The GIFT

Opening

Getting that perfect gift. Isn’t it ironic that Christmas is the only birthday that we celebrate by getting everybody a gift. All birthday parties we bring the gift to the one who is celebrating a birthday.

King James Version Chapter 2

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. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace,

Good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Beth-lehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

THE GIFT OF JESUS IS FOR ALL OF US.

Read Luke 2:10-11.

The birth story of Christ is so fulfilling of the gospel!!

Instead of visiting aristocrats, the angels announced the royal birth of the King of kings to lowly shepherds.

The birth announcement to the shepherds was not simply to them. The angel declared “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

The Shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks, little realizing that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, had come to watch over them. Mary gave birth to Jesus, and Joseph was His earthly father, but the angel said the Savior had been born “unto you.”

The shepherds were considered lowly, on the margins of society. These shepherds were watching their flocks close to Jerusalem, so we can think that the flocks they were watching over were for the sacrifices in the temple. Jesus was born as THE LAMB OF GOD. The ultimate sacrifice.

THE GIFT OF JESUS IS LIFE-CHANGING.

Read Luke 2:12-15.

the shepherds were unclean and not allowed in the temple. The high priest in Israel was the only one able to enter the Holy of Holies in the temple to meet with God, and that occurred only once a year.

The presence of Jesus – God with us – has brought us not only forgiveness but also full inclusion as members of God’s family! Through Jesus, we have been conferred every hope imaginable and can look forward to experiencing the immeasurable riches of God’s grace!

THE GIFT OF JESUS IS WORTH SHARING.

Read Luke 2:16-20.

The shepherds shared the saying about Jesus that had been told them. This refers to what the angels told them in verses 10-11. After the shepherds saw Jesus, the Bible does not record them returning to their flocks; those plans had changed.

“No matter who you are, whatever your racial or ethnic background is or without regard for the shame of your past, Jesus has come just for you – as the Gift that is the greatest expression of God’s love for the world.” The lowly shepherds were surprising recipients of the Good News of Jesus.

They went and told!!!

LAST WORD

Celebrating the coming of Christ to dwell with us is a wonderful time with family and friends each year, but we must reflect on the reason why Jesus came to earth. I hope that you will “leave a review” to let someone else know about your experience with Jesus.