A surprising Christmas (conclusion)

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).

Do you want to know something surprising about Christmas?  I’ll tell you something surprising—that Christmas should surprising at all.

When we purchase Christmas gifts, we go out of our way to keep what we bought secret until the gifts are unwrapped.  We enjoy the thrill of surprising others and being surprised ourselves.  It just doesn’t seem like much fun to know in advance what you’re getting. 

The Christmas event that changed the world two thousand years ago should not have been a surprise.  After all, God had promised a Savior all the way back in the Garden of Eden.  Under the canopy of those first trees, God warned the devil that a Messiah was coming who would crush the Old Serpent’s head.  That promise was repeated to Abraham when God told him through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed (Genesis 22:18).  The Messiah was promised over and over again throughout the centuries, and over time more and more detail was provided—where He would be born (Bethlehem in the land of Judah--Micah 5), His remarkable parentage (The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel--Isaiah 7), the wonders He would perform (Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy--Isaiah 35), and the death He would die to save us from eternal punishment (he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed--Isaiah 53).  Nothing about Jesus’ birth or the course of His life should have been a surprise to anyone.

Jesus was willing to endure poverty, dishonor, persecution and death—all to bring you to His side. That should be no surprise—not when you consider how much God loves each and every one of us, not when you see how much was predicted about Jesus before His arrival. The Son of God came to speak to us, speak words of forgiveness, words that promise never-ending life and happiness to those who are willing to listen.  That should not be surprising either.  The only thing really surprising about Christmas is the number of people who have no interest in the gifts offered by God through His Son.  Who wouldn’t want forgiveness and hope, peace and life, beautifully wrapped in a package of love?