A free comic book of the life of Jesus for children, with easy-to-understand text and explanations of basic terms for new believers. Written and illustrated by Willem de Vink.
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Jesus Messiah
Tag: christmas
Epiphany Activity and Coloring Pages
Free game, coloring pages, and activity pages for Epiphany (Three Kings Day).
Christmas Activity and Coloring Pages
Christmas Prequel
Christmas Prequel
The Gospel of John doesn’t tell the story of Jesus’ birth, but it tells us the prequel—the story that precedes what we are told in the birth narratives. This Gospel takes us back to the beginning, before our world existed, and tells us something about our Savior that was true well in advance of His earthly birth in Bethlehem two millennia ago. Understanding this part of the story is what brings clarity to who Jesus was, why He came, and what He accomplished.
The story begins like this: “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.” (John 1:1-3)
John looks back beyond the beginning of the creation of the universe, before time existed, and tells us that the Word was preexistent. The opening line of this Gospel repeats the first words of the Bible in Genesis: “In the beginning…” (Genesis 1:1). This expresses that the Word existed before creation and is eternal, that there was never a time when the Word was not. The Word was not part of what was created, meaning that the Word is greater than all things that were created.
We’re told that “the Word was with God,” and then it’s repeated a second time, “He existed in the beginning with God.” The emphasis here is that the Word exists in close relationship with God. That oneness is expressed in the phrase, “and the Word was God.” Everything that can be said about God can also be said about the Word.
This is what we celebrate at Christmas—that the Word, who existed with God before creation, who lived in face-to-face fellowship with His Father, who participated in the creation of all things, who is self-existent, and who is God the Son, was born as a human being and lived among humanity.
All that Jesus did during His time on earth—the words He spoke, the parables He told, His interaction with people, His confrontations with the religious leaders of the day, the miracles He performed—all of it revealed His Father’s love, care, and concern for humanity. It is through the Incarnate Word, Jesus, that we gain a deeper understanding of God, as well as of His desire to reconcile humanity to Himself. At Christmas, we celebrate that God entered our world for the purpose of making it possible for us to live with Him eternally.
The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us! What a wonderful thing to celebrate.
The Real Story of Christmas
Jesus is Born: Christmas Devotional and Coloring Page – Day 22
Before the world began, the Word was there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was there with God in the beginning. Everything was made through him, and nothing was made without him.
In him there was life, and that life was a light for the people of the world. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not defeated it.
There was a man named John, who was sent by God. He came to tell people about the light. Through him all people could hear about the light and believe. John was not the light. But he came to tell people about the light. The true light was coming into the world. This is the true light that gives light to all people. (John 1:1-9, ERV)
From the book “Jesus is Born“. Image © TFI.
Jesus is Born: Christmas Devotional and Coloring Page – Day 21
By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.
For there is no difference: all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [payment for sins] through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the forgiveness of sins that are past. (Romans 3:15-17, 20-25)
Nativity scene in the public domain; rest of image by David Gunter via Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons license. From the book “Jesus is Born“.
Jesus is Born: Christmas Devotional and Coloring Page – Day 19
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. (Isaiah 61:1-3,10-11)
From the book “Jesus is Born“. Image designed using Freepik’s AI Image Generator.
Jesus is Born: Christmas Devotional and Coloring Page – Day 18
[The] people lived in darkness, but they will see a great light. They lived in a place as dark as death, but a great light will shine on them. God…. They will rejoice in your presence as they do at harvest time. It will be like the joy when people take their share of things they have won in war. That will happen because you will lift the heavy yoke off their shoulders and take away their heavy burden. You will take away the rod that the enemy used to punish your people…
This will happen when the special child is born. God will give us a son who will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be “Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.” His power will continue to grow, and there will be peace without end. … He will rule with goodness and justice forever and ever. The strong love that the Lord All-Powerful has for his people will make this happen! (Isaiah 9:2-4,6-7, ERV)
From the book “Jesus is Born“. Image designed using Freepik’s AI Image Generator.
Jesus is Born: Christmas Devotional and Coloring Page – Day 17
Though [Jesus] was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11, NLT)
From the book “Jesus is Born“. Image designed using Freepik’s AI Image Generator.
