Greatest Gift

  • Paul Vroom
  • Dec 14, 2006

This past Sunday, I preached an advent sermon called the Final Offering using Hebrews 10:1 - 25. I know that this doesn't sound like the most warm and fuzzy Christmas message, but here are my thoughts. There is an amazing amount of hustle and bustle during this time of year. People (and maybe you are one of them) are running from store to store with a list in hand so that you don’t forget to buy for all those relatives, buy that $10 unisex grab bag gift for your work party, neighbors, your children, dear friends and maybe even the mailman. We are focusing on gifts.

Even in our church culture we seem to have a focus. We capitalize on the angels and shepherd, a roughly made manger, the three Magi, and the porcelain-like face of Mary holding the smiling infant Jesus. However, as I read Scripture, this a very one dimensional view of Christmas. If we could just slow down a little bit and look deep into those eyes, we might be able to see something greater than angels, shepherds, Magi, gifts and credit cards.

Don’t get me wrong, angels and shepherds and singing “Silent Night” are all great, but they are just setting the stage for what is to come. There is something greater to come. It is like showing up for the first few minutes of a Broadway show but leaving before the climax or the grand finale. These angels and shepherds and Magi give a stage for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to come and do God’s will. That is what Advent is all about. It is the anticipation for someone great to come.

The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God.

It is my hope that in this season of the year, that you are able to remember the greatest gifts of all. The gift of the incarnation as well as the cruxifixion.