The Sprit of Christmas Present – God’s Present

In the words of Radio 1 DJ Vernon Kay, “Jesus is the reason for the season” (thanks for that one Paulie).

(Aside from our own creation) God’s greatest gift to Man was Jesus and His sacrificial death on the cross that atones for our innate Sin – making us right with Him by settling our account. What a gift – and by Grace. God freely gave us the present of His Son’s presence. “For God so loved the world that he sent His only Son”. (John 3:16) “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Christmas present. Christ’s mass-ive present. Or Christ’s present to the mass-es. We don’t know when Christ was born, so Christianity hijacked a Pagan festival. Why not? We celebrate our own and each other’s birthdays, so why not Jesus’? It’s a great way to celebrate who Jesus was, what He did and what He still does today.

Theologians and learned religious men can complicate things all they like, but Jesus’ message is simple and incredible. “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27). It’s an easy theme to see here – love, love, love (The Beatles remind us too – “ All you need is love”). Jesus really shared this gift too – not just with neighbours, close friends, family and those people that he knew and liked, but with the poor, the needy, the sinners of this world – those that REALLY need(ed) it.

This is the true spirit of giving and the true spirit of Christmas that we should celebrate. Freely given, the gift of love.