When you think of Jesus and His role in the Father’s plan for man, your mind could easily take you back to a stable in Bethlehem with a star shining overhead and a few farm animals scattered here and there and some shepherds worshipping before a baby in a manger with His parents right there beside the manger. This is indeed an important part of Jesus’ ministry to man, but it doesn’t get you back to where it all began.
To get to where a thing begins you have to go back to its beginning! So, where do we find the beginning of Jesus’ place in the history of the world? We find Jesus in the beginning. Before time began Jesus was there with the Father and was a part of creation. To be more precise, nothing was made without Jesus; everything was made through Him. In Jesus is the very life of God manifested on earth.
So, from the very beginning of time, literally from day one, this world has been filled with Jesus, the Light of the World. It didn’t take long for mankind to seek darkness rather than light because of their evil deeds, but still God’s light was here. The whole earth is covered with the glory of God, ignoring it or even denying it does not make it go away! The Lord is here even if society and the culture and the education system says He is not.
Finally, the time came for God’s plan for the redemption and restoration of man to be manifested and so we come to the scene at the stable; the point in time when most anyone will acknowledge Jesus’ place in this world! And what did He bring to the earth? Several things we see specifically in the Word of God: peace, good will, the life of God which is the light of men. Jesus also brought the glory of God and the Kingdom of God into this present darkness so that the people who were in darkness could see a great light — Jesus.
Finally, Jesus brought to the earth grace (the favor of God that no one deserves yet can freely receive if they are willing to accept it) and truth. Jesus is the Word of God, He is the Way and the Truth and the Life; He is the Light of the World. No matter how hard people try to convince others or themselves that there is a world where God does not exist, they cannot change the truth. God’s Word, Jesus, is here to stay. This world is filled with God’s glory and He must be at the center of everything as He has been since the beginning of time.