Romans 8:32

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Christmas is a celebration that God gave.

Gifts always say something.

Gifts can express and carry the heart of the giver.

Christmas is a season that started with this simple truth: On the first Christmas, God gave.

When God gave Jesus He broke the bank.

He did not give silver and gold, nor did He send a lesser gift. He gave His Only-Begotten Son. The choicest jewel of heaven was placed in the rough hands of earth. All that God had to give, He gave in Christ... Never say God does not love, for He gave His Son, and in Him, gave all.

— Charles Spurgeon

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son

Three realities that will shape the way you see Christmas forever, based on the gift of Jesus:

1. Jesus Is a Surprising Gift

Isaiah 53:2

For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.

John 1:10–11

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

Most people don't reject Jesus because they've truly met Him, they reject the version of Him they didn't expect.

Jesus came to deal with something deeper and bigger than political oppression; He came to deal with sin.

The real gift of Christmas is not a better version of your old life, it's a brand-new life.

2 Corinthians 5:17

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

2. Jesus Is a Humbling Gift

Gifts can say something, and sometimes that something is hard to hear!

Romans 8:32

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all...

God sent you a Savior.

The gift of Jesus says: You needed saving.

Matthew 1:21

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

The name "Jesus" itself declares our insufficiency.

You cannot receive a Savior until you admit that you need one.

John 1:16

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

We're not enough, but "grace upon grace" means, if we have Jesus, we are drawing from Christ's fullness; so through Jesus, we're overflowing with enough.

3. Jesus Is the Most Valuable Gift

The greatness of a gift is determined by two things: 1. What it cost the giver. 2. How deeply it meets the need.

Romans 8:32

He who did not spare his own Son

God held nothing back!

Scripture makes it very clear, apart from Jesus:

• we were lost (Luke 19:10)

• we were separated from God (Isaiah 59:2)

• we were slaves (Romans 6:17)

• we stood condemned (Romans 5:18)

• we were broken beyond self-repair (Jeremiah 17:9)

• we were darkness (Ephesians 5:8)

• we were dead in our sin (Ephesians 2:1)

Romans 8:32

...gave him up for us all.

"Gave Him up" — Paredōken — God knowingly and willingly handed Jesus over to suffering and death.

"He gave Him up" means God exhausted His resources for our redemption.

— Tim Keller

John 1:5

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Jesus stepped into our darkness and defeated it.