Once upon a time, so long ago that it is hard to imagine, God promised people that He would give them a new King. And He would not be the usual king that we are used to in books and cartoons. He would be completely different. He would become a NEW KING, a SAVIOR KING, an ETERNAL KING! Together with Mary, a small group of shepherds, a few wise men and many, many angels, learn about how God kept His Christmas promise.

“Jesus got up, standing in the boat. The wind was howling more and more. The waves were unprecedentedly huge. The water in the boat was coming in faster than the disciples could drain it… The boat began to sink! However, Jesus did something incredible…” Learn about Who Jesus Really Is from a story that proclaims the truth!

HOW DO WE KNOW ABOUT ANOTHER WHO FORGIVES?

The four Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - tell us about the wonderful friendship between Peter and Jesus. Later, Jesus was imprisoned, and Peter pretended not to know Him three times (Luke 22:60–62). Then Jesus was crucified on the cross, and it seemed that everything had come to an end. But Jesus did not remain dead (Luke 24:6)!

The last chapter of the Gospel of John tells about how Jesus found Peter to forgive him (John 21:1–19). Jesus asked Peter three times: "Do you love Me?" And Peter answered Him three times: "Yes, Lord, You know that I love You."

So Peter became a catcher of people, who himself found forgiveness. From that time, Peter told other people about Jesus and how they can also be forgiven - not once or twice, but many times (Acts 2:38; 10:43). And then Peter even wrote some of the books of the Bible for us, so that we too could hear his story about the One who forgives (1 Peter 1:16–21; 3:18).

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT A FRIEND WHO IS SAYING GOODBYE?

The four Gospels​—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—​all tell of Peter’s wonderful friendship with Jesus. Yet, when Jesus was arrested, Peter three times denied even knowing him. (Luke 22:54–62) Then Jesus was killed on the cross, and it seemed that all was over. But Jesus was resurrected! (Luke 24:6)!

The last chapter of John’s Gospel tells us that Jesus found Peter to forgive him (John 21:1–19). Jesus asked three times, “Do you love me?” Peter answered three times, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”

Thus Peter became a fisher of men who was forgiven. From then on, Peter told others about Jesus and how they too could be forgiven​—over and over and over again. (Acts 2:38; 10:43) Peter even wrote down a portion of the Bible for us to hear him tell about the Friend who forgives. (1 Peter 1:18–21; 3:18)

The story from this book begins where everything begins - in chapter 1 of Genesis. In the beginning, "... God created man in his own image... male and female he created him..." (Genesis 1:27). "And God blessed them..." (verse 28). Partly blessed life consists in being happy, living in this world, loving God and other people. Every man and every woman who ever came into the world was created in the image of God.

Every tribe, every language and every people have the privilege of being part of this magnificent diversity. All of us, bearers of God's image, have equal dignity and worth, but at the same time we are equally corrupted by sin (Romans 3:23). That is why it is so wonderful that the Lord Jesus came to save people from all tribes, languages and nations. The day will come when the words will be fulfilled that "...a great multitude of people, whom no one could number, from all tribes, and tribes, and peoples, and languages, stood before the throne...", glory to God (Revelation 7:9–10).

Our relationship to each other should be based on the understanding that God created each of us equally valuable, worthy and beautiful. If we know that we are created in the image of God and that He loves us so much that He is ready to forgive, then with the help of God's Spirit we can truly love each other.

The story this book tells begins where everything begins—in the first chapter of Genesis. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). “And God blessed them” (Genesis 1:28). Living a blessed life means rejoicing in loving God and one another in this world.

Every man and woman who has ever walked the earth was created in the image of God. Every tribe, language, and nation, though different, has the privilege of being part of His wonderful plan. As bearers of God’s image, we are all equal in our dignity and worth, yet we have all sinned equally (Romans 3:23). That is why we are so glad that Jesus came to save people from every tribe, language, and nation. One day, “a great crowd, which no one could number, out of all peoples, tribes, peoples, and tongues,” will stand praising God (Revelation 7:9–10).

Understanding that God created each of us equally worthy, valuable, and beautiful should also determine our relationship with one another. Knowing that we are made in His image and likeness, and that He loves us so much that He was willing to forgive us our sins, we are able, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to truly love one another.