10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” – John 4:10
Christmas Season
Christmas season is in full swing. The Christmas tree is up and decorated. The wrapping paper is out and ready for service. Some gifts are actually wrapped and will soon make their way under the tree to tempt the grandchildren. Christmas music is playing basically every waking hour. The Christmas cards are coming in and being displayed. There is snow on the ground and a fire in the hearth and the mantel is serving as the manger for the nativity scene. In honor of the season, I am writing about John chapter four, the most famous Christmas passage. Okay, so it isn’t exactly Luke chapter 2, but it is a great reminder of the meaning of Christmas.
35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35
Christmas Visions
Remember the excitement that the Christmas season held for you as a child? We could hardly contain ourselves as December 25th slowly approached. What would “Santa” bring this year? What latest toy or game would satisfy the longing of our little hearts? Hearts that could barely contain the blissful anticipation as we greedily tore open our presents. As soon as one gift was unwrapped it was set aside to free our hands for the next. The first “proverb” every child knows is, “the more the merrier”. Isn’t “more” the true meaning of Christmas? But, how soon did life return back to “normal” once the final gift was unwrapped and the floor was covered with torn wrapping paper? A letdown was inevitable as we realized that reality did not match our expectations. Toys break. Game pieces get lost. Puzzle pieces disappear with as much certainty as socks. But December 25th will roll around again and visions of more gifts will dance in our heads. Too bad Santa and the Christmas tree too often compete with the baby in the manger.
Three Wise Men
Guided by a star, the three wise men were led to a young Christ. Although just a baby, they wanted to show Him the reverence He alone was worthy of. Upon seeing Jesus, they fell down and worshiped Him. In humility they gave Him valuable gifts; gold, frankincense and myrrh. As God in the flesh, Christ was not in need of their material possessions. Accordingly, the wise men were not giving to meet Christ’s need, but rather to fulfill their own. By giving such valuable gifts they were proclaiming their willingness to forego all earthly possessions that might compete with their devotion to Christ. In Christ, they had found the pearl of great price (Matt. 13:45-46). The only source of real joy. How could gold, frankincense and myrrh compete with Him?
One Sinful Woman
Guided by a penitent heart, the sinful woman was led to a “dying” Christ. Despite the social taboos, she wanted to show Jesus the worship He was worthy of. Despite her perceived unworthiness, the sinful woman boldly entered the home of a Pharisee and anointed the feet of Jesus with an alabaster flask of ointment. It is possible that this ointment was her most valuable possession, but the value of the ointment was irrelevant to her. She could not bear the weight of her sins any longer. While others were condemning her, Jesus offered forgiveness. With a friend like Jesus, what did it matter what others thought of her? With tears of joy she cleaned the feet of her Savior who cleansed her soul with His blood. In Christ, she had found her hidden treasure (Matt. 13:44). How could a flask of ointment compete with Him?
Gift of God
Guided by the will of His Father, Jesus entered the realm of the enemy. When Jesus encounters the Samaritan woman at the well she is desperate. Five men have come and gone in her carousel life. Born into the “wrong” race, born the “wrong” sex, worshiping the wrong way, she is carrying a jar that reflects her soul. Empty. The Samaritan woman is all around us.
How many people will celebrate Christmas without recognizing, much less celebrating Christ? They want the latest toys and games to satisfy the longing of their empty hearts. As the carousel goes around they try to find fulfillment in various ways, but the result is always the same. Disappointment. Reality does not match expectations. With greedy hands they vigorously unwrap life’s presents repeating the childhood proverb, “the more the merrier”. But instead of joy they keep going back to the well with an empty jar. As their lives spin out of control, Jesus simply says, “If you knew the gift of God.”
Accept the Gift
As we look around us this Christmas season, we need to learn a lesson from the wise men and the sinful woman. Decorations are nice. Music is enjoyable. Exchanging gifts is fun. But instead of focusing on the gifts under the Christmas tree, take a long look at the manger scene. The baby wrapped in swaddling cloths is truly the reason for the season. He is the Gift of God. He alone is worthy of our worship. He doesn’t want our gifts. He desires and deserves us and our reverence. He is the pearl of great price and the hidden treasure that will fill our hearts with joy and never disappoint. When we accept the gift of God, we will see that reality exceeds expectation. How can anything this world has to offer compete with Him?
Do you know the gift of God? Jesus laid down His life so that we might have abundant life. In His life and death He modeled, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”. From the Samaritan woman we can also learn a valuable lesson. It is wise to accept the Gift God offers!!
Merry Christmas.
15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! – 2 Corinthians 9:15