The Greatest Gift

I need your help tonight. So, when I was a kid I had a hard time paying attention on Christmas Eve. Do you know why I could not pay attention? Two Words: Christmas presents!

Well, tonight I need your help with some presents. We are going to play a game. My friend, Nathan Carlson, who lives down in Birmingham, plays a similar game. Except instead of wrapping presents Nathan hides the object underneath his shirt. You will never guess what his game is called, “Guess What’s Underneath My Shirt!” Of course, I prefer “Guess What’s Underneath the Wrapping”!

I bet you might already be pretty good at this. If you look at presents underneath the Christmas tree and guess what’s under the wrapping paper you have been practicing. So, it’s pretty easy to play once I hold up an item and not before then, you guess what the present is. On the first two if you guess correctly, sadly you do not get to keep the prize, but what’s inside the third one you can keep it!

Round:

1.       What do you think is in this oddly shaped package? Is it a hat? Could it be something that belongs to a light? If you guessed a lamp shade you are correct! Hooray! 

2.       This package is round. It could be a Frisbee. Maybe it is a thick dinner plate, but what is that? What do I hear? Ticking! If you guessed it is a clock you are correct!

3.       Now what could possibly be in this third present? What is it? It just looks like a box? Anything could be in here! What do you hope is in here? A Nintendo system? A Tiffany diamond engagement ring? Keys to a new Tesla? If it could be the greatest gift of all what would it be? As we open this package we find that there is nothing in here.

Are there gifts that you cannot see? Have you ever been given a gift that you could not see? Two Christmases ago my mom gave my family and me a trip to Disney World. I could not see that trip until it happened. And, there are gifts even more amazing presents that we cannot see. 

When your mom, dad, grandparents, or sibling is really nice to you sometimes you cannot see it. When they say please or thank you they show you love. Sharing games or toys shows love. When they make sure you are warm and dry on a rainy, cold night they show you love. Love is not something you can always see. Sometimes it is something that you just know in your head, feel in your gut, or experience in your heart.

The shepherds long ago had felt something just like this. Do you know the story of the shepherds? We heard their story tonight in the reading about Jesus’ birth. I like shepherds because I could see myself as a shepherd. I bet any of you could be a shepherd too. Being a shepherd doesn’t take a fancy degree. 

Those shepherds long ago were tending their flocks one night. They were in a field caring for their sheep when something amazing happened. Angels came to tell them good news of great joy. Sure they were afraid because God’s glory startled them, but the Angel told them that the baby Jesus had been born!

God gave to the Shepherds an amazing present. They were given news of a Savior who would bring love to all people. And, they got to go meet the baby Jesus. So, they went to go see him. These lowly guys in a field that is who God choose to tell about this gift from above. Shepherds were the ones who first received the best gift ever given.

Do you know what else? The shepherds are not the only ones who receive that gift! God sent Jesus down to earth not just for the shepherds, but for all of us. At Christmas each year we remember the greatest gift every given, our Savior Jesus! Like those shepherds we are called by the messengers of God to go and see Jesus lying in the manger with his mother Mary and father Joseph. We are to celebrate with great joy like those shepherds that God came down to be with us. And, we, like them, are to go and tell that Good News to other people too!

You will most likely get some wonderful gifts tomorrow or maybe even tonight. But, you have already received the best gift of all: A Savior who came down to love us, to show us God’s love, and to bring us closer to God! We may not be able to see it, but believe that God loves you always and forever! Amen.