GOD’S CHRISTMAS 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 know it’s meaning as when Immanuel – “God with Us” – came into the world to live among us.
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 “God’s Christmas Tree.”
I. THE BANNING OF CHRISTMAS
A. WHEN CHRISTMAS WAS TOTALLY BANNED
1. Yes, there was a time when Christmas was totally banned! No, not by the Communists or Fascists, nor by the first century Jews, but by dedicated Christians here in America.
2. The ban existed in law for only 22 years, but it wasn’t until the mid-1800s that celebrating Christmas became fashionable again in the Boston area.
B. WHY DID THEY BAN IT? The Puritans who emigrated to Massachusetts had several reasons for disliking Christmas.
1. It reminded them of the Church of England and the old-world customs, which they were trying to escape.
2. They didn’t consider December 25th to be the accurate birth date of Christ.
3. The holiday celebration usually included drinking, feasting, and playing games – all things which the Puritans frowned upon.
C. HERE’S HOW THE LAW READ:
1. “For preventing disorders...to the great dishonor of God and offense of others: it is therefore ordered... that whosoever shall be found observing any such day as Christmas or the like...shall pay for every such offence five shilling as a fine to the county.” From the records of the General Court, Massachusetts Bay Colony, May 11, 1659 [abbreviated]
2. We’ve definitely come a long way from that to our modern celebration of Christmas!
II. TRADITIONS ABOUT CHRISTMAS TREES
A. ORIGIN OF THE MODERN CHRISTMAS TREE
1. 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.
2. The British royal family - Prince Albert was of German descent - was pictured with a Christmas tree in their palace in 1849 and The Ladies’ Journal in the US carried the story and from then on its use became widespread.
B. 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!
C. OTHER LOSSES OF HISTORICAL MEANING
1. 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?
2. Valentine’s Day has suffered a similar fate. “Saint Valentine’s Day” 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.
3. 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!
4. It seems that the birth of Jesus has been overshadowed by an evergreen tree covered with lights and ornaments!
III. THE REAL TREE OF CHRISTMAS
A. GOD HAS A CHRISTMAS TREE
1. For many years our family had the tradition of going to a Christmas tree farm and picking out a living tree. We’d wander around over five acres looking for just the right shape and size tree.
2. It may come as a surprise to you that God has a 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.
3. God’s Christmas Tree is the Cross of Calvary and His gift to you and me is His only Son, Jesus.
B. DESCRIPTION OF GOD’S CHRISTMAS TREE
1. There’s another Tree spoken of in Scripture connected to Christmas: God’s Christmas 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 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. Remember, 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 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.
