The Gift

One of the quintessential elements of Christmas is the exchange of gifts. It’s a fun tradition that keeps children (and some adults) awake at night on Christmas Eve, full of excitement, and anticipation. But as fun as those kinds of gifts are, we don’t celebrate Christmas because of what can be wrapped up in a package, a box, or a bag. We celebrate because we have received a gift far greater than any toy or trinket, gift card or getaway.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” This incredible gift, this incredible person is God himself born as a human baby; the transcendental Creator of the universe willingly humbled and debased himself by coming into the world as one of us. Jesus Christ, the rightful King of the world, was born as a human being to die for us, to suffer in our place, to bear the punishment for our sins on the cross, so that we might be made right with God once and for all through his shed blood and the cross and subsequent resurrection from the dead. What an indescribable Gift we have received!