Pastor Dan Mielke, Grace Baptist Church

During this Christmas season, the thought hit me, “I wonder what Jesus was doing before he was born?”

I posed that question to my family at supper and one of my children replied, “Waiting to come out?” Although that simple answer may cause a smile, the reality of a person who existed before he was born is an amazing and mind-boggling concept. The answer to what Jesus was doing before he was born is clearly described in scripture.

In the Christmas story, and even before, the scriptural words used to describe Jesus show his pre-existence before he was born. The prophet Isaiah, who is quoted by the angel that appeared to Joseph, says in Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” The phrase ‘a son is given’ (along with dozens of other verses) shows the concept that Jesus existed before his birth. So what was Jesus doing before he was born?

Before Jesus was born, he was creating the world. John 1:1-3 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

It is amazing to consider that since Jesus is the creator, he actually sculpted the hands of Mary and made the wood of the manger that held him that first Christmas night. The fact that Jesus created the world that he would enter in order to die and save men and women from their sins shows the depths of his love. No one forced him, he chose to plan mankind’s salvation before the world was even created (Titus 1:2).

Before Jesus was born, He was prophesying his own birth. When Jesus was interacting with the Pharisees, he told them that he knew Abraham personally (John 8:56-48). This reference goes back to Genesis 18-19, where Jesus ate with Abraham and promised Sarah a son which would ultimately result in Jesus being the great, great … grandson. Imagine meeting your great grandma before you were born.

Before Jesus was born, he was calling people to repentance. In the passage in Genesis 18-19, Jesus came to give the sinful cities one last offer of mercy before they were destroyed. Jesus again appeared in Exodus and warned both the Egyptians and the Israelites to get right with God or else judgement would come. These appearances of Christ in the Old Testament, Christophanies, showed the kind compassion of a God who would send an offer of repentance to men and woman who rejected him.

It is interesting to note that after Jesus was born, he did what he did before he was born. He created a way of salvation, so that those who accept his sacrifice on the cross can have life and forgiveness of sin (John 3:16). He prophesied of Heaven and things to come (John 14:6). During his life, Jesus offered mercy and called people to repentance (Matthew 4:17).

As we remember the miracle of Christmas and the birth of Jesus, let us not forget that the baby in the manger is much more than a baby, he is the lord and creator, who is worthy of our allegiance. During this Christmas season, let us remember that Jesus Christ is worthy to be worshipped all year-round instead of simply thought about for one month before being packed up with the garland.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)