“Symbols
of the Season: Christmas Gifts”
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen. Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November; But, when December doth arrive, Kids can’t count past 25. Part of the joy of the Advent-Christmas season is looking forward with
anticipation to giving and receiving presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
This morning we continue our Advent-Christmas sermon series on “Symbols of the
Season” by looking at the custom of Christmas gifts. This tradition began in the Bible, with the precious gifts of the Wise
Men: “And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to him:
gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” We give and receive Christmas gifts as a
reminder of: the gifts we receive from God; and, like the Wise Men, the gift we
give to God. God gives us the gift of his Word, the Bible. In his Word, God
proclaims to us the Law, the bad news that we do not deserve any good gifts from
God. For we are sinners, evil and unclean, deserving only what our sins
have earned us, as Paul says in Romans, “the wages of sin is death.” “But, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
That is the Good News of God’s Word, the Gospel: “For God so loved the world
that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life.” At Christmas we celebrate God giving us the first and greatest
Christmas gift, his Son, who came into our world as the Babe of Bethlehem.
He was born for you, to live, and die, and rise again, to earn for you the gift
of God, eternal life through Jesus Christ your Lord. On account of his birth, life, death, and resurrection, God forgives
you all your sins. As Paul says in Ephesians, “For it is by grace you have
been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” God gives us the gift of Holy Baptism, as St. Paul says in Titus, “When
the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of
righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the
washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” God made you born
again as his child through this “washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy
Spirit.” Your sins were washed away, and faith planted in your heart,
faith to trust in Christ, your Savior. “It is the gift of God.” God gives us the gift of Holy Communion, “Given and shed for you, for
the forgiveness of sins.” In, with, and under the bread and wine, Christ
gives you his body and blood, spiritual nourishment for your soul, to strengthen
and preserve you steadfast in the true faith unto life everlasting. His Son, your Savior; his Word and Sacraments; those are God’s most
precious gifts to you. And we receive so many other wonderful gifts from God.
As Martin Luther says in the Small Catechism, “He has given me my body and soul,
eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still preserves
them; also clothing and shoes, meat and drink, house and home, wife and
children, fields, cattle, and all my goods . . . He richly and daily provides me
with all that I need to support this body and life.” Thanks be to God for
his marvelous gifts! Now, like the Wise Men, what gift will you give in return to God?
Gold, frankincense, myrrh? No, something far more precious and priceless
even than these treasures. The Christmas carol “In the Bleak Midwinter” puts it beautifully: If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; As you give and receive Christmas gives this season, remember with
thanks the precious, priceless gifts of God, who gave his only-begotten Son for
your salvation, and who gives you so many other blessings. And remember
your gift to your Savior: yourself, your life, your heart. Christmas gifts, a Symbol of the Season. Return to Top | Return to Sermons | Home | Email Church Office
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