Christmas

Christ, The Greatest Gift of All

Pastor Robert Hammond

Over the years, I have read innumerable Christmastime articles that reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.  Predictably,  they contend that Christmas is less about receiving gifts and more about time for family, reflection, and, of course, for giving gifts. 

One Christmas season, I was invited to share the story of the best gift that I ever received.  A friend invited me to share my story with a woman in his family who has been fighting a terminal illness.   I quickly accepted the invitation to visit her at a local nursing home.

When I entered her room, I introduced myself and prayed with her. Then, I began telling her the story of the most wonderful gift that I had ever received.

I told her how, when I was a boy, a man took a book and told me the story of a Father who understood the importance of giving like no one else.  The man described a Father who was so concerned for others that he was willing to send his only son to die for them. 

I told her how that Father’s gift was motivated by unfathomable love.  And I told her that his son shared that love so perfectly that he was willing to shed his blood and to die for me. 

Puzzled, the women in the hospital bed turned away.  And then she turned back toward me. 

I explained that the book that was read to me was the Bible. And I explained that Father who was described to me is God the Father.   I continued that the son who was offered by his own Father is the long-prophesied Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I explained that God the Father sent his son both to be born of a virgin in Bethlehem and to die on the cross at Calvary – exactly as had been prophesied in the Scriptures.  And I told her why he did that:  According the Bible, I am a sinner.  Because of that, I deserve death – eternal separation from God.  But, according to the Bible, “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I told her that I had received that gift and I explained how she might receive it, too.  I explained that the Bible teaches that our good works aren’t good enough to earn forgiveness.

I told her how Jesus said, “ye must be born again.”   And I told her that Peter, the Apostle, said, “Repent (turn away from sin) … and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” I explained that Salvation is a free gift that must simply be received by turning away from sin and by placing one’s faith in Christ. 

That night, she too decided to receive the greatest gift that I have ever received – the gift of eternal salvation.  She prayed and received Christ as her Savior. Because of her decision to receive Christ, she may know with certainty that, whenever her battle with illness ends, she will be in Heaven with her Savior.  That’s a great Christmas gift indeed.

Have you received the greatest gift of all – the Lord Jesus Christ?    

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

The Origin of Christmas Lights

The tradition of placing lights on homes during Christmas traces its origins back to the use of candles in early church celebrations. Those candles were intended to picture the truth that Jesus Christ is the "light of the world." Indeed, in John 8:12 Jesus states, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

In the 17th century, German Christians began decorating their Christmas trees with candles. This practice represented the light of Christ breaking into a dark world. Others have suggested that candles represented the star that led the wise men to Christ.

With the advent of residential electricity in the late 19th century, the tradition shifted from candles to electric lights. In 1882, Edward H. Johnson, an associate of Thomas Edison, created the first known electrically lit Christmas tree in New York City. This innovation eventually led to the adoption of string lights for decorating homes.

By the early 20th century, electric Christmas lights became widely available, and the practice of decorating homes with lights grew in popularity. This trend was particularly notable in the United States — but spread to other parts of the world.

Today, Christmas lights are placed on homes as a holiday tradition. But Christians do well to remember the spiritual significance behind the tradition. Christmas lights should serve as a reminder of the true "reason for the season"—the birth of Jesus Christ. In him alone we find eternal life. He is indeed the “light of men” and the light that “shineth in darkness” (John 1:4,5).

Do you know Christ as your Savior? We invite you to read more at the links below.

Related Articles:

Identify the True Messiah by His Parents, Place & Point in Time

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Pastor Hammond 

In Luke 2:16, the Bible says that the shepherds “came with haste” to see Christ at Bethlehem.  They must have been hastened by their knowledge that the message of the angel who visited them was perfectly consistent with all the Messianic prophesies of the Hebrew scriptures (our Old Testament).    It was possible for them to know that Christ was the prophesied Messiah – and it’s just as possible for us to know today!

1.  The True Messiah has to have the RIGHT PARENTS

A.  First, he had to be born of a woman

Prophesy:  Genesis 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt  bruise his heel.

Fulfillment:  Matthew 1:18   18 ¶ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

B.  He had to be a descendant of King David

Prophesy:  Isaiah 11:1 records that the Messiah would be descended from Jesse -- the father of King David.   "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots."

Fulfillment:  The Bible records the lineage of both Mary and Joseph -- tracing both directly to David! Luke 3 records the lineage of Mary; Matthew 1 records the lineage of Joseph.

Also see Revelation 22:16   I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in thechurches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

C.  The messiah’s birth had to be a miraculous, virgin birth!

Prophesy:  Isaiah 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Fulfillment: Luke 1:34  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?  

2.  The true Messiah has to have the right PLACE of birth (Bethlehem)

Prophesy:  Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be  little among the thousands ofJudah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Fulfillment: Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came  wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

3.  The True Messiah had to born at the right POINT in time

In Daniel 9:25-27, the prophet predicted that 483 years would transpire between the call to rebuild Jerusalem (after the Babylonian captivity) and the cutting off (or crucifixion) of the Messiah.    That prophesy yields a date of approximately AD 33 – which is consistent with the crucifixion of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

At the manager in Jerusalem, we see a Messiah who had the right parents, in the right place at the right time ... exactly as the Hebrew prophets had predicted under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God.

But… what about the PURPOSE?  Why did he come?

  • Romans 3:23  "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

  • Romans 6:23  "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

  • Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

  • Romans 10:9-11  "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

  • Romans 10:13  "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

The wise men came to Christ “with haste.”  Isaiah – the same Hebrew prophet who predicted the virgin birth of Christ also wrote,   "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near"  (Isa. 55:6).  Do you know Christ as your personal savior?  If not, seek him with haste! Today is the right place and time to receive the One who came at prophesied place and time!  Fall upon your knees and turn from your sins and place your faith in Christ alone for forgiveness.   

"... 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."    Praise God that believers may look forward to the time that Christ will rule from Jerusalem.  "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." (Isaiah 9:6-7) 

Please see this short article:  Why do I need Jesus since I already believe in God?