Legos Are A Dead Giveaway

Have you ever given or received legos as a Christmas gift? There’s no disguising them. The clatter of the pieces inside is a dead giveaway. The gift of Jesus at Christmas is like a gift that can be immediately identified as legos.

When Adam and Eve sinned, God promised them a Savior that would come from woman and break the serpent’s head. Then down through the ages more and more information was given about the Messiah that was going to come. They knew the gift that was coming, they were given the information of where and when he would be born. They were told he’d be born of a virgin, and from the tribe of Judah. They were given enough details to positively identify that the Messiah had indeed come.

It’s like the legos under the tree. Maybe you don’t know what set it is, but it’s a distinctive sound. They didn’t know every detail, but they knew a Messiah was coming who would save them.

And like a kid thrilled to receive legos, the gift of Jesus is no less sweet because we expected him.

But did you know that there was a second gift? One that couldn’t be identified by shaking the box? A mystery gift, that was wrapped by God before Creation, before Man sinned?

In 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 Paul refers to this gift as a mystery, and he says none of the rulers of this age knew about this gift, they didn’t understand. If they’d truly understood what God has said, they would not have killed Jesus.

No one had seen or heard of this gift that was coming. No one even knew that it was possible. But because God loves us, he gave us this gift.

Have you ever been given a Christmas gift that was just perfect?

It wasn’t something you hadn’t thought to ask for, maybe you didn’t even know the thing existed, but you open it and you’re just thrilled. It’s perfect. It’s fun to receive a gift like that because it makes us feel seen and known and loved.

1 Corinthians 2:9 says Eye has not seen or ear heard not has entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him. This mystery gift that God gave is like that.

But this gift isn’t a mystery anymore! We’ve opened it!

Verse 10, But God has revealed them (the mystery) to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

So what was the gift? The secret mystery gift was that the Holy Spirit was going to come and live inside of believers forever. No Old Testament Israelite even dreamed that this could be possible. A few select people in the Old Testament got the Holy Spirit for certain periods of time. But for the Holy Spirit being given to anyone who believed, forever? That was more than they could have imagined.

John 14:16-17 says And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.Then in verse 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

And John 16:7 says Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

Jesus told his disciples that he had to go away so that another Comforter, The Holy Spirit would come.

The term Emmanuel, which means God with Us, is used all the time at Christmas. As it should, it’s from Isaiah 7:14 which prophesies the birth of Jesus, but for us believers today, “God With Us” happens through the Holy Spirit. He is the One who lives in us, who guides us, who directs us, He Comforts us, He empowers us to do God’s will and ultimately, He gives us the Mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).

Jesus dwelling among us was temporary; but the Holy Spirit dwelling among us is permanent.

So when you think of the gifts God gave this Christmas, I hope you’ll remember that there are actually two gifts, the expected gift, and the mystery gift, and be thankful for both of them. Thank God not only that he sent His Son Jesus to be born as a man and die for our sins, but also for leaving His Holy Spirit here to help us as we serve and love him.