Today I want to play a game. I’m going to describe a person and I want you to tell me who it is that I’m describing. Ready?
This person works in a classroom and helps people learn. What is that person called? (Allow for responses.) Yes! A teacher.
This person works in a kitchen and makes dinner for lots of people. What is that person called? (Allow for responses.) You’re right! A chef.
This person goes to every house in the neighborhood and delivers envelopes and boxes. What is that person called? (Allow for responses.) Exactly! It’s a mailman.
Okay, here’s the last one. This Person was born in Bethlehem, and when he grew up, he healed people, forgave their sins, died on the cross, and rose again. He loves you very, very much. Who is that? (Allow for responses.) Yes! It’s Jesus!
A person’s name, or what that person is called, tells you what that person does. You know that a person called a chef cooks food and you know that a person who leads a classroom is called a teacher.
A long time ago, after God created the world, Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Because they broke God’s Law, they were separated from him. From then on, all people were sinful and separated from God. But God promised that he would send his Son to do a very special job so we could be friends of God again.
Before Jesus was born, God gave the job of leading his people, the Israelites, to different kinds of people. Some of them were called prophets, and they told people what God wanted them to do. One of these prophets was named Moses. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt, and Moses told the pharaoh to let the Israelites go and be free. Moses led the Israelites out of slavery and into a new land. Prophets like Moses were great leaders, but they could not save people from their sins and make them friends of God again.
Then, there were people called judges and they had the special job of leading God’s people. Deborah was a judge who defeated a powerful army. But she could not save people from their sins, either.
Other people called kings led God’s people. King David was a great king who kept the people of Israel safe and encouraged them to worship God. King Solomon built a temple to honor God. The kings were mighty! But they could not save people from their sins.
One day an angel came to a woman named Mary. He told her that she was going to have a baby—but not just any baby. The Baby she would have would be the One that God promised would save people from their sins. The angel also went to Joseph, the man that Mary was supposed to marry. The angel told Joseph that Mary would have a baby and that they should “call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21 KJV).
Not long after that, Jesus was born! Jesus was not a prophet like Moses, and he was not a judge like Deborah or a king like David. Jesus is God’s Son and only he could take our sins away so we could be friends of God forever!
Jesus came to Earth to do what only he could do: take away our sins. Jesus loves you so much that he left heaven and was born a tiny, helpless baby on Christmas. When he was older, he showed us who he is, who God is. He taught people how they should act, he healed people who were sick, and he told people just how much God loved them!
Jesus also kept God’s laws perfectly. And even though he never sinned, he took the punishment we deserve. Jesus died on the cross to forgive your sins and mine. Then, three days later, he rose from the grave! Jesus defeated sin so that we can be friends of God and live with him forever! He did all that because he loves you!
We call Jesus, the newborn Baby at Christmas, our Savior because he saved us from our sin. Because Jesus took away our sins, we are no longer separated from God. He is our Friend—forever! We can talk to him. We can thank God for the good things he gives us like our homes, our families, and our schools. We can ask God for help when we are having a hard time. We can forgive other people just like Jesus forgives us, and we can tell our friends and family how much Jesus loves us.
This Christmas, I want you to remember that the Baby born in Bethlehem is called Jesus, our Savior! He loves you and he saved you from your sins by dying on the cross. Merry Christmas!
Editor’s note: Today’s devotion is slightly adapted from the Ministry Message that accompanies CTA’s Christmas book for children His Name Is Jesus. The book comes with a FREE goodie bag. It’s a great gift to give to the children in your Christmas program.
You are welcome to copy this article for one-time use when you include this credit line and receive no monetary benefit from it: © 2019 CTA, Inc. Used with permission.
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