Thank you for your letter — and I pray that your time here won’t only be happy and productive, but that you’ll also come to understand who Jesus Christ is and what difference He can make in your life.

Who was Jesus? Christians believe that Jesus Christ was more than a great religious teacher (although He was that). Christians believe that Jesus was God in human flesh — that is, that at Christmas the God who created the whole universe (as well as you and me) came down from heaven and became a man.

This is a staggering claim — and it’s one that Jesus made about Himself. He declared, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). And He proved it was true by doing something no other person has ever done, or ever will do: He died and then came back to life by the power of God. God did this so we could know He loves us, and that has made it possible for us to know Him and love Him in return.

At Christmas, we celebrate the coming of God into the world in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. Find a Bible and read about Him for yourself. In addition, get to know some Christians on your campus, and discover the difference Jesus Christ has made in their lives. God loves you, and my prayer is that you may discover this truth for yourself by opening your heart and mind to Jesus.