"What did you get for Christmas?"

When I was young, this was the most common greeting shared between kids. I can still remember some of the gifts I received; a 1959 Chevrolet Impala model car, a Daisy Air Rifle, a red bicycle, and a single-shot 20 gauge shotgun that kicked like a mule. Why do we give gifts, anyway? I'm certain there are thousands of different explanations of when and how the practice of giving and/or exchanging gifts began, but for me, I still prefer the one I learned as a kid. In fact, the explanation has turned into a basis of faith for me. I'll try to give you the 'short version'.

Some 2700 years ago, a Hebrew prophet named Isaiah wrote down some important things about Israel-some was good news…some wasn't. His writing is known today as the Old Testament book of Isaiah. He opened with the bad news-a commentary on the spiritual condition of his people at the time;

"They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him." (1:4) "The Lord says: 'These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish." (29:13-14)

Apparently, the people were only giving lip service to their faith in God, relying more on their own wisdom and intelligence than on God. God was not pleased with their new 'enlightened position' on what to believe about him.

This was the bad news-what about the good…and the gifts? God planned to send to the Hebrews 'The Servant of the Lord' to end their estrangement from him. When God instructed Isaiah to record this good news, He added an interesting twist-it wasn't just for the Hebrews! God told His Servant;

"It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth." (49:6)

Who was the Servant? Isaiah was given 'clues' to his identity that would take over 700 years to be uncovered;

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (7:14) "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering." (53:3) "But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. …the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (53:5,6) "Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer…" (53:10) "…by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities."

Who was the servant? Was it Jesus Christ? How does this relate to the practice of giving gifts? Remember the man in the end zone of NFL games holding up a sign that read John 3:16? His sign referred to a verse in the New Testament in which Jesus answered the question:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

God gave his son. Jesus claimed to be the gift. But a gift isn't a gift until someone receives it.

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-" (John 1:12)

Those who receive his Son, God gave the right to become children of God. Because God gave his Son, Jesus Christ, we also give gifts today. That's what I was told as a child.

So, what do I believe today? I've thought about it a few thousand times and I still come up with the same answer. I believe Jesus Christ is God's gift to the world…to any who will receive him. I also believe God will ask everyone in the world what they did with the gift He sent. I will gladly tell God…and you…I received him. What will you say?

If the account I have given here is not true, it won't matter.