The arrival of Christmas is hard to ignore. The rush to let people know “it’s that time of year” is ushered in with decorations, toy drives, Christmas dramas, seasonal commercials, a blitz of specialty products, and that shopper’s nirvana known as Black Friday. You know the drill when it comes to Christmas. The “spiritual part” is the Bible stories and church musicals, and the “commercial” part is the wish list and tinsel. Today, I want us to explore the idea that giving and the spirit of giving is the key to finding the real and true meaning of Christmas.
As you all know, Christmas is a time of receiving gifts. But, Christmas is also a time of giving gifts. Why is it often easier for us to get more excited about what we receive than what we give? What we are going to be looking at today are the things that were given on the first Christmas… the night that our Saviour Jesus Christ was born. I want to challenge you… and I want you to be challenged to consider how you can experience the true joy of Christmas through focusing on giving instead of receiving this Christmas.
We will be reading from Luke and Matthew. The books of Matthew and Luke both bear the names of the men who wrote them.
Matthew was a tax collector who left everything when Jesus called him to be one of His disciples. His book, Matthew, seeks to prove that Jesus actually was the Messiah that was promised in the Old Testament.
Luke was a medical doctor who became a believer during Paul’s first missionary journey. Luke was not a Jew but rather a Gentile. Working from his medical background, Luke presents to us the human side of Jesus in the gospel of Luke then tells the beginnings of the early church in his second book, Acts.
Read Luke 1:26-38. An angel told Mary that even though she was a virgin, she would conceive and give birth to a son, and shall call His name Jesus. This is a very important part of the story of the birth of Christ, for you see, Mary was engaged to Joseph but was a virgin. God caused her to become pregnant with child, that child being Jesus. Put yourself in her shoes ladies! Can you imagine how you would feel? Would you be scared or excited? Men, would you believe her story? But look at how Mary responded: though she couldn’t have known all that this announcement would imply, she responded in faith, expressing her faith and trust in God and in His plan!
In examination of the birth of Christ, you will find that there were three gifts that were given.
Gift #1: God himself robed in flesh in the form of Jesus Christ!... the most important gift of all. While people in the Old Testament had to relate to God with a certain sense of personal detachment, Jesus was God in the form of a living human being who now walked among His people! You could say that God gave us presence, His presence!
Read Luke 2:1-15, with our focus on verses 8-15.
Can you imagine? As a shepherd, you’re just sitting in a field with other shepherds and, of course, sheep… when suddenly an angel drops in. The Bible says they were frightened… Dark night. Angels. Bright light. Glory of The Lord shone round about them. Yep. I’d be running!
Let’s talk about the shepherds. Shepherds were one of the lower rungs of the Jerusalem social ladder. Think for a second about the way God works. Why does it make sense for the shepherds to be some of the first to know about Christ’s birth? Why not the religious rulers and leaders? If you look at Jesus’ teaching throughout the Gospels, you will find that God’s Kingdom flips conventional wisdom. The first are last. The weak are first. The first to witness Jesus’ first miracle were servants. He chose His disciples from those least likely to lead a religious movement. Jesus engaged the sick and the outcast. It would only make sense that shepherds would be the first to know! The Kingdom of God values the things the world doesn’t!
Do you think the expression of the angels themselves… the amazing praise, their countenance, the visual in the sky… was a gift to the shepherds? Me? A lowly shepherd. Out here. First to receive the news of The Saviour born!
Can you think of some examples of how our expressions – be it: outward attitude, countenance, words, and actions – can be a gift to people this Christmas? Maybe it would be a decision to resist the temptation to get wrapped up in too much materialism or commercialism: or looking for an opportunity to bless someone without expecting anything in return. Sacrifice your time, and even money, to see someone else blessed because of your efforts. To think of “others” this Christmas, and not ourselves!
What about the content of the angels message? They were sharing the “Good News” of Christ birth. I challenge you this Christmas, to be a bearer of “Good News”! Out with the negative… and in with the positive! And not just in words, but also in action. Volunteer time to a Christmas event, a charity, even a opportunity to engage friends… throw a Christmas party. It can be the smallest of things, to us, that are the biggest of things to those maybe that are hurting!
So, Gift #2: Good News and Expressions (those of love).
Read Matthew 2:7-11. King Herod was appointed by the Roman government to oversee Judea. He had no intention of honoring the birth of “The King of the Jews” and planned to do something that was common in that day… kill anyone who might one day challenge the throne.
Let’s talk about the wise men and their gifts. The wise men were possibly Kings from the east who were experts in astronomy. That explains why they were compelled to find Jesus when they saw the unusual star in the eastern sky. I want to talk about the three gifts the wise men gave Jesus and how they can serve to remind us of different aspects of Jesus character. The three gifts were gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
1. Gold was a valuable commodity in Jesus day, just as it is now. Gold was owned by the wealthy and given as gifts to the wealthy and the powerful. Think about the role Jesus plays. What aspect of Jesus’ identity does the gold help remind us of? His royal nature… He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the “firstborn over all creation” (Col. 1:15).
2. Frankincense is a resin that comes from a tree. People in the biblical times believed the burning of Frankincense oil during worship would carry their prayers to Heaven. What aspect of Jesus’ identity might the Frankincense help remind us of? The fact that through Jesus Christ, eventually becoming our perfect sacrifice, we no longer have to go through a priest and ritual, we now can go straight to our Father in praise, worship, and prayer!
3. Myrrh is also a tree resin that harden and is turned into a powder or perfume. It was used to treat wounds and was also a burial spice. It was even used when Jesus’ body was prepared after His death on the cross. What aspect of Jesus’ life does the gift of myrrh help remind us of? Jesus’ death upon the cross for our sins.
So, Gift #3: Gifts that symbolize (your love and your feelings).
Can you now see a theme of giving that runs through the Christmas story? The wise men gave valuable gifts, the angels gave praise and good news, and God gave us Himself, Jesus Christ in our own flesh. The most important expression of the Christmas spirit is the expression of Giving! There is nothing wrong with the receiving of gifts or even wanting certain things. But Christ, and His word, wants us to know that if we are to be more Christ-like, we are to have a spirit of giving. Not just in the giving of gifts… but also in our time… love… joy… good news… hope… forgiveness…
I encourage you to always be thinking about giving, and to do so out of your love for God. Not just during this season, but all year long. I wish you a very Merry Christmas. I love you. Now go and give!
