THE FORGOTTEN TREE
1 Pet. 2:24
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. In one Dennis the Menace cartoon, Dennis rushes into the living room. His mother is standing there with her mouth open and Dennis is holding a large box.
2. He announces with a loud voice, “We’d better tell Santa Claus to forget about the train I asked for. I just found one on the top shelf of Dad’s closet!”
B. TEXT
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed” 1 Peter 2:24.
C. THESIS
1. Christmas is “the most wonderful time of the year” – for a great variety of reasons. Christmas has a mysterious, unearthly character for many people, who regard it as a holy time which reminds us of God and His love for the world.
2. To others, it’s great because of the gift-giving, decorations, fun with children, and family time. It’s like a portable form of Disney World that comes to your house for a few weeks. It’s a secular holiday.
3. Because of this huge dichotomy, the divine purpose of Christmas has been overshadowed by the secular, transitory version. The Christmas tree has become its center and focus. And yet it has not always been this way.
4. So tonight we’re going to look at two rival centers for the Christmas holiday and try to catch a glimpse of “The Forgotten Tree.”
I. TRADITIONS ABOUT CHRISTMAS TREES
A. OUR FAMILY’S TRADITION
1. Just out of curiosity, how many of you have an artificial Christmas tree? How many have a real evergreen Christmas tree? Nationally, 82% have artificial trees.
2. The Christmas Tree, as we know it, started in Germany in the 1400’s. It gained in popularity there as a Christmas decoration and came to America through German immigrants. The British royal family (Prince Albert was of German descent) was pictured with a Christmas tree in their palace in 1849 and ladies’ journal in the US carried the story and from then on its use became widespread.
3. Our family has had a tradition we carried out each year, on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, of going to a Christmas tree farm and picking out a tree.
4. We’d be transported out to the trees on a hayride wagon ride and wander around over five acres looking for just the right shape and size tree.
5. It may come as a surprise to you that God believes in the Christmas tree too. He spent a lot of time considering its shape and size. God also prepared a special gift for it, but hung his gift ON the Christmas tree.
6. God’s Christmas Tree is the Cross of Calvary and His gift to you and me is His only Son, Jesus.
B. THE ORIGINAL CHRISTMAS STORY Luke 2:4-20
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.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
II. WORLD’S SUBSTITUTION FOR GOD’S TREE
A. SWAPPING THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS
1. Alice Dundon said nothing but the truth when she stated the obvious, “There is no symbol more representative of Christmas than the twinkling lights, green branches and lovingly-decorated Christmas tree.” [Culture Trip magazine].
2. Even though we know it’s true, it’s hard to imagine how the origin of Christmas got twisted from a Baby born in a manger to a fat man in a red suit and gifts under an evergreen tree – WITH NO MENTION OF JESUS AT ALL IN CONNECTION TO IT!
3. Can you imagine if Mother’s Day came to mean a day everyone went out to eat at a restaurant – and mothers weren’t mentioned at all?
4. However, a similar thing happened to Valentine’s Day, correctly called, “Saint Valentine’s Day.” It was started to commemorate the deaths of 2 Valentines – one of Rome (AD 269) & one of Terni (AD 197), both of whom were martyred for their faith in Jesus.
5. Because the date of this holiday was alongside pagan fertility celebrations, it became associated to romance and expressing love between lovers. The martyrs are now completely unconnected to the holiday, and are unknown to the celebrants!
6. It seems that the birth of Jesus has been supplanted with an evergreen covered with lights and ornaments!
B. THE REAL TREE OF CHRISTMAS
1. There is another Tree spoken of in Scripture connected to Christmas time, we could call “The Forgotten Tree.” At least five Bible texts talk about this special “tree.”
2. WHAT THE SCRIPTURES SAY ABOUT THIS TREE:
a. Acts 5:30, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew and hanged on a TREE.”
b. Acts 10:39, “And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a TREE.”
c. Acts 13:29, “And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took Him down from the TREE, and laid Him in a sepulcher.”
d. Galatians 3:13, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, ‘Cursed is every one that hangs on a TREE.’”
e. 1 Peter 2:24, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the TREE, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.”
3. What’s Christmas really all about? It’s really about Jesus coming to save us; “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost,” Lk. 19:10. The Babe of Bethlehem was born to die. He came to give His life as a sacrifice for sin by being hung on a tree – not a tinsel-covered thing of beauty, but an ugly, cruel instrument of execution.
4. As we remember the Savior’s birth in Bethlehem’s stable, let’s keep in focus the scene of Golgotha’s hill where He was crucified and shed His blood for the sins of the world.
5. Don’t let Calvary’s cross be the forgotten tree of Christmas! It’s the most important one! The Cross is GOD’S CHRISTMAS TREE!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: Tale of the Three Trees
1. Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: “I want to be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world, to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones!”
2. The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be made into a noble ship and carry powerful kings!”
3. The third little tree said, “I don’t want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people look at me they’ll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God.”
4. Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain and each one began to chop on one of the 3 trees.
5. The first tree fell, but instead of being made into a treasure chest, it was made into a lowly feedbox for cows to eat out of and slobber on. His dreams of greatness were disappointed.
6. The second tree WAS made into a ship, but it was a rough and crude craft for catching fish. Sweaty men worked in it and it always smelled of rotting fish. Gone were his visions of greatness. The third tree was simply cut down and his log cut into beams & thrown on a large woodpile. How sad he was!
7. One night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox. When the shepherds and wise men came in, the first tree realized his dreams had come true: he was holding the greatest treasure in the world; God’s own Son!
8. Years later the second tree -- the humble fishing boat -- received a guest along with the fishermen. A storm struck and the sea became a wild tempest; the guest spoke to the winds and waves, and they obeyed Him. The 2nd tree realized HIS dream had been fulfilled – he was carrying the King of Kings!
9. One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when its beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. It was carried through an angry jeering crowd, and shuddered when soldiers nailed a man’s hands to it. HOW HORRIBLE! Instead of pointing to God it had become an instrument of punishment.
10. But on Sunday morning, the third tree’s shame was replaced with joy when it learned that it had been part of saving the whole world from sin, and would, forevermore, be the symbol of salvation!
11. The next time you feel like you’re not getting to do anything for God, just sit tight and be patient, for God’s not finished with you yet! [Bible.org; amended.]
B. THE CALL
1. Have you received the gift God put on His Christmas tree? Have you had some disappointments in life? God has a way of turning those around for good!
2. Let’s pray for God’s blessing on you and your family this Christmas season. PRAYER.
[The idea for this message, and some of its quotes, came from a Daily Bread article written by Richard W. DeHaan, 12-8-unknown year, of the same title.]
