CLAY CENTER — Johaness Gutenberg, a German inventor, built a printing press in the mid-1400s that historians say brought about an “information age.” In 1455 he printed Europe’s first-ever book, a Bible. The printing press changed the world. 

The United States Constitution was adopted on Sept. 17, 1787, and provided a unique system of government unknown to any nation on earth. The opening lines of the constitution state, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” The founding of the United States changed the world.   

Though these are consequential events in world history, neither has impacted humankind like the incarnation and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. He did not just change the world, He altered history, has caused the rise and fall of nations and effected the eternal existence of billions of souls.   

The incarnation of Jesus occurred in Israel between 6 and 4 B.C. According to Webster’s dictionary, incarnation is a word that describes “the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthy form.” In particular, it refers to the birth of Christ, when the Lord God took on human form and became one of us. This is called the Doctrine of the Incarnation. It is said of Jesus “...the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) The incarnation is the moment in history when the God who made the heavens and the earth, made Himself a simple and normal looking man who came to live among us, in order to reveal who He is and deliver the world’s most important message directly to us. 

The resurrection of Jesus took place outside of Jerusalem about 33 A.D. Before this miracle, day’s earlier Jesus was arrested and tried by authorities on false charges of blasphemy. The high priest demanded of Him saying, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” (Matthew 26:63) When Jesus told them the truth, they responded with rage, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.” (Matt. 26:64), Subsequently they immediately ordered the sentence of death upon Him. The day of Jesus’ crucifixion, history records as Good Friday, where He died a sacrificial death for the sins of all humanity; past, present and future. Then for three days He lay in a borrowed tomb. But early on Sunday morning, history’s most renowned miracle took place. Jesus had risen Himself from the dead and walked out of His tomb. He is alive and still is today!  

Why is Jesus’ incarnation and resurrection the most monumental events in world history? Why is Jesus the most significant person to ever walk the earth? Jesus own words confidently and boldly state why, because “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:6).

Jesus declared He is the way. All mankind is searching for meaning, purpose and direction. Jesus says to the whole world, “Come, follow me.”    

Jesus declared He is the truth. Everyone longs to know what is right and wrong and how to live a life free from guilt and shame. Jesus is the standard for truth, balancing the scales of justice and raising up high the banner for holiness in an unholy and evil world.  

Jesus declared He is the life. Every man and woman hungers for the intangible things that money, power and success can never buy – life, real life. Jesus proved He is the source and giver of real and lasting life.  

A prayer for you – Lord God, help us to see Jesus as more than a good man. More than a moral teacher. Let us see Him as the Son of the living God who died and rose again that we might have new life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Clint Decker is president of Great Awakenings. Share comments at cdecker@greatawakenings.org and follow his blog at clintdecker.blogspot.com.