“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
—Mark 10:45
At this time of year, a lot of people get excited about what will be waiting for them under the Christmas tree, thinking that these things will somehow bring them fulfillment.
But how many of us remember what we received last Christmas? A few months after the coming Christmas, we probably will also have forgotten about the gifts we will open on Christmas day. Christmas is really not about gifts under a tree; it’s about a relationship with God. Jesus came to give us life in all its fullness.
Jesus said, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). Jesus came to this earth to bring us a meaningful life, a life with purpose. Medical science may add years to our lives, but Christ adds life to our years. He gives us a life that’s worth living.
Jesus also came to give His life as a ransom for many. He was born to die so that we might live. Jesus came with a rescue mission. He came to die on a cross. He said of himself, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 NLT).
Jesus was born in a manger so that we could come into a relationship with God through Him. And He offers us the gift of eternal life. The Bible calls this the unspeakable gift.
What drew me to Christ at age 17 was the hope of finding the meaning of life. I wanted to know why I was on Earth. And I found that in Him. Truly, what Christ gives us is the only gift that keeps on giving. We only need to receive it.