Audio Length: 37:20

Opening Scripture: Matthew 1:18-23 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with Child of the Holy Ghost.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Behold, a virgin shall be with Child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Why do we celebrate Christmas the way we do? We get a pine tree, decorate it. Put gifts underneath it, but why? It’s simply a reminder what Christmas is all about. It all points to Jesus Christ and He is literally the reason for the season. Observe:

The Tree

is a symbol, a representation of the cross. Jesus Christ died on the cross to save His people from their sins, Acts 5:30 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom, ye slew and hanged on a tree.” Prophets of old testifies this fact about the Lord Jesus Christ hundreds of years before His birth

Isaiah 53:6-12 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth:

He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation?

for He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of My people was He stricken. And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

The Ornaments

represents the beauty of Jesus Christ, adorned with power and authority. Symbolizing also the beauty of the Gospel Message of salvation in Jesus Christ.

The whole point of Jesus Christ coming here on earth is to redeem man (humanity) from their sins. From the penalty and wages of sins. From the bondage and slavery of sins for those who believe.

Reconciled us to the Father in order to have a real relationship with God. To cleanse us from all unrighteousness and make us righteous through the washing of His blood in order to be filled with God’s Holy Spirit and be completely a new creation (Romans 5).

  • He first descended from His thrown as the Messiah (Ephesians 4:7-10)
  • and became the likeness of man, yet without sin (Philippians 2:5-11)
  • Laid His life down as a sacrificial Lamb for the remission of sins (John 10:17-18)
  • Raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:12-23)
  • and ascended back into heaven and sits at God our Father’s right hand (Acts 1:1-11)

The Gifts

which are a symbol, a visual reminder of Jesus Christ giving of Himself. Laying down His life for the ransom of many. Paying the debt that no one could pay to redeem believers from the penalty and bondage of sin and death.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son was given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The gifts also represents the giving of ourselves to Christ (gift exchange), making an eternal covenant with God through Jesus Christ with our mind, our eyes, our lips, our ears, our tongue, our whole bodies, our full heart and soul.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And do not be conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of our minds, that ye may prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The opening of the gifts represents the opening of Jesus Christ. The ripping and the tearing of His flesh, in order to receive the greatest gift of all, His blood (the gift of cleansing, the gift of eternal life and the forgiveness of all past sins, rebellions and wickedness)

7 Things Jesus Went through To Give Us Eternal Life

• Betrayed by His own (Matthew 26:47-56)
• Beaten (Matthew 26:65-68)
• Rejected (Matthew 26:74-75)
• Whipped (Matthew 27:25-26)
• Mocked (Matthew 27:27-31)
• Crucified (Matthew 27:32-56)
• Raised from the dead and ascended back into heaven (Matthew 28)

Ephesians 1:7-9 In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;

Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself:

He also went through all this to give us the gift of the Holy Spirit

Mark 14:1-9 After two days was the feast of the Passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by craft, and put Him to death. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.

And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on His head.

And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor.

And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on Me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but Me ye have not always.

She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint My body to the burying.

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.’

The Candy Cane

is in the shape of the Shepherd’s crook (Psalm 23). Upside down is the letter “J” which is a visual reminder of His name that is above all other names. The white stripe represents: purity and perfection of Jesus Christ

1 Peter 2:21-23 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps:

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously:

The red stripe represents: torment and the brutality He had to suffer

1 Peter 2:24-25 Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” (Isaiah 53:1-5)

Also represents the promises in His blood

Romans 5:8-11 But God commandeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being saved by His life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

The bitter-sweet flavor of the candy cane represents the bitter death and the sweet victory and simplicity of His Gospel message.

The Star

is a representation of Jesus Christ as The crowned King of Glory. The King above all kings and Lord above all lords

Revelation 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.

His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.  

And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron:

and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, King Of kings, And Lord Of lords.

He is also literally know as The Bright and Morning Star

Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I Am the Root and the offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star.

Also a visual reminder that Jesus Christ is The all powerful Christ who is above all and has risen from the dead and is alive forever more. For the star rests on top of the (evergreen) tree.

All this started by the perfect will of God His Father, by the seed of God the Holy Spirit planted in Marry to give birth to God’s only begotten Son as a gift of salvation to all humanity who believes on Jesus Christ, and are willing to give themselves completely to God in repentance. All this started 2000+ years ago around this day we call Christmas, honoring Emanuel: “God with us”

“For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given“