The Gift of Christ
Christmas Gifts • Sermon • Submitted
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For fun I Googled what the greatest Christmas gift ever given was. The answer was the Statue of Liberty, at least it was the largest Christmas gift ever given. The most valuable Christmas gift ever given was the Orlov Diamond.
Of course you and I know the greatest most valuable gift ever given was, and is, and will always be Jesus!
There is no comparison to anything in the universe to the greatness of God giving His Son to die for sinful man. As I was meditating on the gift brought by the wise men I kept coming back to the fact that they may have brought lavish gifts, but really, they recieved the greatest gift of all!
One reason we exchange gifts at Christmas is because the wisemen brought gifts to Jesus, but another reason is because on Christmas, God gave us the greatest gift of all, Jesus.
In reflecting on this topic it struck me that everything about Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection is based on the fact that it is a gift!
The Gift of His Birth Isaiah 9:6
The Gift of His Birth Isaiah 9:6
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon his shoulder: And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
That phrase right there in the beginning of this verse strikes me, “unto us a son is given”. The word “given” means to be given freely as you and I would give a gift at Christmas to someone, not wanting, not expecting anything in return.
Notice another remarkable truth in this verse, the prophet says, “Unto us...”! Unto us! Sinful, undeserving, ungrateful, humans this Son is given. This was proven in Luke 2:8-11
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Those shepherds were considered in their day the lowliest of the people in Israel. Their job kept them ceremonially unclean, which meant they could not enter the temple to offer a lamb for their own sinfulness, event though their life’s work was spent watching over the sheep that others would use for their own sin sacrifices. What did the angel say, “Unto you is born this day in the city of David, which is Christ the Lord”!
God did not intend His Son to be out of reach to anyone, but within reach to all! I love in Luke when you read that the shepherds, after going to see the baby left and told everyone! They wasted no time telling everyone they saw about this amazing gift, the One born to be the Savior of the world. Which lead us to another gift regarding Jesus...
The Gift of His Life John 3:16
The Gift of His Life John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
I’m not sure if Nicodemus understood what Jesus meant here that God “…gave his only begotten Son...” but we know now He referred to Jesus giving His life for the sins of the world.
Ever since Adam sinned God required a blood sacrifice for sin:
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
But all those sacrifices of the OT could never fully take away our sins:
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
So we needed someone holy, someone perfect Who could take away our sins, and that is where Jesus came in!
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Jesus Christ gave His Life as God’s perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world! Romans 5:8
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
When we could not save ourselves, Jesus stepped in and gave His life in our place. I’m thankful for the cradle, I’m thankful for the cross, but most of all I’m thankful for the empty tomb, which is the last gift I want to mention...
The Gift of His Resurrection John 10:15-18
The Gift of His Resurrection John 10:15-18
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
I want to point out that Jesus Himself gave His life. No one took it from Him. No one could ever have taken it from Him. He gave it willingly as He went to the cross.
I want to point out that He also is responsible for His resurrection, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Of the gifts we have looked at this Christmas season, the greatest of these is the empty tomb!
It is the empty tomb that promises us salvation. Jesus died like all men do, but unlike the rest of humanity, Jesus did not stay dead!
Conclusion: At His birth Jesus was presented as a gift to the shepherds. As a small boy He was presented gifts by the wise men, but by His death and resurrection we all are partakers of the greatest gift ever: the gift of eternal life…Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Here is the greatest part: You can know you have this gift, 1 John 5:13
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Have you recieved the gift of eternal life? You ask, “How can I receive this gift?” Simple:
Admit your sin to God - Romans 3:23 “23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Believe Jesus died to take your place - Romans 5:8 “8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Call on Him to save you - Romans 10:13 “13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Let us pray.