Government officials all over the world have been discussing the possibility of severely limiting gatherings at Christmas time.  This scares many people for we have many traditions we like to follow this time of year.  For instance, how will it feel like Christmas this year without large family gatherings, hugs, and kisses from loved ones and all you can eat buffets of turkey, ham, potatoes, dressings, and deserts?  While even the severest of restrictions cannot cancel out Christmas entirely it got me thinking … what if Jesus never fulfilled His role as Messiah some 2000 years ago and Christmas did not exist?  What if Jesus refused to be made in human likeness, a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and a servant of all (Philippians 2:1-12)?  What if Jesus gave into the temptation in the desert and chose to worship Satan rather than obey God?  What if Jesus had refused to take the cup of God’s will in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-45) or chose to respond to the taunts and called upon twelve legions of angels to take Him off the cross and destroy His enemies (Matthew 26:53; Luke 23:39)?  If any of these events happened how would our sins be atoned for and to whom would be the way, truth, and life?  Without the Messiah Christmas simply would not exist!  Lets briefly look at five major things that humanity would lose if Christmas never happened.