What is the gift of Christmas? I’m sure you know the answer. The Gift of Christmas is – Jesus of course! Jesus is the greatest gift we could ever receive. His birth and life are the reason we are saved and reconciled to God. There is no better gift than that – the gift of Jesus who is the gift of Christmas.
God’s Greatest Gift
God’s greatest gift was to give His Son to a world that didn’t deserve Him. Knowing this is really what makes Christmas the most wonderful time of the year. Why? Because every year we celebrate the birth of the Savior – Jesus Christ the Lord. He is the best gift of Christmas now and for all time.
Music stations all over the world play Christmas songs proclaiming the Son of God. People are outside singing carols. Shopping malls play Joy to the World and Silent Night and the Christmas story is repeated everywhere. Christmas has become very commercial but still, Christmas Carols like Away in a Manger and Little Town of Bethlehem are playing everywhere. Nativity scenes are on display in stores, people’s yards, and churches in most communities. Baby Jesus is everywhere and people celebrate the greatest gift of Christmas! Jesus.
For today in Bethlehem a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah. You will recognize him by this miracle sign: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough. Then all at once, a vast number of glorious angels appeared, the very armies of heaven! And they all praised God, singing: “Glory to God in the highest realms of heaven! For there is peace and a good hope given to the sons of men.
Unwrapping the Greatest Gift of Christmas
When my children were small, we would let them unwrap one present on Christmas Eve. At first, we let them choose, but they always went for the biggest possible one. So, our tradition was that we chose the gift they would open that night. We had fun with it and then, they unwrapped the best gifts on Christmas morning. God did the same thing. He gives gifts to His children, but He saved the best gift for the very precise and perfect moment in time.
While generations anticipated and longed for the revealing of their Savior, God waited. He gave them other gifts but not THE gift. Then, in Bethlehem, a child was born. Bethlehem had been the city of David but had declined and was a very small place. However, because Joesph’s lineage was David, he had to go to Bethlehem for the census.
A small, insignificant village became the birthplace of the greatest person ever to walk this earth. How like God. He waited and when He appeared on earth, He came to a place others viewed as being the least. The gift of Christmas in Bethlehem was a baby.
The Son of God
Bethlehem is where God chose to unwrap the best gift, God’s greatest gift. Now, it is up to us to unwrap this same gift. When you are given a gift, if you just lay it back down and walk away, it does you no good at all. However, for millions, the gift of Christ was handed to them and they sat it down and walked away.
He came to the very people he created—to those who should have recognized him, but they did not receive him.
At other times, we may receive a gift, open it and say how wonderful it is. Then we put it in a drawer or closet and don’t look at it again. Millions more do this with the greatest gift of Christmas – Jesus. Or, we may use it a few times, and then put it away. The gift of Jesus is the most valuable and precious gift we will ever receive but some just can’t see that.
After the Excitement is Over
Have you ever received a gift that you really, really wanted and you were so excited when you opened the box and there it was? You laughed or shouted out and showed your excitement. But, after a little while, the excitement was gone and the object didn’t seem to be as great as you thought it would be. So, it’s now in a closet or at a thrift store.
After the excitement is over, we may be distracted by all the other shiny things in life. The gift of Jesus may seem far less exciting than others. The gift of Christmas may fade away. God’s greatest gift may be purposely ignored and set aside.
Being Dis-illusioned is Good
Accepting Jesus is an exciting time filled with emotion and expectation. After you’ve been a Christian for a while, that excitement may wear off. The things you thought would happen right away didn’t. You now realize that you still have to battle your flesh and that all the problems in your life did not disappear. The Gift of Christmas may look impossible to use. The Christian life isn’t what you thought it would be. You may even feel disillusioned. Did you know that disillusionment is a good thing?
The definition of illusion is – a thing that is or is likely to be wrongly perceived or interpreted by the senses; a deceptive appearance or impression; or, a false idea or belief. To be dis-illusioned means to be rid of wrong perceptions or impressions, false ideas, appearances, and beliefs. In relationship to the Christian faith, that’s a good thing! While the truth may not initially be as exciting as an illusion, truth lasts and illusions fade.
The truth of The Gift grows better and better the longer you keep it in your life, but, you may experience that temporary disappointment in how you thought things would be once the Holy Spirit was living inside you.
The Greatest Gift You Ever Received at Christmas – In Addition to Jesus!
I’ve received gifts that weren’t that exciting but were very precious to me. I have a small, clay angel sitting on my desk. It’s an inexpensive, small gift. However, it was given to me by a dear friend at a very difficult time in my life. It’s a treasured gift. I’ve had it for several years, near me at all times. To you, it may look like nothing. It doesn’t do anything but sit there. However, for my heart, it does wonderful things because each time I look at it I think of my friend and her love and concern for me.
What is the best gift you ever received? Was it something extravagant or was it something simple and meaningful?
When Jesus arrived on earth, the Jews didn’t view Jesus as a gift at all! Instead, they hated Him and viewed Him as nothing but trouble. They looked at the gift but couldn’t see it. The most valuable gift ever given was worth nothing in their eyes. He was not a warrior wielding a sword with an army of killers lined up behind Him. Instead, He was meek and lowly, humble and kind, and the people loved Him.
The Best Gifts May Not Look Like You Thought
Another thing that happens with gifts is that we may receive one when we are young and it looks worthless to us at that time. If we keep it, as we mature, we suddenly realize its value. For some who receive Christ, it is that way. Initially, there is excitement, the excitement dies, and in their immaturity, they don’t realize what they really have. However, as they grow and mature they finally realize that Jesus is the gift that makes all others look like nothing. What looked like nothing turns out to be a treasure.
The greatest gift of all looked like a baby. Just a baby like all the other babies. The angels and shepherds saw what others did not want to see – a very plain-looking baby was the Savior of mankind. What an incredible thing God did! How beautiful. The mystery of the ages was finally revealed as a little Jewish baby laying in a food trough in a barn with young, poor parents who were no one special in the eyes of man.
Immanuel – God With Us
This is the miracle, the gift, the beauty, and the majesty of the season. Jesus is with us. The fifty names of Jesus below give expression to just a part of who and what Jesus is:
- Jesus
- Emmanuel
- Christ
- Lord
- Master
- The Word
- Son of God
- Son of Man
- Son of David
- Lamb of God
- New Adam/Second Adam/Last Adam
- Light of the World
- King of the Jews
- Rabboni and Rabbi
- Savior
- Chosen One
- Elect One
- Bread of Life
- Faithful and True
- Alpha and Omega
- Beloved Don
- Bridegroom
- Chief Cornerstone
- Good Shepherd
- I Am
- King of Kings
- Lamb of God
- Light of the World
- Lion of the Tribe of Judah
- Peace
- Prophet
- Redeemer
- Risen Lord
- Rock
- Son of the Most High
- Resurrection and the Life
- The Door
- The Way
- Wonderful Counselor
- Mighty God
- Everlasting Father
- Prince of Peace
- God with us
- Almighty One
- Advocate
- Author and Finisher of Our Faith
- Head of the Church
- Advocate
- Great High Priest
- God
As you read each name of Jesus, you see another facet of not only who He is, but what He brought to us and what we are, or can be, in Him. Jesus is not only the best gift, He is THE GIFT. What God gave was complete, perfect, and unchangeable.
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Lord and Master, I am your loving servant, and now I can die content, for your promise to me has been fulfilled. With my own eyes I have seen your Word, the Savior you sent into the world. He will be glory for your people Israel, and the Revelation Light for all people everywhere!” Mary and Joseph stood there, awestruck over what was being said about their baby.
The Greatest Gift of Christmas
This Christmas, take time to reflect on the incredible gift of Jesus. As you unwrap presents, consider unwrapping more of who and what Jesus is. He is the only gift we keep unwrapping for a lifetime!
Blessings to you and I pray that your Christmas is filled with Jesus, love, and peace.
Inspiration For Life Today uses verses from different Bible translations. To see more information about the copyright for each one, please visit this page – Scripture Citations.
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