Better than Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals

The gift that costs the least but means the most

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Black Friday, Cyber Monday, oh what a ploy!
All to tempt people to buy Christmas joy.
People are putting up their decorations,
though many are dreading holiday celebrations.

Children anticipate a jolly man with some gifts,
but do they know why this special day exists?
We often count blessings by dollars and friends,
but the gift that costs least is the one with no end.

So put up your tree, no do not delay,
For soon we will gather for Christmas day.
Yet do not forget this one thing that’s true,
This day is about One who gives life to you!

Far in the east was born a small babe,
And when He was grown, His life He gave;
To rid you of sin, and make your heart new.
This is the story I bring unto you.

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What better way to lead into a story about Christmas than with some (bad) poetry? People often lament how commercialized Christmas has become. With notices of sales beginning earlier each year, and decorations going up in stores, many even before Halloween, is it any wonder? Most rarely take note of why we should be celebrating, and many miss the depth of the biblical passages that declare the glory of this time, as much is often lost in translation.

This is the time of year nativity scenes abound, we hear often the story of the birth of Jesus Christ as told in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, and we are reminded of the advent of  Emmanuel, "God with us." Those two New Testament books say much of that child laid in the manger; nevertheless, instead of these, I’d like to discuss a single verse that, while using few words, paints a picture worth more than a thousand.

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." - John 1:14

Though this verse is not generally thought of as a Christmas verse, it, perhaps more than any other, encapsulates in its brevity what Christmas really is all about. The profundity of this simple verse, used regularly as evidence of the deity of the Christ, is often very much underestimated. What do I mean? Follow along.

John wrote his gospel primarily to The Jews, a people with a robust history of which they were very familiar. John knew this and was able to tailor his imagery to the purpose of stirring their hearts. For this reason, John used a particular word in this verse, the Greek word often translated in English as "dwelt." There is much more to this word, however, than meets the modern eye.

This word we read as "dwelt" in the English is the Greek word, "εσκηνωσεν" (eskenosen - es-kay-nō-sen). The root of this word is "σκηνη" (skene/skay-nay - τη σκηνη {te skene} with the definite article). What is so special about this word? A little history will help our understanding.

In the third century B.C., seventy-two scholars undertook the task of translating the Old Testament scriptures from Hebrew to Greek. Because of the number of translators, this work has come to be known as the Septuagint. In the New Testament, more often than not, when Jesus quoted the Scriptures, his quotes came directly from the Septuagint. In the Septuagint, "te skene" referred to the tabernacle. This word is used in reference to the “tabernacle” elsewhere in the New Testament as well. Why is this important?

Early in the history of the tribes of Israel, God had saved the Israelites from the Egyptians who pursued them, bringing them on dry land through the Red Sea which shortly after swallowed the Egyptian armies. Following this, while they were wandering in the desert, God gave Moses the plans for the tabernacle. The Israelites constructed the tabernacle according to God's precise instruction. God then directed the sons of Israel to set up their tents around the tabernacle:

Now the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, “The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ households; they shall camp around the tent of meeting at a distance. Now those who camp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah…Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar…Then comes the tribe of Zebulun…

“On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben…Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon…Then comes the tribe of Gad…

“On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim…Next to him shall be the tribe of Manasseh…Then comes the tribe of Benjamin…

“On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan…Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher…Then comes the tribe of Naphtali…

Numbers 2:1-31 (NASB)

The twelve tribes encamped around the tabernacle, three on the east, three on the south, three on the west, and three on the north. The tabernacle would be in the middle of their encampments, quite literally at the center of their lives. Not only was the tabernacle at the center of their lives, but there God's presence rested visibly amongst them: "For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel." - Exodus 40:38 (NASB)

Consider what that was like for the Hebrews: God was literally dwelling, visibly, among them in the tabernacle. He was in their midst. God truly was “with them.” This continued as long as the Israelites wandered. Only after the sons of Israel were established in their own land, and the temple was built, did God’s visible presence depart.

Fast-forward to the Gospel of John. The tribes of Israel, rather than having their own land, are dispersed among the gentiles. They knew the promises of God, and did have expectation that one day God would return to once again establish His kingdom. Here the apostle tells the Jews that this Word-become-flesh "tabernacled" among them. Imagine now the picture this would evoke in the mind of a Jew familiar with the history? Ponder the emotion such a statement would generate for those to whom John wrote. Once again God had come to live among His people, and this time, in a much more personal way. Instead of a pillar of fire or smoke rising up from a tent, God was walking among them in human form.

For the Jews to whom John penned his gospel, the idea of "God with us" struck much more of a chord than the English with which we are familiar. He had come once again to live among His people and to save them, only this time instead of saving them from an earthly foe like the Egyptians, He would save them from their sin. As John the Baptist is later in the chapter recorded as saying of Jesus, “‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” (Jn. 1:29). This is the one at whose arrival the angel said to the shepherds, “‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord’” (Lk. 2:10).

There is nothing at all wrong about gathering with family, sharing meals and stories, and giving gifts. Let us not forget, however, that most amazing gift of all, the gift God gave us in Jesus, “God with us,” who came as a sacrifice to free us from our bondage to sin and to reconcile us with God. We have no greater cause for celebration than the free gift of salvation that comes by faith in Jesus Christ: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). Enjoy your presents, enjoy your family, and most importantly, enjoy the peace of Christ this Christmas.