The Best Christmas Gift Evar!

The Best Christmas Gift Evar!

Have you ever gotten a really good gift and were so happy?

It seems the older we get, the more we have seen it all, so gifts don’t maybe have the same impact as when we were younger.

When you were little you didn’t know to ask but you got a plushy doll. Best Christmas gift evar! Some people still have their little doll!

So when you were a little older you wanted a present and actually asked for it and instead you got underwear?

Well, but then, back behind the tree, was that Red Ryder BB gun! Best Christmas Gift Evar! Don’t shoot your eye out!

You got a little older and they took you outside and A NEW CAR! Here’s Johnny to tell you all about it: Red convertible with the tinted glass, radio entertainment center, a/c, cruise-o-matic automatic transmission, pink air nitrogen inflated white sidewall tires, backup camera, heated seats even! Best Christmas gift evar!

Then as an adult you get tickets to Disney World! I’m going to Disney! Best Christmas gift evar!

But I got one better than that and that’s what we’re talking about today!

Do you know how to give good gifts?

Matthew 7:11

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

God knows how to give Good gifts! Trust me!

What is the meaning of Christmas? Presents? Family? Friends? Santa? Frosty Snowman?

Christmas is so convoluted that no one seems to know it was about the best gift mankind could ever have! Salvation from sin and death! Most don’t even know they need this gift!

Many of us, as we get older, we are more and more acquainted with Sin and the devastating effects it has. We long for the day when we are free of sin and we are so thankful that Jesus came and was the perfect sacrifice to take away sin and all we have to do is accept God’s gift.

Before He came, imagine how the people longed for His coming. He was the desire of nations! People longed for the day they would see His coming to take away the burden of Sin and death! They thought He would ride in as a King on a white horse, but instead, He came into a poor family in a stable because there was no room for Him at the inn. This is perhaps a commentary on many of us that we don’t have room for God. I hope that’s not true of you, that you have room for God and that you receive His best gift ever! HANDS DOWN THE BEST GIFT EVER!

Luke 2:8-14 Announcement of the Gift - pretty cool but I have one better!

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.”

Imagine the announcement not going to the king or the priests but to the wretched shepherds.

They were constantly considered unclean, dealing with birth and death of sheep and were on the outskirts of the city so were always on the outside. It’s likely that these shepherds were raising sacrificial sheep! Do you sometimes feel that gifts go to rich people, but aren’t you glad these lowly people got this special gift from the angels, rather than the rich kids?

This wasn’t the first mention of Christ’s birth! The OT has many instances mentioning His coming. The first one being…

Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;

he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Luke 2:15:20 Viewing the Gift - is it what we expected? Pretty cool but I have one better!

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.”