As we discussed last week, Christ gave up His heavenly home and all that it is to come to earth to do the will of the Father. Once here, what did He encounter Himself being the gift from above? What was the price of being the greatest Christmas gift ever?
Christ came to be God with us. All His glory, power and majesty crammed into this little human baby. I cannot even imagine that being able to be done. How could the Son of God be shoved into that tiny baby body? Yet He was. He came into this world not as a glorious king but as a meek, helpless little child. He was born to a couple of teenagers whose knowledge of life and parenthood could barely fill a thimble. His first night was spent basically in a barn, not in a nicely painted baby's room with pretty baby sayings on the wall. No fuzzy baby blanket, no crib, no baby intercom to keep Him safe, no dresser full of clothes and disposable diapers. No, the King came naked, and placed in a feeding trough without even a pillow to lay His head on.
He grew up as many other boys, eating dinner with the family, playing in the yard, perhaps learning the family business and going to temple. As He got older, I imagine He was teased about not wanting to do all the mischievous things young boys do. As He began speaking of God and the teachings of the religious leaders of His time, can you imagine how He must have been received? Maybe things like, why don't you just go and play with the other boys? What do you know? Who do you think you are? Even His family thought He was goofy. All the while, He was trying to bring the good news of who He was and what His being here meant to the world. He was continually mocked and rejected. He persevered and never gave up. He didn't whine and ask His parents to move to a new town where He might not be picked on. He stood in the face of all that to do what he came to do.
When it came time for Him to be on His own, travel and share that He was the Son of God and teach people the path of salvation, He began His journey. He walked, notice walked. He did not get into His heated and air conditioned car and drive from city to city, He walked. He pretty much lived in the heat of day and the chill of night. Can you imagine laying down in the dirt, curling up next to a nice rock and getting a good night's sleep? What more could anyone ask for?
He eventually picked a handful of strangers to travel with Him. These were to be those closest to Him. These were to be His hope for the message to continue once He was gone. They traveled together while Jesus taught and spoke sharing this news that was to be a joy for all people. Some heard Him and believed, others mocked Him. Jesus even did miracles. He went so far as to heal people with life threatening diseases. He even raised some who were dead. Most times, those who He had done such miraculous things for, ran off without even saying thank you. Sometimes He was even accused of doing such things by the power of the devil. You know, you do something nice for someone and they can't even say thanks! Have you ever said that before? I know I have.
Jesus wasn't out looking for a career that would fill all his financial plans and desires. He wasn't out seeing all the latest plays or taking trips to all the latest hot vacation spots. He walked from town to town healing people, helping people, and sharing the news that there is the hope of eternal life even though we all sin.
Then the religious authorities of His time got into the picture. How dare He speak for God. How dare He cause people to question them? Did He not understand who they were? Did He not understand their power and authority?
Okay, let's put it into a smaller package. Jesus came with good news from His Father that even though all sin and cannot possibly find their way to Heaven to spend eternity with God, He had a way. He brought a gift that would cost them nothing but only to have faith in Him and what He taught. He brought them the gift of being free from sin, guilt, shame and eternal separation from God and what did they do? They plotted to kill Him! Nice, huh?
Jesus came bearing a gift. In most cases, His gift was not accepted with joy and eagerness. Jesus did not get to see the smile on their faces, see the excitement of His gift, nor hear the expressions of gratitude. In fact, His gift was mocked and rejected.
So, they arrested Him, badgered Pilate into allowing them to crucify Him. They mocked Him, beat Him, spit on Him and tore His hair and beard out. They whipped Him to the point He could hardly walk, then they made Him carry His own cross up a rocky trail in His bare feet, blood marking the path He took. All along the way, the path was lined with mockers doing their best to humiliate Him. They pounded nails into His wrists and feet and raised His cross. There He hung, in His early thirties. Thirty some years of a life given up for all of them, for all of us. There He hung, loved by some but hated by many. There He hung, the gift to mankind. There He hung rejected, scorned and abused. What had He done? He had dared to tell the truth. He had dared to try to point mankind in the right direction. He dared to love His creation, this thing called man. He dared to love them with all their foolishness, sin, imperfection and anger. He dared to not send a gift but to be the gift. He dared to bear all the sin and shame for all those who had come before Him and all those who would come after Him.
As He took His last few breaths, He did not make an obscene gesture at the crowd. He did not warn them that they would regret this very day. He did not spit on those mocking Him from below. No, with the little strength and breath He had left He quietly pleaded with His Father in Luke 23:34; "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing".
Can you hear Him? Can you hear him wheezing and gasping to catch enough air to mutter those words? Can you see the tears in His eyes as He pleads for mankind, for you and me, with all His heart? Can you picture Him moments from dying, hanging on a cross between two other crosses? Can you hear one of the criminals hanging next to Him ask Jesus to remember him when He returned home? Can you see Jesus breathe as deep as He could trying to get some air to help one more person? Can you hear His voice strain with the promise that that criminal would be with Him in paradise?
For thirty some years, Jesus devoted His life to you and me. He gave up, what every human being would consider a life, to give us a way to eternity. He was treated horribly, mocked, lied about and killed by those He came to save. Yet He never gave up, He never quit and He never stopped doing all He had to do to save all mankind. Then with His last breath, Jesus said, Luke 23:46; ..."Father, into your hands I commit my spirit". When He had said this, He breathed His last.
God sent Jesus, His only Son to earth with a gift for a lost world. A world lost in it's own greed, lust and sin. A world occupied by people devoted to spend life chasing after only what they wanted.
Because of His love, God saw the need and sent His only Son, Jesus, to rescue these foolish people. John 3:16; "For God so loved the world He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life".
Christmas is when God gave the gift of His Son so that no matter what we have or have not done we could rest in the promise of eternal life with Him. God's gift of Christmas is a gift that has never worn out, become old fashioned or has out lived any warranty. His gift is still in full play with all it's promises and benefits in tact. As with all gifts, someone had to pay for it. God paid for it by giving His Son to us to pay for our sins. Jesus paid for it by spending His entire life dedicated to helping us understand the truth so we could believe. Jesus paid for Christmas with the horrible things He endured, even death. Yes, this gift of Christmas had an extremely high cost and the cost of Christmas was paid in full by the love of God.
Luke 2:1-12; "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and lines of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger".
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying; "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests".
Yes, our gift, the gift of Christmas was given that very day. And that incredible gift came paid for by God's immeasurable love for us expressed in Jesus' life, death and resurrection. There is no expiration date, no membership fees and no delivery charges. This gift is free to all who believe.