A UNIQUE GIFT

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)

When I was about eleven or twelve years old, I remember receiving a wind-up tractor with rubber tracks for Christmas. For a young boy, it was a memorable gift. The tractor rolled over the village houses, the fences surrounding the houses, and the presents under the tree. Nothing could stand in its path. I still fondly remember that gift. What gift do you remember from a Christmas past? Truly, the most unique and by far the most important and memorable gift is the gift God gave. That's why we celebrate Christmas. It wasn't just any old gift. It was truly special. A gift that cost God dearly, the gift of His Son. During this Christmas season, let's consider again the uniqueness of this gift:

GOD'S GIFT OF AN ONLY-SON
"she shall bring forth a Son"
Jesus was born of Mary, a virgin. Born of the Holy Spirit, He is God's Son, given to us, for our salvation. Jesus was God in flesh, "In Him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Col 2:9). The God-man. Unique in His person and in His mission. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.." (John 1:1,14) Jesus Christ was God Himself, manifest in the flesh. "God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

GOD'S GIFT OF AN ONLY-SAVIOR
"thou shalt call His name Jesus. He shall save His people.."
Jesus is also unique in His purpose for coming. He came to save. Jesus said, "For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10). Again He said, "I am come that they might have life, and they might have it more abundant" (John 10:10). Many today look to Jesus as just a great teacher, or example, a help and guide. But, He is much more. He is the Savior. The greatest problem in the world is the sin problem. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23). Sin separates from God. The only solution to sin is death, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom 6:23). God, in love, sent His Son, Jesus, to take our place, and pay our penalty for our sin.

GOD'S GIFT OF AN ONLY SIN-SACRIFICE
"He shall save His people from their sins"
There is only one way of dealing with sin, and that is through sacrifice. The only sacrifice acceptable to God, for the removal of sins, is a perfect sinless sacrifice. In order to save us, Jesus became our sin-bearer. He alone was able, because He alone was righteous. Paul, referring to Jesus said, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Cor 5:21). No other sacrifice will ever be acceptable to God. "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12). Jesus came to be a sin-sacrifice for us. Are you rejoicing in sins forgiven? Have you asked Jesus to be your sin-bearer?

Many this year will spend hours and hours looking for that certain gift for someone special. Yet most of those gifts will soon be yesterday's memories, just like a wind-up tractor with rubber tracks. As we celebrate Christmas this year, let's be mindful of the gift that lasts. The Someone special who came to us, the unique gift of God, Jesus. The gift that continues into eternity. "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."(2 Cor 9:15).