The greatest gift ever given.

Its Christmas time once again and families are busy in buying gifts for their loved one. Time for the Christmas tree and hanging lights around the house. A time for Santa and Ruddoff the red nosed reindeer. A time of joy and excitement for children as they wonder about the gifts that are under the tree. A time of delight as parents watch their children open their gifts on Christmas Day.

There is a family that will bake a cake and on Christmas Day their family will sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. Then the father will read from the Book of Luke the story of Jesus and his birth. They may have their lights all hung around their house and their Christmas Tree looking beautifully, but they have never taken the Lord Jesus

Christ out of Christmas.

Christmas is more than just a day to remember the birth of Jesus. It is the time that we should all remember that God gave to humanity the greatest gift that anyone could receive. God gave us JESUS. And Jesus went from the manger to the cross.

Just as the song goes, “From the manger to the cross, rugged cross of Calvary. The road that Jesus walked for you and me, all alone. By this world forsaken till He shed His blood for me. From the manger to the cross the rugged cross of Calvary. The story in the bible it's a message sad, but true. The life our Savior lived on earth is told. Found upon the pages of the Master's book of truth and every word so precious to my soul. No earthly treasures did He own, He sought no wealth or fame. Weary was the path He had to trod. Here He suffered many things, for this world knew him not.”

A gift that was given and a world that is rejecting that precious gift from God. In John 3:16-18, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”. Luke 2:11-14, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”. Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”.

King Herod could not destroy Him. Death could not hold Him. That child from the manger, that man from the cross, and a tomb that was empty, He is the one that was born as the Lamb of God.

When you celebrate Christmas, which is a day set aside to honor and remember the Birth of Jesus, then remember that Jesus went from the Manger to the Cross.