INTRODUCTION:

Video Clip: Jingle all The way (Scene Four) Howard Langston (Schwarzenegger) has promised his young son a Turbo Man action figure for Christmas, unaware it’s the season’s hottest-selling toy. And so begins a frenzied quest that pits Howard against a stressed-out mailman (Sinbad), a sleazy Santa impersonator (James Belushi) and every other harried parent in town.

 (Don Stotter, Entertainment Time-Out)

Isn’t it just the most wonderful time of the year? It should be if we know the true meaning for the season. Just 5 more sleeps till the big day is everybody getting excited?

So when you think about Christmas what’s the first thing that comes to mind? What is it that makes your Christmas special? For the children it’s the toys. What toys will Santa put under the tree and by this time the kids are really getting wired. But even us who are adults love to open our presents on Christmas morning. It’s been said that the difference between children and adults is the cost of the toys. So in a sense we all have a little bit of child in us and it just take something like Christmas to bring it out.

Gift giving is a big part of our Christmas. What would Christmas morning be like without the gifts? And every year it seems to get harder and harder to find the right gift. Some have resorted to gift cards. Buying that special gift isn’t easy. And sometimes it can become a real pain especially if we wait till Christmas Eve. I hope none of end up in the same situation as Howard in the movie.

But sometimes we get so caught up in the rushing around that we forget about what Christmas really is about. How often to we stop and think about Jesus?

Even as we sing the beautiful Carols there are times when our minds are not really in tune with God. We’re so taken up with all the things we have to do. The shopping, gift wrapping, decorating the tree, attending Christmas concerts there are so many things we have to do before the big day arrives. But how often do we actually think about Jesus?

After all it’s His special moment, it’s His birthday.

A few years ago there was a slogan we that was very popular this time of the year “Jesus Is The Reason For The Season”  Some would wear pins in their lapel, there were bumper stickers and posters on walls all saying the same thing. I haven’t noticed any of those signs lately.

Yes we get so caught up with the busyness of the season that we just simply forget what Christmas is all about. This Christmas we need to stop and think about Jesus. We need to think about the most important gift of all this year. What will we give Jesus for His birthday?

By now you probably know what you’re giving your husband or wife and your children. At least I hope so if not your probably in a lot of trouble. But have you thought about what you’re giving Jesus?

It’s really sad when we forget about Jesus on His birthday. But for many and I’ll even go as far as to say for most Jesus is the last thing on their mind. I’ve watched a lot of Christmas movies on TV White Christmas, A Christmas Carol, Jingle All the Way, and many others but you know there isn’t many that actually even mention Jesus.

Even that old classic we all love to watch “A Miracle On 34^th Street” makes no mention of Jesus. And most people don’t say Merry Christmas anymore its happy Holidays. When someone says happy holidays to me I always respond with Merry Christmas I guess it’s my way of witnessing. What happened to Christmas? Jesus seems to have vanished almost entirely from the celebration.

A read somewhere I can’t remember where but it’s a story about a woman who was looking into a store window at a nativity scene. She was shaking her head and saying “isn’t it terrible religion is taking over everything even Christmas.”

Yes Jesus is the last person most people would think about on Christmas. Like the woman in the story many people don’t even realize who Jesus is. They don’t even know why they celebrate. For some people Christmas is a time for parties, and just another excuse to get drunk.

This Christmas we need to give Jesus the best gift of all. His gift should be the most expensive, the most beautiful, and the most personal gift on our list. WE need to move Jesus to the top of our gift list.

Last week we looked at the gifts God gave to us. He gave us the gift of salvation, the gift of Self Esteem and the gift of service. He gave us these gifts though His son Jesus Christ.

We looked at how the angels sang about God’s gift. Luke 2: 11.  “To you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”(NIV)

It was a song of praise, worship and thanksgiving. Luke 2: 14. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”(NIV)

And now after looking at God’s gift I want us to look at our gift. What will we give to Jesus on His birthday?

But first let’s look at some of the gifts that others gave to Jesus.

MARY AND JOSEPH’S GIFT

Joseph and Mary offered their gifts. Joseph was engaged to marry Mary. When he found out that she was pregnant he thought that she had been unfaithful to him. Can you just imagine how he must have felt when he found out? It must have been quite the shocker. Until he found out from the angel exactly what was taking place he was contemplating breaking up with Mary. But when he found out the truth he committed himself to Marrying Mary and raising Jesus as his son. That was quite the commitment for Joseph Bethlehem was a small Town at the time and no doubt there were those who never did believe the truth. But Joseph cared for Jesus as a Father.

Mary allowed her life to be controlled by God’s Holy Spirit. When Mary became the mother of Jesus it was God’s greatest miracle. It was through her that Jesus came into this world.

In Luke 1: 46-49. Mary praises God for what He has done. “My soul praises the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior! Because he noticed a common servant girl, and from now on everyone will call me blessed. Because the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.” (Paraphrase)

Mary gave her love and caring support all throughout Jesus’ earthly life. She was with Him during His ministry, at the cross, and was still with the disciples in the upper room on the day of Pentecost.

THE SHEPHERDS GIFT

The shepherds gave their gift. The gave the gift of faith and obedience. When they heard the words of the angel they believed. They didn’t doubt, they went immediately to Bethlehem. When they found Jesus they committed the lives to Him. They gave their all. Their gift was the gift of testimony.

Luke 2:17. Says, “After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.” (NLT)

The shepherds were excited. They had just seen the Messiah. They had been transformed. They had great news to tell and they spread that news wherever they went. When we receive Christ in our lives, we too should have that same desire to spread the good news.

The shepherds praised and worshipped God, they returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.

THE WISE MENS GIFT

The wise men gave their gifts. The wise men gave much more than we usually think about. How often have we read this story and yet we fail to recognize all that they really did give. These men traveled across a dry, dusty and hot desert, they traveled for hundreds or thousands of miles and it took a long time. Transportation in those days was nothing like it is today it was long and tiresome. Who knows what obstacles they had to face on the way.

When we look the nativity scene we see everyone right there at the same time, the shepherds, the wise men with Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus but that’s not how it was there’s been quite a bit of debate regarding this and some have come to the conclusion that it took two years for the Wise Men to arrive which would make Jesus around two.

Their first gift was one of dedication. They were dedicated to a living God who had sent His only Son to their world. They saw that star in the sky and were led by God to follow it until they found themselves in the presence of the Child Jesus. They were willing to do this at whatever cost it took. It was a journey of faith.

Their second gift was the gift of worship. When they finally saw Jesus with His mother, they fell down on their knees and worshipped Him. They worshipped in obedience and love. They knew they were in the presence of the Messiah, the one who had come to save mankind.

The wise men also brought material gifts, the ones we hear so much about. Matthew 2: 11, “They offered Him gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.” (NIV)

Gold was a gift for a King. How appropriate for the King of Kings. Frankincense was for worship; very fitting for Jesus who is our High Priest to bring our pleas before God. Myrrh was used for burial. This represents the death on the cross. Each gift was prophetically appropriate.

But there were those who had no gifts to give. The innkeeper brought no gift. Perhaps there really was no room that night; after all it was a busy time. At the time of Jesus birth people were in Bethlehem from all over people had traveled for hundreds of miles to be in Bethlehem for the census. Perhaps there wasn’t any room. Sort of like going in to Vancouver on the day the Olympics begin and trying to find a Hotel. I don’t think I would have much luck and if I did it would cost me.

But then again perhaps they were turned away because they appeared to be poor, Mary and Joseph were very poor and maybe they just didn’t fit the standard required. Maybe their income was too low. But whatever the case, they were turned away.

Many today are like the innkeeper. They have no room. No room for Jesus on His birthday. They think only of their own pleasures and ignore the one who wants to come into their hearts and transform their lives.

Herod didn’t have a gift for the baby Jesus either. Instead of a gift Herod sent his soldiers on a bloody massacre. His command was to kill every male child in Bethlehem and the surrounding area who was under the age of two. There are those today who would do the same. They continue to resist Jesus and the peace and love He has given us. They stubbornly refuse His offer of Salvation.

WHAT WILL YOUR GIFT BE?

Our first gift should be ourselves. We need to give our hearts in faith, love, and eternal gratitude. We need to bow humbly before Christ in obedience, sincere love, and trust.

Jesus is our Savior and Lord. We need to pledge our Allegiance to Him as our King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and dedicate our all to His glory. Our gift should be a Spirit of Joyful praise and worship.

We also need to give our physical and material gifts. We need to give our time, our talents and our tithes. We all have a gift to give.

On Christmas morning as you open our gifts I pray that you would take some time to first of all thank God for the gifts that He has given us and then offer your gifts to the Baby Jesus. Offer Him your love, offer Him your Obedience, and offer Him your talents and your finances.

I pray that this Christmas we all would offer our gifts to Jesus. If we do this will be the best Christmas ever. May God bless you. Merry Christmas.