Timing
Christmas is the season of giving. Why do we give and receive gifts at Christmas time? After all, it’s not our birthday! Why do some exchange their gifts on Christmas Eve, while others do so on Christmas Day?
A Biblical day began at sunset. God’s day begins in darkness and ends in light. Today, with our electricity and clocks we calculate days from midnight to midnight. Man’s day begins in darkness and ends in darkness.
So Christmas Day, 25 December, Biblically, begins as the sun sets on Christmas Eve, 24 December. For this reason, many families, from Germanic and Nordic ancestry, celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve.
The Greatest Gift
We give gifts at Christmas time in honour of the greatest Gift ever given. For “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son”. Freely we have received, freely we must give. It is far more blessed to give than to receive.
Getting vs. Giving
Yet, we still have many people who have not grasped this most basic truth of Christmas. To many Christmas is the season for getting, not giving. Many have their hands out asking, where is their Christmas box? “What do you have for me?” “Give me! Give me! Give me!”
Complete strangers seem to have no shame in demanding some gift for themselves at Christmas Day. We need to remind them whose birthday we are celebrating.
The First Christmas Gifts
The very first Christmas gifts were given by the wise men from the East. They travelled great distances, across difficult and dangerous terrain, in order to worship the Greatest Person ever born. They presented extraordinary gifts: Gold for the King of kings; Frankincense for the High Priest of all priests; Myrrh for the sacrifice that would end the need for any other blood sacrifices.
These men from the East were wise. They recognised when the Messiah would be born. They discovered where He would be born. As they came from Babylon and Persia, where Daniel had served, they were no doubt aware of the prophecies made by Daniel, which clearly identified when the Messiah would be born. The gifts were most appropriate.
They recognised that this was not merely an heir to the throne, a prince, being born! “Where is He who has been born King …?” They recognised that gold was most appropriate for the King of all kings.
Frankincense is symbolic of prayers and worship, so in presenting frankincense they recognised that the Messiah would be the High Priest over all priests.
Myrrh was an ointment used for burial. Jesus Christ was coming as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.
The Crib, the Cross and the Crown
At Christmas we remember the crib, but we also need to look beyond the crib to the Cross. The wood of the crib should remind us of the wood of the Cross, on which our Lord would die, a willing sacrifice for your sins and mine. But the wise men looked beyond the wood of the crib and of the Cross to the gold of the crown. For we no longer worship a babe in a manger, or even a suffering Saviour on the Cross, but a risen, ascended Redeemer reigning on high who will return to Judge the living and the dead.
The Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah
The crib, the Cross and the crown. The crib reminds us of the Incarnation. Jesus is Emmanuel – God with us. The Cross reminds us of why Jesus came. He lived the perfect life that we should have lived and He died the death that we deserve to die. The crown points to the return of the King of kings and the eternal Judge. The first time Jesus came as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. The next time He will come as the Lion of Judah to conquer and to Judge.
When Will You Bow to Christ?
The question is not: will you bow to Christ, but when will you bow to Christ? Will you bow to Christ today in the day of grace, when forgiveness is freely available? When the door to heaven is wide open? Or will you bow on the Day of Judgment, when the door to salvation is firmly closed, when the day of grace is ended? We will either bow to Christ as Saviour today, or we will bow to Him as Judge, on that great and dreadful Day of Judgment.
What Gift Will You Give?
As we remember His birthday at Christmas we should ask: What gift will you give the One whose birthday we are celebrating? What can you give to our Lord Jesus Christ? What gifts would be appropriate for the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Creator and eternal Judge? Our Saviour and Redeemer?
The Boy Who Gave Jesus His Lunch
Andrew brought a little boy to Jesus and the little boy gave Jesus his lunch – five loaves and two fish. With that little boy’s lunch, the Lord Jesus fed thousands with the food He multiplied. Jesus can do a lot with a little.
The Widow’s Mite
Our Lord Jesus pointed out that the widow gave more than all the rest. The widow’s mite may have looked very small in the eyes of those around, but the Lord, knowing how little she had, recognised that she had actually given everything she could.
The Expensive Perfume
Mary gave Christ the gift of expensive perfume, anointing Him for burial. “Then Mary took a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus feet and wiped His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume”.
Zacchaeus
Zacchaeus hosted Jesus and honoured Him by making restitution and donating much of his riches to the poor.
Give Him Your Attention
Jesus said; “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” What can you give the Lord Jesus Christ? You can give Him your attention. Study His Word. Learn His Law. Get to know the Word of God and the God of the Word. Meditate on His Word, the Bible. Determine to put first things first. Bible before breakfast. Scripture before supper. Psalm before lunch. Read through the whole Bible this year. That will only take ten to twelve minutes a day to read four chapters of the Bible each day. There are 1187 chapters in the Bible. If you read just four chapters a day you will be able to read through the entire Bible in one year. How can you know His will unless you study His Word?
The Sacrifice of Obedience
“To obey is better than sacrifice.” Determine to obey God. Dedicate your life to obeying the Cultural Mandate of Genesis 1:28. Care for and improve God’s creation. Plant trees. Cultivate gardens. Adopt animals. Care for the environment. Recognise that all animals belong to God. Treat animals with the care and diligence of those who must give an account to the Creator and eternal Judge. Be kind to God’s animals. Ensure that animals have access to fresh, clean water and good healthy food. Do not waste food. Think of your pets, wild birds and other animals who can benefit. Do not litter. Recycle. Be thoughtful and considerate.
Make Christ’s Great Commission Your Supreme Ambition
Obey the Great Commission. Dedicate your life to making disciples, teaching obedience to all things that the Lord has commanded. Introduce others to Christ. Witness for Christ. Be alert to evangelistic opportunities. Give Christ your love, your devotion, your worship and adoration. Give Him your heart and mind and hands and feet. Devote your time, talents and treasure to Christ and His Kingdom. Use your initiative and energy to advance the Kingdom of God. Be whole- hearted and persevere to the end.
Give Christ All that you Have
Does Jesus have all of you that there is to have? Jesus said that the widow gave all that she had. What have you given to God?
Have you made promises that you have gone back on?
Have you made commitments that you have not honoured?
Be Reconciled to Your Brother
Jesus said leave your gift at the alter and first go and be reconciled with your estranged brother. Make that phone call. Write that letter. Forgive. Ask for forgiveness. Do restitution.
These would be acceptable gifts and sacrifices of praise to present to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on His birthday.
What are You Searching For?
Wise men seek Christ. The question is: What are you seeking for? Is it fun, friends, fame and fortune? Popularity, prestige and power?
Empty Boxes
Have you noticed the impressive large Christmas trees set up in many shopping malls? Surely you have noticed the beautifully wrapped presents piled up under most of these trees? You will see many children’s eyes wide as they look at these bright, shiny, shimmering presents, often with attractive ribbons around them?
Over the years, when my children were very young, they each asked: What’s in those boxes? The answer is: Absolutely nothing! They are beautifully wrapped and attractively presented, but the presents under these Christmas trees in the shopping malls are all empty!
Empty Promises
The world offers so much, but in the end it turns out to be empty. The world, the flesh and the devil promise you everything you could possibly desire. If only you will buy their product or service, you are promised all the fun, fame and fortune you could desire. All the power, popularity, prestige and possessions your heart could desire. But like those alluring and attractive looking presents under the Christmas trees in the mall, the promises of the world turn out to be disappointingly empty. For those who pursue materialism they will find merry go rounds that get them nowhere, mazes that get them lost and dead-end streets that will frustrate their desires. Hedonism and existentialism prove to be short sighted, meaningless, empty and purposeless. What are you searching for? What is your purpose in life? What’s in the boxes you have been obtaining from the world?
Trends are Treadmills
Do not waste your life on the empty boxes of the world. The time-wasting treadmill of trends, fashions and fads are ultimately frustrating. Do not settle for less than God’s very best. God gives the best to those who leave the choice to Him. “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29: 30
What is Your Life’s Purpose?
What are you seeking for in life? What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Christmas should remind us of the danger of missing out on what is most important. We read in the Bible: “… there was no room for them in the inn.”Luke 2: 7
They Missed the Greatest Opportunity of Their Lifetime
How must all those innkeepers of Bethlehem feel – that they turned away the Greatest Man ever to be born? They had no room for Emmanuel – God with us. They couldn’t accommodate the Creator, the Eternal Judge before whom they will have to stand on the Day of Judgment. They missed the opportunity of all time. They could have welcomed the Holy family – but they missed out. Our Lord Jesus was born in a stable in a cave amongst farm animals.
Where Were the Priests?
Wise men travelled great distances in order to worship the King of kings. The shepherds on the hillside came and worshipped. But where was the mayor of Bethlehem? There is no indication that any of the elders and leading citizens of Bethlehem acknowledged the greatest event ever to occur in Bethlehem, before or since. They missed out on the greatest opportunity and event ever. Where was the High Priest? Where was King Herod? It is extraordinary to note that the entire priesthood of Israel, all the thousands employed at the Temple missed the birth of the Messiah!
There Was No Room for Him
At His birth there was no room for Jesus in any of the homes or inns of Bethlehem. Today there seems to be no room for Jesus at the UN. Nor is there space for Jesus in most of the Xmas cards, in most of the schools and in most of the music. Even Nativity scenes are discouraged and banned in many cities around the world.
Is there room in your heart for Jesus?
“He came unto His own and His own received Him not.” John 1: 11
Hijacking Christmas
Today there are numerous attempts to hijack Christmas from its Christian origins and to replace Jesus with some secular Santa Clause. The original Saint Nicolas, on which Santa Clause is based, was a dedicated Christian who was generous to the poor. That was the inspiration for Santa Clause. However, today Hollywood has built up a huge mythology of a secular Santa Clause that is far more acceptable to secular humanists and atheists than the Lord Jesus Christ.
Comparing Santa with Jesus
However, if we were to compare Jesus with Santa, it would be no contest:
- Santa reportedly lives at the North Pole – Jesus is everywhere.
- Santa rides in a sleigh – Jesus rides on the wind and walks on the water.
- Santa comes but once a year – Jesus is an ever-present help.
- Santa may fill your stockings with toys – Jesus can supply all your needs.
- You have to stand in line to meet Santa – Jesus is as close as the mention of His Name.
- Santa may let you sit on his lap – but Jesus lets you rest in His arms.
- Santa has to ask you your name – Jesus not only knows your name, He knows your address too.
- He knows our past and our future and He even knows how many hairs are on our head.
- Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly – Jesus has a heart full of love.
- Santa says Ho, Ho, Ho! – Jesus offers Help, Hope and Heaven.
- Santa says you ‘better not cry’ – Jesus says ‘cast all your cares on Me for I care for you.’
- Santa needs little helpers to make toys – Jesus himself gives life, heals wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and prepares mansions for us in Heaven.
- Santa may make you chuckle, but Jesus gives you the joy of the Lord which is your strength.
- While Santa ay put gifts under a tree – Jesus is the greatest Gift and He gives us the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Make This Your Best Christmas Ever
Jesus is the Reason for the season. Wise men seek Christ. Give Christ you time, talents and treasure. Your hands, feet, lips, heart and life. Give Him your worship, obedience, sacrifice, attention and adoration. To obey is better than sacrifice. Do restitution. Be reconciled to your friends and family. Be generous. Be grateful. Recognise the many Evangelistic opportunities around you. Give God the very best that you have. Do not waste your life on the empty boxes of the world. Do not settle for less than God’s very best.
“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6: 33
Dr. Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
[email protected]
www.FrontlineMissionSA.org
The original article appeared on December 21, 2017 as a circular email and on the Frontline Mission, South Africa website, December, 14, 2018.
Evangelist and author Rev. Dr. Peter Hammond is the Founder and Director of Frontline Fellowship, the Founder and Chairman of Africa Christian Action, the Director of the Christian Action Network and the Chairman of The Reformation Society. Email [email protected]
© 2019 Used by Permission
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