On Christianity

DEAR REV. GRAHAM: A man I work with says Jesus never claimed to be God or divine or anything like that. I don't know much about the Bible, but is he right? If so, why bother celebrating Christmas?

-- J.D.

DEAR J.D.: No, he is not right. Repeatedly Jesus reaffirmed His divine nature and His unique relationship to God as His Father. On one occasion He declared, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). Or again He stated, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

But was Jesus' claim true? How do we know He was really who He said He was -- the divine Son of God, sent from Heaven to save us from our sins? We know it first of all by His life. Even His enemies had to admit that His miracles were a vivid witness to God's power within Him. We know it too by the perfection of His life. Even those who refused to follow Him couldn't accuse Him of any sin. But we know it most of all because of His death and resurrection. All men die, but only One has been raised from the dead by the power of God, and even now is in Heaven praying for us.

Pray for this person, that God will open his eyes to the truth about Jesus. Pray too that he will not only realize who Jesus is, but that he needs to give his life to Him. And if you have never invited Christ to come into your life, I pray you will do so today.

You're right. If Jesus was only another religious leader or philosopher, we'd have little reason to celebrate His birth. But He was God in human flesh, sent from Heaven to save us from our sins. Let the celebration begin.

Write to Billy Graham in care of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C. 28201 or visit the website at

billygraham.org

MovieStyle on 12/02/2016

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