Kids love it. Adults love it too.

This Christmas, imagine what it would be like to gather around God’s Christmas tree and exchange gifts with God. 

First, what present does God give us at Christmas time? In Matthew 1:18-25, we read about the very first Christmas.

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. (Matt 1:18)

The writer, Matthew, wants to show us that Jesus is the Christ, God’s promised king. 

But the birth of Jesus reveals even more than that. 

We learn that God’s promised king turns out to be God himself.

All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel — which means, God with us’. (Matt 1:22-23)

Absolutely astounding! God doesn’t send a postcard, he came into the world himself, in the person of his son, Jesus.

Most of the time, this gift is totally unappreciated. 

But the gift of God himself is the best present anyone could ever receive.

Second, it’s our turn. 

What present do we give to God at Christmas time? 

What do you give to someone who literally has everything? 

What do you give to someone who deserves utter perfection?

We all give God the same thing. 

Our present to God is basically our decent lives, wrapped in a nice bow.

And then we try to convince God that we really are decent people.

We do nice things. Or at least we don’t do horrible things. We’re better than other people. We go to church. We give to the poor. We’re decent.

At this stage there is an awkward silence.

God deserves perfection and our decent lives don’t cut it. 

In fact, our present is embarrassing, shameful and offensive to God.

But, third, there’s someone we’ve forgotten. 

Baby Jesus didn’t stay a baby. He grew up. 

He lived a perfect life, full of truth and love and obedience.

He was able to offer God the perfect gift of his perfect life. 

And so, gathered around God’s Christmas tree, Jesus does something remarkable. 

He offers a swap. He offers to give us his present of a perfect life so that we can give it to God. 

He offers to take our embarrassing, shameful and offensive present. He even offers to take the punishment we deserve for such a woeful present. 

That’s what happened at the Cross. 

And that’s what Matthew mentions too.

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. (Matt 1:21)

In the end, despite what we tell our kids, Christmas is much more about receiving than giving.

Christmas is about receiving the gift of Jesus. It’s humbling. But it’s amazing too. 

Will you admit your present doesn’t cut it? 

Will you turn towards the generous gift-giving God of the Bible? 

Will you humbly accept the gift of Jesus this Christmas?