A Christmas Letter — What Would Jesus Do Today?

posted on: Dec 17, 2025

By Ralph I. Hage/Arab America contributing writer

Christmas lights flicker along the streets and the stores flood with sales. Beyond the presents and the feasts and the charming Christmas lights, I find myself reflecting on the life of a man. A man who was born over two thousand years ago but whose ideas live on. When I do, I often wonder: 

What would Jesus do if he were alive today? Would he, like so many of us, focus on the illusions and distractions of this world, or would he gently call us back to the essence of his message?

In a world increasingly divided by religious affiliation, politics, and cultural divides, I believe it is time to reflect on the true teachings of Jesus — teachings that transcend any one faith, ethnicity, or nationality. Jesus, who came into the world as a humble child in a stable in Bethlehem, spent his life reaching out to the outcast and marginalized, healing the sick, and speaking truth to power. But are we losing the plot by focusing too much on the messenger and not enough on his message? In the Arab world, where the roots of Christianity find their source, the question is not just theological — it’s existential. Christian Arabs, like many others, have watched over the years as their faith has become entwined with politics, war, and sectarian conflict. While Jesus’ message of peace, love, and forgiveness continues to resonate in their hearts, it seems to get lost amid the noise of bombs, gunshots, rhetoric, and division. Yet, perhaps, it is in the darkest moments that his message shines the brightest.

What Would Jesus Do Today?

If Jesus were alive today, walking the streets of modern cities or in quiet countrysides, would he be shocked by what he saw? Would he weep at the divisions among people, the violence, the hatred, and the rampant materialism that seems to drive the world and ruin the environment? Maybe, but I also believe that he would offer a powerful message of reconciliation and healing.

Jesus was not one to shy away from confrontation, but he never used violence to achieve his aims. His weapons were love, compassion, and truth. He broke bread with the outcasts of society — tax collectors, sinners, the impoverished, and those deemed unworthy by the so-called righteous. In a world where refugees are often met with hostility, where poverty is ignored, and where racism is on the rise, Jesus would undoubtedly stand with the oppressed and vulnerable. He would challenge the powerful, not with force, but with words and actions of peace and justice.

In our current global landscape, marked by polarization, Jesus’ message of forgiveness and unity is perhaps more important than ever. I wonder if he would be disappointed to see how his teachings have been manipulated by those in power. How many times have we heard his name invoked by politicians, religious leaders, or activists to justify war, persecution, or discrimination? How many times have people used his words to serve their own agendas, rather than the greater good? Would he not question whether his followers were truly following him — or simply using his name as a shield for their own motives?

Are We Losing the Plot?

I am troubled by how much focus is placed on the messenger, and not enough on the message that he brought. In many circles, the celebration of Christmas has become more about the figure of Christ, the rituals, and the symbols — than about the values he taught. I’m not suggesting that we abandon the traditions or the reverence for Jesus, but perhaps we need to refocus on his life’s work.

Jesus was a revolutionary figure. The greatest rebel of all time. He called for an overturning of established systems, for the breaking of barriers that divided humanity. He preached about a Kingdom that was not of this world, a place where peace, love, and justice would reign supreme. But how many of us truly live by those ideals in our daily lives? How many of us, as citizens of this world, embody the spirit of forgiveness, kindness, and humility that he demonstrated?

In the Arab world, where centuries of Christian history coexist with Islamic traditions, and where the Druze community also emphasizes unity and peace as central to their beliefs, it’s often easy to forget that Jesus’ message is universal. He was not just the savior of Christians; he was a teacher, a prophet, and a figure who stood against the corruption of the powerful. In Islam, Jesus (known as Issa) is also revered as a prophet of peace and a teacher of righteousness, and his message resonates deeply with Muslims as well. His teachings speak to people of all faiths and backgrounds — Muslim, Druze, Jew, Hindu, secular, atheists, and beyond. The message of peace that he carried does not belong to any one group, but to all of humanity.

Blessed Are the Peacemakers

One of the most powerful and enduring parts of Jesus’ teachings is his call for peacemakers. “Blessed are the peacemakers,” he said, “for they will be called children of God.” How often do we see peacemakers in the world today? In the Middle East, where countless lives have been lost to imperialism, war, religion, and political strife, the call for peace can feel like an echo in a distant dream. Yet, it is precisely in the most turbulent moments that peacemakers are most needed.

What would Jesus say to the millions of refugees fleeing war in the Levant and beyond? Would he not open his arms to them? And what about the persecuted minorities who face violence and discrimination at the hands of extremists? Would he not offer them his comfort, his peace? And for us, those who find ourselves caught between cultures, religions, and countries, what is our role in the pursuit of peace?

Jesus’ words are for all people, at all times. We have a unique position to be bridges between worlds — between the East and the West, between Islam and Christianity, between tradition and modernity. We know what it means to hold both faith and culture together, to navigate multiple identities in a world that often seeks to divide.

We also understand the cost of peace. Jesus did not promise peace without sacrifice. He died for his message of love and forgiveness. His death on the cross was not just a symbol; it was the ultimate act of reconciliation between humanity and God, epitomizing peace in the face of violence.

Peacemaking is not just an ideal — it’s a daily practice. In a world divided, the peacemakers must lead the way, showing us how to heal long-festered wounds.

It begins in the small, sometimes inconvenient choices we can make: listening before judging, refusing to dehumanize those we disagree with, and choosing compassion over indifference. It means speaking out against injustice even when it costs us socially or politically, welcoming the stranger even when fear tells us not to, and offering forgiveness when resentment feels easier. Peacemaking happens in our homes, our communities, our churches, mosques, temples, and our public life — wherever we decide that love is stronger than hatred, and that dignity is non-negotiable.

A Call to Return to the Message

As we celebrate Christmas this year, let us not forget the message that Jesus brought to the world. His life and teachings were not about rituals or institutions — they were about love, forgiveness, and peace. It’s easy to get lost in the commercial trappings of Christmas, but if we truly want to honor his birth, we must return to the message he lived and taught.

So, what would Jesus do if he were alive today? He would probably do the same thing he did 2,000 years ago: He would challenge us to love one another, to care for the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, and to fight for justice. He would remind us that the message is more important than the messenger, and that the world will know we are his disciples by the love we show to one another.

Jesus taught us that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul — and to love our neighbors as ourselves. He didn’t specify a nationality or religion, or even the lack of them. He didn’t just say these words; He lived them. He showed us what it meant to love without borders, to forgive without conditions, and to seek peace in the midst of chaos.

He told us that blessed are the peacemakers — any peacemakers, be they black, white, or in between; rich or poor; believers, agnostics, or atheists. Blessed are those who do, rather than don’t, for they will be called the children of God.

For those who question the power of peace and justice, I ask: Where are the great empires of two thousand years ago? They have long since crumbled, as all empires eventually do — because pride always comes before the fall. But as Jesus’ example proves: peace, love, and justice endure forever.

Ralph Hage is an architect and writer whose work often explores the intersections of art, architecture, and cultural heritage in Lebanon and across the Arab world.

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