So, the in laws have arrived, the presents are wrapped, there is more cheese and cream in our fridge than it has seen in a very long time, and there are twinkly lights shining out from our tree cheering the dark skies of Ealing.
I feel pretty Christmassy.
But, I thought I’d step back away from the human celebrations and the commercial side of things to look at the real reason for the season. All the little traditions, whilst being lovely in their own right, have much deeper significance and meaning- especially the tradition of giving gifts.
John Lewis are reporting record sales figures this year, despite the gloomy economic climate- so it would seem that the spirit of giving is alive and well in the world today. As is the spirit of receiving! So much so, that many people get themselves into financial ruin in order to be able to give at Christmas time. It is ironic that this holiday has become one of the most expensive and commercial celebrations in the year, because in essence, it is all about a free gift.
“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.” Isaiah 9 v 6
We hear this passage read at carol services around the world- but what does it mean? This old testament passage is the prophet Isaiah talking about how one day God himself would come to earth as a human baby. Hundreds of years later- that prophesy (and many others like it) was fulfilled, 2000 years ago in Bethlehem.
That is why, at Christmas, the gifts under the tree are but shadows of the real gift, that is already given through Jesus.
“9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” 1John v 9-12
We had the above reading from 1 John at our wedding, and heard it again at a Christmas wedding this weekend. For me, it really sums up what the gift of Christmas means:
A loving, and undeserved gift
God loved (and loves) us, even when we ignore and ridicule him. When we look at the darkness of the world- and the darkness in our own selves we know that we are no way perfect enough to earn our way to God- but that doesn’t matter. He loved us first, despite of, not because of, anything we have or haven’t done.
A sacrificial gift:
Not only did God love us first, he loved us sacrificially as a remedy for our darkness.
Many medieval carols are written in sad minor keys to acknowledge that this baby in the manger is destined to die on a cross. Without the sacrifice of Easter, the gift of Christmas would be no gift at all. God came to earth, to live to die and to rise again- to save us and to bring us back to Him.
A free gift
With gifts under the tree- the receiver has very little to do with the process: We just get to receive it, open it and hopefully enjoy it! It’s the same with the real Christmas present- the gift of Jesus is there (you can find it wrapped up in carols and in tradition, and you can unwrap it by reading one of the New Testament gospels). It’s free. It’s a gift we didn’t ask for and don’t deserve, and it’s up to us to receive it or not.
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite carols, that I think sums it all up rather well:
budgetcitybride 