“…while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.” Clement Clarke Moore’s words capture so succinctly the anticipation that children. especially, feel about Christmas. Anticipation for Christmas dates back over 2,000 years to a small corner of the Roman Empire, where many of God’s people, the Jews, eagerly awaited the appearing of their Messiah. Why there was so much anticipation back then and what we can anticipate today as a result of the first Christmas will be our theme in this message.

Christmas is filled with wonder for children. Even those of us who are older enjoy seeing in person the tree at Rockefeller Center or a house all decorated with beautiful lights for the Christmas season. The first Christmas was a night of wonders befitting the person who was born that night. The wonders associated with Jesus didn’t end that night. In fact, there is one wonder that we can experience today because that first night of wonders happened.

Gift-giving has been a practice at Christmas ever since the Magi brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the young boy Jesus. However, their’s were not the first Christmas gifts, nor were they the first gift-givers at Christmas. As our scripture tells us today, God was the first Christmas gift-giver, and his Son was the first Christmas gift. Just why God gave his son and the difference his gift can make to us is our focus in this message.

The first Christmas gift dates to well before the visit of the Magi to the young boy, Jesus. In fact, it dates back in the mind and intention of God to creation itself. This Christmas gift is one we all need and it is free, but it will never benefit us until we receive it. What is it? How do we receive it? That’s what this message explains.