Jesus Christ came to this world to save us from our sins. “She [Mary] shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). He came to show us the way back to God. He came to give us real life, true life that is worth living. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). He came to save our homes.
Jesus’ life on earth was a life of perpetual sacrifice. He gave until there was little more to give. His supreme sacrifice of dying on the cross of Calvary for the sins of the world expressed a love that was wholly divine.
John, one of Jesus’ disciples, wrote that Jesus’ life was full of glory. Glory has been defined as the “manifestation of excellence, transcendent splendor, beauty, majesty, in essence, everything that God is.”
In reality, what did John see? He saw a Man that brought light to a dark world. He was love in a world filled with hatred. He was thankfulness in a world of ingratitude. He was contentment in a world of complainers and greed. He was transparent truth in a world of hypocrisy. He was impartial in a world of prejudice. He was unbiased in a world of racial conflict. He was condescending authority in a world of usurpers. He was absolutely selfless in a world of self-centered people.
Jesus was forgiveness to the erring, bread to the hungry, sight to the blind. He was strength to the weak and health to the sick. He was kindness in a world of hurting people. He was true humility in a world of proud men. He was infinite patience with feeble, faltering, stumbling humanity. He was a restorer of the penitent and a comfort to the brokenhearted.
Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18).
Jesus was like the true Shepherd who would leave the ninety-nine sheep and go out into the mountains to search for the lamb that had strayed from the flock. He was like the kind father who welcomed the prodigal son home with open arms and made him a feast.
This Jesus still lives today. He is the only One who can give true meaning and purpose to a marriage. He is the only one who can give intimacy its ecstatic fulfillment. Why? Because He is the originator of marriage and the protector of this sacred union.
Come to Jesus, husbands, wives, parents. Come with all your anxieties, stresses, perplexities, and difficulties and lay them at Jesus’ feet. He has promised to receive all who come to Him in true faith. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).
Only Jesus can help you to experience true love in its completeness because He is the essence of love. Only He can help you mend fractured and violated wedding vows because He is the Prince of Peace and the great reconciler (2 Corinthians 5:18, 19).
Jesus alone has power to make our marriages productive and enduring. We must give Him His rightful place in our minds and in our homes. Begin each day with prayer for His guidance and direction in your life. Begin by reading the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) regularly. As you do, you will see the glory that John saw. Then let that glory fill your being with gratitude and worship. Ask Jesus to make you His child and perfect His image in you.
At this time of the year when people celebrate the birth of Christ and their attention turns to the Christ Child, will you experience the power of Christ’s grace that will make your home glow with heavenly love? Only then can the marriage and family enjoy the triumph of Jesus as the Saviour of the world and the Saviour of your home.
This transformation of your home is free. You don’t have to pay an expensive counselor to experience it. If you have doubts or questions, contact the name on the back of this paper. Someone will help you or point you to someone who will. May God bless all of you to find a joyful and prosperous New Year in Jesus Christ.
Happy the home where Jesus’ Name,
Is sweet to every ear,
Where children early lisp His fame,
And parents hold Him dear.
—Henry Ware the Younger
–J. Martin