The very first Christmas was celebrated by God giving humanity a gift. This gift was not an ordinary gift because this gift was not wrapped up in a beautiful decorated Christmas wrap.
This gift according to Luke 2:7, was wrapped up in a “swaddling cloth” and layed in a Manger.
The gift was Jesus Christ the Saviour of the World.
You see, through out the Bible, there are countless of people who received gifts from God.
Example, In 1 Samuel chapter 1, Hannah prayed and received a gift from God, a fruit in the womb, a boy called Samuel.
In Judges 13:2, an Angel of God appeared to a woman called Manoah and blessed her with a fruit of the Womb, a boy called Samson.
God is a giver of gifts, He loves to give us gifts, so much that in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, the Bible says that God has given us spiritual gifts, we call it the gifts of the spirit.
God is a giver, giving is part of the nature of God. God loves to give gifts.
That’s why the Bible says in Ephesians 4:8,
“When Jesus ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.”
Why, because God is a giver of gifts, He doesn’t give bad gifts, He gives good gifts.
Hence, the Bible says in James 1:7, “ Every good and perfect gift comes from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning”.
The God that we serve, He is a giver. Giving is the expression of Gods love.
That’s why the Bible says for God so loved the world, that’s why He gave His only begotten son.
The Gospel of Luke recounts that an Angel of the Lord was sent to a young woman that was chosen to carry a special gift from God to humanity. This woman’s name was called Mary.
The Bible says in Luke 1:26-33,
“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And the angel came to her, and said, You are highly favoured, the Lord is with you: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God”.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and you shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign
over the house of Jacob for ever and of his kingdom there shall be no end”.
On Christmas, we celebrate by sharing and giving gifts to each other. The greatest gift that has been given to you and I by God is the birth of Christ.
The Bible Says in Isaiah 9:6,
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”.
Now when the time came for Mary to give birth to Jesus, she had to travel to Bethlehem for a census. (Which is an official count or survey of a population) it was a very busy season in Bethlehem. The population count means that there were no guest rooms available for Mary and Joseph. So, she gave birth in a manger which is (an animal feeding room).
The greatest gift that God has ever given to humanity was not placed in a palace or a Castle.
The greatest gift that God gave humanity was not wrapped up in a royal Apparel, it was placed in a manger, an unusual and unpleasant place.
You see, God often hides His greatest gift in an unusual vessel or an unusual place.
Example, Gold is precious, yet it it found beneath the ground an unpleasant place.
Diamonds, oil and even water are priceless minerals, yet, they are all found beneath the ground, an unpleasant place.
Sometimes the greatest gifts are found in an unusual and unpleasant place as was the birth of Jesus.
A gift from Heaven, but yet was placed in a manger, a place where animals are kept, a shelter for ox and donkeys. An unusual place.
Out of this unusual place came joy, jubilation, excitement and exultation.
Out of this unusual place in a manger came an overwhelming feeling of happiness, gladness and delightfulness.
Today, some of you might not be filling the joy that Christmas brings.
Some of you, Christmas probably brings a bad memory of a death of a loved one, a bad news from a doctor, or a tragic accident that has scarred you for life.
You might be feeling hopeless, depressed and sad.
Today, God is unearthing his greatest treasure to you. Which is Jesus Christ the saviour of the World.
The Bible says in Luke 2:8-16,
“That same night that Jesus was born on a hill outside the city, shepherds were watching their sheep. An angel appeared and the glory of God shone around the shepherds.
The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I have good news that will bring great joy to all people. This night a Savior has been born. He is Christ the Lord. You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
Then many angels appeared glorifying and praising God, saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to all men.” When the angels had gone away, the shepherds left their sheep and went quickly to Bethlehem. There they found the baby just as the angel had said they would”.
“Today in the city of David a Savior is born (Savior which means Jesus) has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord (Christ which means the anointed one).
On the day that Jesus was born, God did not give us an anointing, He gave us the Anointed one, He gave us Himself. A baby boy born by the power of the Holy Spirit. A divine gift from Heaven.
The Bible says the wise men came from the East and lay down their gifts and presented it to Jesus,
What kind of gift can anyone give to the giver of life?
What kind of gifts do you give to the the one who created Heaven and Earth and everything in it?
The Bible says in Matthew 2:11:
“After Jesus was born, wise men came from another country to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the baby who is born King of the Jews? We have seen his star in the east and want to worship him.” When King Herod heard this, he was not happy. He called together the priests and teachers of the law.
They told him the prophets had said a ruler would be born in Bethlehem. King Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem to search for this king. As the wise men left Jerusalem, the star led them to the house where they found baby Jesus. They fell down and worshiped, giving him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh”.
The wise men gave him gold (which symbolizes Kingship because the Baby wrapped in the Manger is born a King who will become the King of Kings).
They wiseman gave him Frankincense (which symbolizes prayer, because the baby is to be sacrifice as a sweet incense offering for God on behalf of man, Frankincense represents prayer as the Bible says in Romans 8:34, Jesus is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. He is our Intercessor.
The wisemen came to present to Jesus the gift of Myrrh (which is an embalming oil, symbolizing his death). For the baby boy will grow and die and through His death countless of people will gain salvation and inherit eternal life.
The saving grace of God was found in a Manger. The immaculate conception of the virgin birth. He is our “Emmanuel”, God with us”.
The birth of Christ, His life is message of good news for us all, because it means we are never alone. He is our “Emmanuel” indeed God with us”. It doesn’t matter how hard or hopeless our situation may appear to be, God is there with us.
God said in Hebrews 13:5, I will never leave you or forsake you”
Jesus said in Matthew 28:20 “Behold I am with you always”.
Jesus is our “Emmanuel, God with us”. We don’t have to journey through our challenges and struggles alone. Jesus understands our problems. He is able to make way where there seem to be no way.
The birth of Christ, the Christmas message is the perfect definition of good news. God incarnated in a human flesh, impregnated in the womb of time. The womb of the Virgin Mary. Who was being prepared to be given as a bride to Joseph.
God in His sovereignty interrupted the natural arrangements of Joseph and Mary, to gave humanity the most needed gift, the birth of a Savior.
Let’s celebrate the birth of the Kings of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Lets celebrate the breath of life. Lets celebrate our Maker, the creator of the universe. Lets celebrate the one who was and who is to come.
Christmas is more than a Christian holiday or Christian festival. It is more than an occasion to decorate our houses and eat food.
It is an opportunity to pause and give thanks for the love, hope and joy found in Jesus – our Saviour. As we exchange gifts with loved ones, it is out of remembrance of the gift God gave us in Jesus. The gift that reminds us that we are loved, are never alone and can have hope for the future.
Micah foretold it in Micah 5:2. He said, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from old, from everlasting”.
Bethlehem is a very small village despised by many. Nevertheless, out of this village God brought forth a gifts called Jesus who touched the hearts of all humanity.
Regardless of where you come from, regardless of your background, your last name, your academic achievement or pedigree, God is able to pick you up, decorate you, repackage you, equip you and use you for His glory.
Remember that you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Merry Christ and a Prosperous New Year
By Pastor Andrew A. Osei
Hello andrewaosei.org admin, Thanks for the comprehensive post!