Words by Scott McCullar | Image by Blakeney Clouse
My mother always tried to make Christmas Day special for me. Whether we lived in a low-rent apartment near the Fayette Hospital or with my Memaw on the south side of Fayette, Ala., she always tried to have a pile of gifts for me around the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. She would meet me in my bedroom, cover my eyes with her hands and we would walk in tandem, ever so slowly, down the hall toward the living room. I think she would deliberately walk as slowly as possible to build the excitement.
Then she would ask if I was ready, and I breathlessly got out the word “yes!” And as her hands fell away, I could see a seemingly miraculous cascade of gifts. I was a kid in love with Star Wars so she had spaceships, playsets, and action figures littered around the tree. I ran to the gifts, scooped them up in piles, and played with them for hours.
Christmas is different for me these days. Now, my kids make their way into the living room to see what is under the tree. They wake up wide-eyed and excited to glimpse what might be inside each package. Watching them anxiously wait to open their gifts and enjoy the bounty of a great Christmas morning is fun.
Some say Christmas isn’t about the gifts, but I disagree. In my view, Christmas is all about a gift – the gift of a Savior. I recognize how commercial and secular Christmas is in our society, but I know about the greatest gift ever given – the gift that is Jesus the Messiah!
Jesus was born to a poor, young virgin living in the small town of Bethlehem. There were miracles galore around the events of Jesus’ birth—from the appearance of the angel Gabriel to the prophesying and praise from Simeon at the temple in Jerusalem. But the gift of Jesus wasn’t seen so much in a manger as it was on a cross. The gift of Jesus wasn’t seen so much in the happy tears of a new mother cradling her sweet baby as it was in the bitter weeping of a distraught mother kneeling by her dying Son. The gift of Jesus wasn’t seen so much in an animal trough that held a newborn baby as it was in an empty tomb that couldn’t hold a risen King.
Christmas is so important, valuable, and special because it leads to Easter. My Savior, who was born in Bethlehem, was also my Substitute who took my place at Calvary. That baby became a man and lived a perfect life so He could give that life away to offer me forgiveness for all my sins. Jesus died, was buried, and then rose again on the third day, victorious over sin, death, and even Hell itself! Hallelujah!
Oh yes, Christmas is about a very special gift. And one day, because of My Savior’s gracious and merciful love for me, I will go to bed in this world, and I will wake up bright and early in glory.
Maybe that first morning in Heaven will be just like those Christmas mornings of my childhood. Perhaps someone will guide me, not into a living room with a Christmas tree, but into a throne room with my Lord and Savior as the center. If someone were to ask me at that moment if I was ready, I’m sure I would breathlessly get out the word “yes.” And then like a kid running to my gifts, will I run to Him and hold as tightly as I can? Will He scoop me up and hold me? Will the joy overwhelm me as I sit for hours, years, millennia with Him in thankful praise? Oh, what a glorious day that will be!
Truly, we have an amazing and life-changing gift in Jesus this holiday season! Merry Christmas! WL
