Unwrap: The Gift of God
Luke 2:1-7 (NIV)
Merry Christmas Brothers and Sisters!
It is such a joy to celebrate the birth of Jesus together this morning!
Could you please, turn to the person next to you and greet each other Merry Christmas!
I would like to begin with the Story of little Joey…
Christmas was an exciting time for 10-year old boy Joey. For him Christmas was still a time of wonder. It was Christmas Eve and the ground was white with snow. It was cold and clear, and the stars were bright. The family was on their way to the grandparent's house. It was their family tradition. Joey could hardly wait. His mind raced with ideas about what gift would be under the Christmas tree for him tonight. Every year they would gather at grandpa and grandma's house. There was always a huge Christmas tree, and there was always a gift under the tree for everyone.
The kids would sneak peek to find out where their gift was located. Joey was usually one of the first to find out where his gift was placed. But, this year it was different. He didn't find his gift right away, even though he searched all over. He began to worry. Then his eyes caught a big box in the corner. It was huge! He slowly walked over to it, and sure enough written on the tag was his name Joey. He smiled from ear to ear and his eyes were wide with excitement.
It was Grandpa who always handed out the gifts. He was quite slow, but this year, he seemed really slow. Joey could hardly wait to receive his gift. Finally, grandpa started calling out names. Everyone else’s name was called, but not his. So, Joey began to worry again. And, at last Joey's name was called. When he received his gift, he asked Grandpa, "Is this really mine? Is this big gift really mine?" Grandpa reassured Joey that it was his. So, Joey immediately unwrapped the big box. And guess what he found in there?... Joey found the best Christmas gift he had ever received!
Like Joey, Christmas is an exciting time of the year for many of us. Because it is the season when we give and receive gifts. We enjoy buying, wrapping, giving, receiving and unwrapping our Christmas gifts. Now, gifts are significant to both the giver and the receiver. Because they show that we are thinking of each other. But, what if you received a gift, but you never opened it?
You wouldn’t know what was inside. What if Joey never opened that big box? He could have missed the best gift of his life. Btw, Have you ever left your Christmas gift unopened? I haven’t! I get so excited to unwrap the gift and see what is inside. Normally, people get excited to open their gift. But, there is one gift that many people have received, but only few have opened it. Many people have left this gift unopened. So, let us turn to the Gospel of Luke 2:1-7 to learn about this unopened Christmas gift.
TEXT: Luke 2:1-7 (Read)
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Brothers and sisters, this is the account of the very first Christmas that took place 2000 years ago. And it is important for us to remember that the first Christmas was all about the gift of God. But, today, the popular culture has twisted this account of the first Christmas. People are busy unwrapping their Christmas gifts, and they have no time to unwrap the gift of God. So this morning, we will go back to the first Christmas to see how God has prepared His Gift for us. And we will learn how to unwrap the Gift of God this Christmas.
God prepared for the first Christmas in two ways: First is the…
a. Census in Roman Empire (vs. 1-3).
In verse 1, we read that Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. This census was the first of its kind. And it was done to make sure that everyone in the Empire was paying their taxes correctly. Caesar Augustus was one of the most powerful emperors. He was often treated like a god. Since it was a decree from Caesar Augustus, it was required for everyone. So, ‘everyone went to their own town to register.’ People could not simply register from where they lived. They had to go to their ancestral home to register. Because, back then, they didn’t have online registration. And the head of the family couldn’t register his whole family; everyone had to appear in person.
Though this decree was given by the order of Caesar Augustus. It is really an order given by God through His divine providence. God used this pagan ruler to issue this decree to prepare the birth of Jesus. It is also a historical proof that Jesus was born during the reign of Caesar Augustus. And the birth of Jesus is proven by the history that has been split into B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini). So, God used the census to prepare for the first Christmas.
Another way God prepared for the first Christmas is the …
b. Journey to Bethlehem (vs. 4-5).
We read in verse 4 that Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, the town of David. Since Joseph was a descendant of King David, his ancestral hometown was in Bethlehem. So, Joseph and Mary had to make the journey to Bethlehem, although they lived in Nazareth. The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was about 80 miles. And it would usually take 4-5 days of walking. Joseph ‘went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.’ It seems unusual to us that Joseph took Mary with him, while she was 9 months pregnant. And remember, they didn’t have cars back then. That’s not too far to drive in a car. But that is a very long way to walk for a 9 months pregnant.
But, Caesar’s decree required them to make that journey to Bethlehem. We feel sorry for Mary that she had to bear all the pain and walk all the way just to register. But, Mary and Joseph had to be in Bethlehem. Because the prophet Micah had prophesied that the Messiah will be born there. So, God prepared their journey to Bethlehem for Jesus to be born there. God prepared for the first Christmas by requiring census and by taking Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. Now, the question is, how are we preparing for this Christmas?
In order for us to truly celebrate Christmas, we must prepare for it. But, more than our usual Christmas preparations, we must prepare our hearts. There may be some areas of your heart that need to be cleaned. There may be things in your life that need to be rearranged. There may be a need to make a room for Jesus in your heart. Brothers and sisters, let us prepare our hearts to experience Jesus this Christmas!
So far, we’ve looked at God’s preparation for the first Christmas. In a while, we will look at God’s Gift for the first Christmas.
Brothers and sisters, earlier, we saw God’s preparation for the first Christmas. Now, we will be looking at God’s Gift for the first Christmas. And we’ll also learn how to unwrap God’s Gift this Christmas. Since Christmas is a season of giving and receiving gifts, millions of people open millions of gifts this season. Some gifts won’t fit. Some will be the wrong color. Many gifts will be returned. And many will be exchanged. But there’s one gift that meets everyone’s need. That gift will never wear out. That gift will never break or need repairing. The gift that is appropriate for all. The gift we all need. But, it is also the gift many people have left it unopened. That gift is none other than God’s gift for the very first Christmas … Jesus Christ!
2. God’s Gift for Christmas: Jesus Christ (vs. 6-7).
In verse 6, we read that, ‘the time came for the baby to be born.’ Now, Joseph and Mary must have been very tired after that long journey. Mary was heavy with child, and she knew that her time was near. But, I don’t think she was ready to give birth.
They didn’t have a sonogram, so they didn’t know the exact due date. And they weren't near their family to help with the birth. They didn’t even have a place to stay. But, the time came for the baby to be born. And ‘Mary gave birth to her firstborn, a son.’
Now, it’s hard for us to even imagine giving birth in such a dark and dirty place without any help. But, when God wants to do something in our life, He does it at the right time and at the right place. Though we may not always feel ready for it, God works in our life at just the right time. When its God's time, it’s the best time. So, Mary gave birth to Jesus at the right time and at the right place.
After giving birth, Mary ‘wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger.’ Mary wrapped Him with cloths, not because she had forgotten to bring baby clothes. Instead, it was the first century custom of swaddling babies. The baby would be tightly wrapped around the legs, arms and the chest. People believed that, this would make their bone structure straight as they grow. So, there is nothing unusual about baby Jesus being wrapped in cloths.
But, the fact that Mary laid Him ‘in a manger’ sounds strange to us. A manger is a narrow, open container, out of which animals eat or drink. It was not the best crib. It didn’t have any safety features.
It didn’t have any soft mattress and pillow. It was just a manger. So it’s hard for us to even imagine placing the baby in that manger. But, Mary had no choice, but to lay Him in a manger. ‘Because there was no guest room available for them.’
It’s always a strange feeling when you go back to your hometown after being away for a long time. It’s home but it’s not the same. Most of the people you used to know are gone, and you aren’t sure who’s still in town. That’s the way Joseph must have felt. Because it had been years since his family moved away. And the people in Bethlehem to whom they requested for a room had no idea that Mary was carrying their long-awaited Messiah. They had no idea that Mary would be giving birth to the Savior of the world that night.
So, on that silent night, holy night, Christ the Savior was born. He was wrapped in cloths and placed in a manger. Because there was no room available for Him in Bethlehem.
Challenge
Brothers and sisters, Jesus does not want to stay in that manger wrapped with cloths anymore. He wants us to unwrap Him and welcome Him in the manger of our heart.
Like the manger, our hearts are often filthy and unworthy of His Holy presence. Yet, He wants to enter into our messy, broken hearts in order to make them clean and whole again. No matter what the condition of our heart is, Jesus is willing to come in. He is looking for a place to be born in your heart today.
In Revelations 3:20, Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
Brothers and sisters, will you open the door of your heart to Jesus? Will you take Him in and give Him a room in your heart? I know that many of you have already welcomed Jesus in your heart, that’s wonderful! You can celebrate this Christmas by thanking God for the Gift of His Son Jesus Christ. But, some of you here this morning, may have not opened that Gift yet.
So, I would like to encourage you to open the gift of God today. And, you can open that Gift by opening the door of your heart and inviting Jesus in. Jesus offers you complete forgiveness of your sins. He offers you a relationship with Him. And Jesus offers you an eternal life. Brothers and sisters, today is the best day to make this decision! You may repeat the prayer after me if you want to invite Jesus in your heart. You may do so silently from where you are seated. …
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I repent of my sins. I open the door of my heart to Jesus. By faith, I receive the Gift of God, Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again. I believe that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. Thank you Lord for coming into my heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Summary
Brothers and sisters, on that very first day of Christmas, God gave the best gift - His only Son, Jesus Christ. God has given this Gift out of His unconditional love for each and every one of us. In John 3:16, we read,
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Jesus is the best Christmas gift we have ever received! So, let us unwrap this priceless Gift of God! Let us unwrap Jesus Christ this Christmas!
Let us Pray!
