Christmas invokes many thoughts and images; I find that my childhood memories of Christmas are quite powerful and generate much nostalgia. Christmas, for me, is about Christmas services filled with singing children grades K - 8, jam packed worship with extra chairs and the smell of Old Spice. Christmas sweaters adorn the faithful. The children squirm in anticipation of the gifts under the tree. The congregation erupts in the great Christmas hymn, “Oh Come All Ye Faithful.” The crisp December night brings darkness and lights together in celebration.
Christmas is such a “magical” time; it brings hope of the greatest joys which heaven brings. Heaven comes down and wraps God’s promises in the swaddling clothes around baby Jesus. We feast and open gifts. We embrace old friends and overlook past grievances because Peace has come down to earth and wrapped its arms around our hearts.
We have the gift giving as displayed by the Magi:
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
. . . When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. (Matthew 2:1-2, 10-12)
What gifts do we anticipate this Christmas? The wise men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. Each had its place and its purpose. They had intelligent insight: the child that is born in Bethlehem - He’s the King (Matthew 2:2). Gold is for king’s coffers. Jesus is THE King. And gold gave Mary and Joseph the means to flee to Egypt and escape Herod’s bloody grip.
The frankincense was the perfume of priests - Jesus is our High priest and He makes all our prayers acceptable and fragrant to God. The gift shows God’s concern for our words, our tears, our requests and guilty regrets laid up in confession. God loves to hear them all.
Myrrh was used for burial. The Baby Jesus came to live and die, which means that whatever caused such a brutal death, was also buried with Him. Myrrh reminds us that the perfect Son of God had to die, wrapped in our sinful ways. The burden of our evil brought Him to the grave.
Each of these gifts helps us understand our God’s providence and His perfect, unending love. All of time and eternity rests on Jesus’ coming to earth. He did! He made the journey. He lived well and lived obedient to all God’s law.
May we enjoy each Christmas moment. Let us ring out a celebration filled with lights, and singing and children’s choirs, and evergreen trees that tower over the spirit of giving. God has given us the best of Himself in the baby Jesus - born for you and for me. Heaven’s gift has come down; Let us adore Heaven’s gift. May our hearts be filled to overflowing, knowing that Heaven still cares.
The gift is now 200 decades old. But the gift does not diminish with time. It grows brighter as the world becomes dark. Jesus is the Light of the world; the Light no darkness can overcome!
Merry Christmas!
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