The Forgotten Tree

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.