Maybe you have been asked or have asked the question. “What do you want for Christmas?” That inquiry comes from curious grandparents or clueless husbands. The pressure is on now that we are in the single digits before December 25th.
That gives you the opportunity to fill in the blank—often with dreams. “All I want for Christmas is ______ . (I am sorry if that brought to mind a Christmas song—either the sappy one about a certain individual who is far away for the holiday or the silly one about two pearly whites that are recently gone from the mouth. I hope that you can get either one of those unstuck from your brain before noon.)
I am not going to question my parents’ generosity. But they often turned Christmas from “wish-based” to “need-based.” “All you need for Christmas is _____ .” Usually that included socks. Those were necessary. I understand. Just not a priority for wrapping paper. At least in my mind.
It actually doesn’t matter what is under the tree this year. But it is absolutely critical who was in the manger long ago. Christ is all you need for Christmas because of what he expresses and because of what he exchanges. We read from …
Isaiah 61:1-3
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, the Servant of the Lord and the Savior of the World,
And then there are those who are difficult. You try to enlist their help with the problem of a Christmas present or presents. “What do you want, or even need, for Christmas?” Our desire is to give. And they respond with, “Nothing.” Is that really true? Or is that just trite? Is that what they are expecting? Nothing?
I am guessing that you could go google: “What do you get the person who has everything?” You might get some ideas from various websites. According to them, they don’t have everything. They need at least one more thing from you.
We don’t have to consult what the internet has to suggest. We can consider Isaiah has to say. And then we conclude …
Christ Is All You Need for Christmas
1. Because of what he expresses (1,2)
2. Because of what he exchanges (3)
1. Because of what he expresses (1,2)
The excitement builds when someone tells us, “I have a present for you in 8 days.” We wonder, “What is it?” 700 years before Jesus, Isaiah quotes the Christ. He has something essential for you. Christ is all you need for Christmas because of what he expresses.
We don’t have to speculate who is speaking. Jesus clears it up for us. It happened after 7 centuries of waiting. Jesus headed to Nazareth. It was the Sabbath Day, Saturday, and he went to worship. In the synagogue, he was handed the scroll of the prophet to read. He turned to this very prophecy and then told them plainly: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Lk 4:21). In other words, “Your ears are hearing it. This is about me. I am the fulfillment.” That announcement was alarming to them. But it is amazing for us. Knowing that makes this section noteworthy because of what the Christ contends.
Jesus was not self-chosen. He was handpicked. “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me because the LORD has anointed me” (Is 61:1). The God of endless might and the God of changeless mercy selected him. It was at Jesus’ baptism that the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove and the Father declared: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Mt 3:16,17). It was then that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power” (Acts 10:38).
In the Old Testament, prophets were anointed into their office—appointed for their work. So was Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ—both of those titles signify, “the Anointed One.” Jesus carried out his work as a prophet—one who speaks God’s Word to God’s people. That is apparent from what he announces:
“The LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor” (Is 61:1). He has news, good news—gospel, to publicize. He does it to those who realize that they are broke, not financially, but spiritually. They realize that they have nothing to offer to God like a beggar—to bribe him or buy him off (Mt 5:3). But a Savior has been born to us and for us—Christ the Lord (Lk 2:11). He died on the cross and defeated the devil. He was victorious and gives that victory to us (1 Co 15:57). Sin no longer can trouble us and Satan no more can torment us. There is no better news for us. Christ is all you need.
“He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted” (Is 61:1). God dispatched Jesus on an official mission. He bandages our weak and wounded hearts like a mommy does when her son gets rug burn on his knees. (Next time he shouldn’t play football in the living room.) Jesus picked up the weight of our sin and put it on himself and paid for it all. Our hearts are no longer crushed, but cleansed. We hear that encouragement often: “Go in peace.” Christ is all you need.
“To proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners” (Is 61:1). The Babylonians would one day swoop down and carry them off to captivity because of their idolatry. But they would not rot there because the Lord would rescue them.
But there is more. Much more than that. Satan held us as a prisoner of war. But Jesus holds out the light of salvation. It was John the Baptist who pointed to that light. As John the evangelist reported: “He [that is, John the Baptist] came as a witness to testify concerning that light [that is, Jesus], so that through him all men might believe” (Jn 1:7). Christ is all you need.
“To proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God” (Is 61:2). Those who reject him, the Lord will remove them from his presence forever (Mt 25:41).
But the Lord is full of love (Ex 34:5-7). God pictured that in a powerful way in the Old Testament. Every 50th year on the calendar was the “Year of Jubilee.” That was when the farmers were not to plant and the land was to revert to its original owner. All slaves were freed and debts canceled (Lv 25:8-55). That is what God has done for us. Because of Jesus’ death, the Lord has wiped away all of our sins. Christ is all you need.
“To comfort all who mourn” (Is 61:2). God wipes away our tears on earth and will do that in eternity (Mt 5:4; Re 7:17; 21:4). That is because things like despair or even death will no longer be a part of life when Jesus comes again. Christ is all you need.
At Christmas we who need so much get so much. Christ is all you need for Christmas because of what he expresses—the good news that he bandages our busted hearts with freedom from our sin. Tears of sorrow turn to tears of joy.
2. Because of what he exchanges (3)
On December 26th people traipse to the store because the sweater is the wrong kind or the shirt is the wrong color. They find something that is their style or size. Some thoughtful individuals wrap the receipt in the box to make that process of a swap or a switch a whole lot easier. Isaiah shares a similar concept. Christ is all you need for Christmas because of what he exchanges.
Isaiah instructs us about that being part of Christ’s work to “provide for those who grieve in Zion” (Is 61:3). That is because of what is traded. And it is not like Christmas when I was growing up. My siblings and I would exchange names so that we only had to buy one present and not three. (I have been frugal for a long time.) My two brothers and I never wanted to draw my sister’s name. Who knows what to get a girl? (Still one of my problems.) She didn’t like football cards. Jesus doesn’t have that issue. He knows exactly what to replace with what.
“to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes” (Is 61:3). Ashes were a symbol of distress. A turban was a mark of delight. That is what we wear.
“the oil of gladness instead of mourning” (Is 61:3). A person would pour on oil on happy occasions like we spray on perfume or cologne for a date (Ps 23:5). That should not bring about any weeping. Water no longer runs down our faces.
“a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Is 61:3). It is like donning a black tuxedo or a formal gown. Those are festive garments and not for when there is fear. We dress ourselves like that.
Christ is all you need for Christmas because of those great exchanges. He became sin for us so that we would be right with God (2 Co 5:21). And we are.
And Isaiah highlights that result. “They will be called oaks of righteousness” (Is 61:3). In a sense, we could compare it to the evergreen tree in your family room. It is an image of strength and stability. Everything is in line or in order between us and God. We are not feeble, but firm. The Lord answers the prayer of the psalmist: “Deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me” (Ps 71:2). And he does.
And he gets the credit. We are “a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor” (is 61:3). The angels had it right: “Glory to God in the highest” (Lk 2:14). We repeat it too. Christ is all you need for Christmas because of what he exchanges—happiness instead of sadness. We can be what Paul commands: “Be joyful always” (1 Thess 5:16)—at Christmas and at Christ’s return. We are blameless this day and that day. God will keep us that way because he is faithful (1 Thess 5:23,24).
What you want for Christmas is one thing. What you need for Christmas is another. Christ is all you need for Christ because of what he expresses—there is forgiveness—and because of what he exchanges—there is enjoyment in place of misery. And we have Christ. Then we do have everything. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you (1 Thess 5:28). Amen.
December 17, 2017
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