At that same moment, the man heard the church bells ringing in
the village below, and another thought dawned on him. He had
grasped the reason why Jesus was born.
the village below, and another thought dawned on him. He had
grasped the reason why Jesus was born.
The farmer withdrew to his house and watched the doomed
sparrows through a window. As he stared, a thought hit him like
lightning from a clear blue sky: If only I could become a bird - one of
them - just for a moment. Then I wouldn't frighten them so. I could
show them the way to warmth and safety.
sparrows through a window. As he stared, a thought hit him like
lightning from a clear blue sky: If only I could become a bird - one of
them - just for a moment. Then I wouldn't frighten them so. I could
show them the way to warmth and safety.
Vito Bratta and Mike Tramp of the late 1980's rock band, White Lion, express this same thought
in their hit song "When the Children Cry." "Little child, you must show the way / to a better day /
for all the young. / 'Cause you were born / for the world to see / that we all can live with love and
peace."
in their hit song "When the Children Cry." "Little child, you must show the way / to a better day /
for all the young. / 'Cause you were born / for the world to see / that we all can live with love and
peace."
The man tried various tactics to get them into the barn. He laid down a trail of Saltine cracker
crumbs to direct them. He tried circling behind the birds to drive them towards the barn.
Nothing worked. He, a huge alien creature, had terrified them: the birds couldn't comprehend
that he actually desired to help.
crumbs to direct them. He tried circling behind the birds to drive them towards the barn.
Nothing worked. He, a huge alien creature, had terrified them: the birds couldn't comprehend
that he actually desired to help.
Jesus says in John 14: 6 "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
(God) except through me." Jesus came to show the way... to show the way to God's love, to
show the way to peace, to show the way to real life. Though Jesus' teachings are recorded in
the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Jesus shares with humanity what is at the
heart of life and what is at the heart of God.
(God) except through me." Jesus came to show the way... to show the way to God's love, to
show the way to peace, to show the way to real life. Though Jesus' teachings are recorded in
the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Jesus shares with humanity what is at the
heart of life and what is at the heart of God.
Touched, the farmer bundled up and trudged through the fresh snow to open the barn door for
the struggling birds. He turned on the lights and tossed some hay in the corner. But the
sparrows, which had scattered in all directions when he emerged from the house, hid in the
darkness, afraid.
the struggling birds. He turned on the lights and tossed some hay in the corner. But the
sparrows, which had scattered in all directions when he emerged from the house, hid in the
darkness, afraid.
More importantly, Jesus did not just show the way. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the
life." Jesus became the way. Jesus entered this world, which the rock band White Lion terms,
"this evil world / where man is killing man / and no one knows just why." Jesus became one
with the world to give life to the world so that people living in his day, and people living today,
might experience the power of new life. Life in which the cycles of hatred have been broken.
life." Jesus became the way. Jesus entered this world, which the rock band White Lion terms,
"this evil world / where man is killing man / and no one knows just why." Jesus became one
with the world to give life to the world so that people living in his day, and people living today,
might experience the power of new life. Life in which the cycles of hatred have been broken.
American radio broadcaster Paul Harvey once told a story about a religious skeptic who was a
farmer. One frigid Christmas Eve, after his wife had gone off to church, the man heard an
irregular thumping sound against the kitchen storm door. He went to the window and watched
as tiny, shivering sparrows, attracted to the evident warmth inside, beat in vain against the
glass.
farmer. One frigid Christmas Eve, after his wife had gone off to church, the man heard an
irregular thumping sound against the kitchen storm door. He went to the window and watched
as tiny, shivering sparrows, attracted to the evident warmth inside, beat in vain against the
glass.
Jesus came to die on
the cross. He came to
take the world's sins, my
sins, your sins, upon
himself, so that we
would not have to face
the penalty of our
actions. That we would
not have to experience
separation from God.
That we could have new
life, resurrection life.
Jesus came into the
world to guide us to
safety from the storms of
life that could have killed
us if we had been left out
there alone.
the cross. He came to
take the world's sins, my
sins, your sins, upon
himself, so that we
would not have to face
the penalty of our
actions. That we would
not have to experience
separation from God.
That we could have new
life, resurrection life.
Jesus came into the
world to guide us to
safety from the storms of
life that could have killed
us if we had been left out
there alone.
Why did Jesus come to earth? Why did the living God who created the universe and all living
things come into this world as a helpless baby in a remote village called Bethlehem? Why did
God become flesh and live among us? What is the purpose behind all of this?
things come into this world as a helpless baby in a remote village called Bethlehem? Why did
God become flesh and live among us? What is the purpose behind all of this?
John 3:16-17 expresses the core reason of why Jesus came. "For God so loved the world
that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have
eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order
that the world might be saved through him."
that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have
eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order
that the world might be saved through him."
Jesus came to save us. Jesus came to show God's love to us in the ultimate way possible.
He became one of us so that we could experience the very heart and depth of God's love. Do
you know that power of that love in your life today? If you have questions as to why Jesus
came, and are seeking answers, feel free to e-mail us. We'd be glad to help you discover what
you're looking for.
He became one of us so that we could experience the very heart and depth of God's love. Do
you know that power of that love in your life today? If you have questions as to why Jesus
came, and are seeking answers, feel free to e-mail us. We'd be glad to help you discover what
you're looking for.
Why did he come?
| "I am the way, the truth and the life..." John 14:6 |
| Jesus makes us clean! |
Jesus Christ:
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| "This Is God" Phil Vassar music video |
