The Best Christmas Present Ever

by Brian Bill
Published October 2, 2007

When I was growing up, I looked forward to opening my Christmas presents (actually, I still do now). On those special occasions when I received what I had been longing for, I was ecstatic. But, invariably, no matter how much I had wanted the gift, it eventually lost its luster, or fell apart, before New Year’s Day.

As I’ve gotten older I’ve realized that there’s one Christmas present that will never go out of style or break down. It will never fade or lose its appeal. Mary experienced this gift in a very personal way on that first Christmas, as the breath of heaven changed her life forever.

Even though Mary was favored by God and was chosen to carry the Christ of Christmas, she also needed to be forgiven by God. And it gradually began to dawn on her that God’s plan of forgiveness was wrapped up in her unusual son.

The final appearance of Mary in the Gospels occurs in a violent scene that she did not want to witness -- on a hill outside Jerusalem, watching helplessly as her first-born son who was once treated like a king, now hung on a cross like a criminal. Like many of the other Christ-followers of that time, Mary must have realized the wisdom of God’s perfect plan.

Because Jesus was born of Mary, he was fully human, and therefore could identify with our condition. Because he was conceived by God’s power apart from a husband, he was fully divine, and so could satisfy God’s holy demands. No other sacrifice could fulfill God’s desire for mercy without compromising his demand for justice.

God is reaching out to you this Christmas season, offering you the gift of new life and hope. You can accept this Christmas present by inviting Jesus to come into your life. All you need to do is confess your sins to God, receive His forgiveness, and by faith accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord. That’s the best Christmas present ever – will you receive Him today?

Viewed 133 times