clothes

electronics devices

batteries

The batteries remind us that the things we get for Christmas don’t last forever. Batteries need to be replaced; parts break; clothes won’t always fit, or they may wear out.

What are you getting for Christmas?

Hopefully, one of the gifts that you’ll choose to receive this year is the gift of Jesus.

You’ve heard it said many-a time. The greatest gift is Jesus. In fact, I hope that’s what you expect us to say every year at church – that it is the church’s job to issue the reminder about Christmas being about Jesus.

But have you ever really given it much thought? I mean, we tell our children that Jesus is the real reason we celebrate. We tell people that Jesus is the reason for the season. We tell people that Christmas really isn’t about presents and stuff, but about Jesus. But what are you going to say if someone says "Why?" "What is it about Jesus that makes Him the greatest thing about Christmas?" I spent some time thinking about that this week. I thought about some of the ways Jesus is described for us – not just in the narrative of his birth, but in the gospel accounts of his life.

After there are no more gifts around the tree, there are a few more presents that God has given to us.

Maybe you’ll receive the gift of Jesus, the gift of who he was, and who he is, for you and for me.

Jesus said, "I am the vine, and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers…" (John 15:5-6)

The image is one we can understand. The branches derive their life from the vine and only from the vine. There is no way that a branch can bear fruit apart from the vine. If a branch is cut off from the vine, it will wither and dry up, and become lifeless. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. To receive the gift of Jesus is to remain connected to the source of life, real life.

Jesus is the living water. He told the Samaritan woman at the well, "whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

The psalmist says, "As the deer panteth after water, so my soul longs after the Lord." The deep-down thirst for something more – it can only be satisfied by Jesus. To receive the gift of Jesus is to satisfy our soul’s deepest craving.

Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never thirst." As our bodies crave after food and water, so does our soul long after that which will nourish it. When we pray, "Give us this day our daily bread," we are praying both for physical sustenance and spiritual nourishment. Only Jesus can give us what our soul desires. To receive the gift of Jesus is to be fed spiritually; and every time we break the bread, we remember the price Jesus paid to give us true life.

Jesus is the true light that gives light and life to the world. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome the light. Light exposes whatever is in the darkness; light cuts through the darkness and shows the way. Did any of you happen to look at the full moon the other night? It’s amazing how light can penetrate and transform the darkness. To receive the gift of Jesus is to know that we have someone who is more powerful and able to overcome even the darkest areas of our lives.

Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep… I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me … and I lay down my life for the sheep." A good shepherd does whatever it takes to guard the welfare of his flock. A good shepherd provides for the sheep, watches over the sheep, guides the sheep. To receive the gift of Jesus is to say, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…", and to welcome into our presence the One who is with us always, watching over us, providing for us, giving his very life for us.

An angel of the Lord appeared to [Joseph] and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." The fact is, Christmas is but the first step on the road that leads us to Good Friday, and then to Easter. Our sin is a problem that God cannot ignore. Jesus is God’s gift to us, to save us from our sin. To receive the gift of Jesus is to know the way, the truth, and the life, and to proclaim boldly, "Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!"

When someone asks, "What did you get for Christmas," what will you say?