• What Other Benefits Flow From God?
    The Watchtower—1987 | May 15

    • A Source of Light and Hope

      Nearly 2,000 years ago a unique baby boy was born​—unique because his mother, Mary, was human, and his father was God himself! ‘Impossible!’ do some say? No, not for the Originator of conception, the Maker of all the complex forms of life. That little boy grew up to be the perfect “man, Christ Jesus.”​—1 Timothy 2:5; Matthew 1:18-25.

      It was an epoch-making birth. In fact, most nations acknowledge this by dating historical events before his day as B.C.​—before Christ. And yet his early years were spent quietly as an assistant carpenter at his adoptive father’s home in Nazareth. Thirty years passed. Then, at the Jordan River, Jesus presented himself to do God’s will and was baptized, and Jehovah God’s holy spirit descended upon him. (Matthew 3:13-17) Jesus then began a dynamic campaign of preaching and teaching. As prophesied by Isaiah, “the people sitting in darkness saw a great light.”​—Matthew 4:14-17; Isaiah 9:2.

      Jesus became the most famous and widely respected Teacher of all time. No other human teacher has exerted such a powerful influence on mankind or provided so much spiritual light and hope. What was his textbook? The Bible, as it was then​—the Hebrew Scriptures, or “Old Testament.” Jesus made them come alive. Many ancient prophecies were fulfilled in him. (Compare Micah 5:2 with Matthew 2:3-6.) He confirmed the account of Genesis regarding man’s origin. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:3-6) Jesus took up, amplified, and broadcast far and wide the main theme of the Bible​—the vindication of Jehovah by means of the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 4:23; 6:10) Moreover, accounts of Jesus Christ’s life and works are prominent portions of the Christian Greek Scriptures, or “New Testament.” Yes, the Bible is a marvelous gift from God, a gleaming light in a dim, sad world.​—Psalm 119:105.

  • What Other Benefits Flow From God?
    The Watchtower—1987 | May 15

    • Death came upon the whole human race through Adam. Since he was a perfect man, another perfect man was needed to ransom, or buy back, what Adam lost. Jesus Christ filled that need and gave his life “in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.”​—John 3:16.

      This ransom provision is God’s greatest gift to man. It will apply not only to those who survive to enter the new world but also to those who come back from the dead. Does that sound too marvelous? Said Jesus: “Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment.” What a thrill! How joyful for Armageddon survivors, who will be able to welcome their loved ones back from the dead!​—John 5:28, 29.

      What a glorious prospect and hope! And all of this is provided by a loving Creator, Jehovah, through his beloved Son, Jesus.