He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. – John 1:11 NIV
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. – Luke 19:41-42 NIV
Many people bemoan the commercialization of Christmas. They state it has become a festival of commerce that has forgotten about the birth of Christ the Lord. That it has ignored or denied the miraculous moment when Jesus came to this earth to live among us, the Word of God made flesh. “Jesus is the reason for the season” is a catchphrase and a protest against the trivialization of Christmas which is emblazoned on coffee mugs and T-shirts, a clarion call to ponder the night that Jesus Christ was born.
There are songs about shepherds and drummer boys and wise men bringing tribute to baby Jesus. Bringing gifts. Giving gifts is a Christmas tradition. Christmastime opens our hearts to “the spirit of giving”. Giving to charity, giving gifts to loved ones, sending greetings to people we otherwise wouldn’t speak to are lovely gestures. But have you ever thought about what Jesus might want as a gift?
I am always troubled when I read about Jesus weeping over Jerusalem. It breaks my heart that He wept. It breaks my heart that He was ignored, forsaken, beaten, bruised, belittled and made the target of people abandoning themselves to unabashed cruelty. Wouldn’t you have loved to be there to wipe His brow and His tears, to wash His feet, to carry His cross a little bit of the way for Him? To be there physically with Him, to lean your head on His breast? To show Him how much you love Him?
But it has been over 2000 years since His feet walked the earth. What then, can we bring to Him? Can we give Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Prince of Peace a gift for Christmas? I believe we can.
Perhaps we bring Him a gift when we recognize His rightful place as Lord and Savior. Perhaps we bring Him a gift when we live in the joy of His great love. Perhaps His heart rejoices when we trust Him fully. Perhaps He feels treasured when we pray and when we read His word. Perhaps He delights in our sincerity when we show both love for Him and love for one another. And perhaps the best gift we can bring Him is the devotion of our complicated and messy hearts. Perhaps we dry His tears when He is our first and greatest love.
His birth is a miracle and His sacrifice the greatest act of love that mankind has known. It is beyond the most lavish gift that has ever been given. It grants mercy and gives peace to everyone with no exclusions. Rich or poor, sinner or saint, all nations, all people, He welcomes to enter into His kingdom. All are invited to receive salvation, the gift He freely offers.
And yet, at least for me, I long to bring Him a gift in return. To make Him smile for a moment. I hate that He wept the bitter tears of rejection and I long to show Him that I love Him. I long to bring Him a gift because of the wonder of who He is. I long for my life to be pleasing to Him, our Jesus, our Lord and our King.
Jesus is more than “the reason for the season”. The beauty of His love is greater than the loveliness of falling snow and twinkling lights. His peace is more serene than a carol at a candlelight service. His majesty is greater than the vastness of the stars on a cold winter’s night. This Christmas, I will bring Him my praise. I will bring Him my devotion. I will bring Him my love. And I will love others as He has loved me. It won’t be for one day. It won’t be for one season. It will be a gift I bring for the rest of my life.
The gift He brings is His boundless love for us and the gift we can return is the zeal to love Him always. To live in Him and He in us. As a Sunday school teacher said “the gift Jesus wants is your heart”. Although I have already asked Him to make His home in my fragile and messy heart, I will continue to give my heart to Him as a way to honor Him, as a tribute, as a statement of my love. I just can’t wait to give Him my gift. I think He will really like it.
Written by Janet Keefe
