image of God. Women were included among Jesus’ friends and close followers. Jesus’ positive attitude towards women changed the way they are viewed and treated today.
3. HUMAN RIGHTS
Jesus laid the foundation for emphasis on human rights that changed the way we evaluate people. The understanding that all people are created equal and the basis of our commitment to human rights has its origins in the teachings of Jesus.
4. DEMOCRACY
Jesus’ teachings are the foundation of Western Government, democracy, and moral conduct. Our society follows the precepts found in the ‘Golden Rule’, which encourages us to ‘Treat others the way we want them to treat us.’
5. HUMANITARIAN AID
The concept of caring for our fellow humans is a very Christian idea rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus. Caring for the poor and needy has been a strong part of Christianity’s legacy since the beginning. In the Bible we often see Jesus healing the poor and welcoming the outcasts, and members of the early church cared for orphans, widows, and the helpless.
6. EDUCATION
Jesus emphasised the importance of the mind, and his followers continued this focus on knowledge and wisdom. They started schools to teach people to read and write so they could study the Bible and pursue knowledge. Many of the great universities of Britain and Europe were founded by Christians, including Oxford, Cambridge and the Sorbonne. The first 120 universities in America, starting with Harvard, were founded by followers of Christ.
7. MEDICINE
Jesus taught that our physical body is important and that the quality of our individual lives is valuable. He spent a lot of time healing the sick. This emphasis on healing the sick was continued by his followers and many became pioneers of advances in the field of medicine.
8. BUSINESS
Jesus taught the importance of a strong work ethic based on honesty, reliability and commitment. His followers applied these principles to human work, labour and industry, which eventually became free enterprise capitalism that led much of the world out of mass poverty and into a large and growing middle class. The endless business opportunities, the Protestant work ethic, extensive philanthropy, and the standard of living we enjoy today is the result of the teachings of Jesus applied to economics.
9. ARTS
The coming of Christ greatly influenced and developed the arts. The hope, joy and peace brought by the message of Christ and the Bible gave people a completely new outlook on life. Artists reflected this positive focus in ever-expanding art forms. More songs, poems, paintings and sculptures and other art forms depict Jesus than any other person in history.
10. SCIENCE
Science was first developed by Christians. Jesus taught that God made the world and everything in it, including people. Since God made the world, Christ’s followers wanted to find out more about the world and understand it better. Many of the leading scientists of both the past and present have been Christians who engaged in science to better understand God’s creation and benefit humanity. So, many of the great achievements of science, such as modern medicine and technology, are ultimately due to the influence of Jesus Christ.
11. LOVE AND COMPASSION
Jesus taught and demonstrated unconditional love. This unique concept lies at the very heart of Jesus’ teaching and the Christian message. The followers of Jesus have continued to share His love, compassion and care with people everywhere. This is reflected in the many Christian hospitals, schools, aide, and humanitarian programs around the world. To care for our fellow humans is a very Christian idea rooted in the life and teaching of Jesus himself.
When we consider the impact of Jesus in our world, we can see why He’s considered the most influential person in history, and understand why His birth is so important to all of us.
But the most important reason for Jesus’ birth, is that He came to save us from our sins. We’ve all been separated from God by our sins and mistakes. And that’s why the birth of Jesus is so important, because He came to restore us to God so that we may have eternal life forever with Him. He did this by dying on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and overcoming death’s power through His resurrection from the dead.
That’s the greatest gift you’ll ever receive – the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Why not welcome Him into your life today? The Bible says: ‘To those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God.’ (John 1:12)
This is the good news of who Jesus is, and this is why His birth is important to everyone. This good news fills us with hope and promises life and peace. If you would like to know more about Jesus and this good news, then I’d like to recommend the free gift we have for you today. It’s the popular Bible Reading Guide – Bridge to a Satisfying Life. Just go to our Incredible Journey website, tij.tv, or scan the QR code on the screen, to request your free Bible Reading Guide now.
