Giving

By Brad Henderson

It was always about giving. Even when the wise men arrived bearing gold, frankincense and myrrh for Jesus, we perhaps should have realized that ultimately, this toddler, now of Nazareth, would in time give us the gifts.

From the wonderful, but belated, perspective of hindsight, we read the stillwondrous Story and understand that the life of Jesus was ultimately about the gift of himself. The days and weeks (eventually years) traversing the ancient land of Israel in search of the people he came to serve; the signs and wonders offered not as a magic show, but as an expression of God’s love for his children; the intimate washing of the disciples’ feet in the last days, the offering of his body to the executioner’s scourge and nails. His life was always a gift to those he would call his “friends”: you and me. (John 15:15)

Paul recognized this amazing and marvelous gift when he says in his letter to the church at Philippi: “he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ” That phrase, “made himself nothing” is a wonderful word image and can best be likened to the pouring out of a pitcher of water. In other words, Paul is telling us that Jesus poured himself out completely in his incarnation, in his living and teaching, and in his suffering and death, the crucifixion.

For you.

For me.

For all of God’s children.

Even the ones who would misunderstand him, betray him, cry against him, murder him.

Perhaps, more than Christmas, Holy Week is the time to give thanks for the Gift.