What is the first thing for you that signals that Christmas is almost here? For some of you maybe it’s the Christmas music that is played on the radio. And when those Christmas songs are on the air you get in the Christmas spirit and can’t wait to sing along with your favorite tunes. For others, maybe it’s the first frost or first flakes of snow. When a few weeks ago we got our first snowflakes, I couldn’t help but think about the holiday of Christmas that was fast approaching. Maybe for others it’s baking, especially baking Christmas cookies. And when you get the cookie cutters and the decorations out then you feel like Christmas is here. Maybe for others it’s Black Friday or Cyber Monday or whatever you want to call it. But it’s the Christmas shopping that makes you feel like Christmas has arrived and as you check items off your list then you know that Christmas is finally here. But there is one thing that seems to be universal to most families that signifies the arrival of Christmas. And that is putting up the Christmas tree.
Often when I talk to people about their preparations for Christmas you can tell that putting up their Christmas tree is a large part of their traditions and celebrations. Often people wait until the whole family is together to put a tree up. Sometimes people have multiple trees that they put up and decorate with different themes for each tree – one with special ornaments, one with ornaments the kids have made, that sort of thing. Some people have a special place where they store their same tree that they use every year and other people just have to buy a real tree each year to make it feel like a real Christmas. Whatever the traditions are it seems like most families have established some sort of a tradition when it comes to preparing for Christmas and a Christmas tree is a large part of it.
While my family hasn’t really established a specific time or way that we decorate our tree yet, I remember well the traditions that my family had growing up. Every year it would be the same. Fairly early in the morning on the day after Thanksgiving we’d drive out to the Christmas tree farm to pick out our tree. My brother and I would always try talking my parents into buying a bigger tree, one just maybe a foot taller than last year, always trying to push the limits of what would fit in our open staircase. Then after we got the tree set up in place and tied securely so it wouldn’t fall, then we would call my grandparents in. Both my grandmas would always sit in the same chair unwrapping the ornaments one by one and handing them to my parents and my brother and I. My brother and I would take turns standing on the ladder and reaching from the stairs. There were always a few ornaments that we were always in a “competition” for and if we got to hang the majority of them this year, well then we won so to speak.
I wonder how long these kinds of traditions have been going on. For how long have families like mine been doing the same thing over and over preparing for our Savior’s birth. Most people say it has been centuries that people have been using Christmas trees to celebrate the birth of Jesus. And it wasn’t only for Christians at first though it certainly became that way as time went on. Many historians actually say that Martin Luther was the first one to put lights on a Christmas tree. That when he was coming home one day from working on a sermon he had seen all those beautiful stars in the sky and he wanted to share that with his family and so he put them lighted candles on the tree.
No matter what the history of the Christmas tree is, no matter what traditions you might have about how you decorate your tree for Christmas, the feeling is just about the same. You can’t help but look at a Christmas tree and feel happy. You are happy and pleased when the tree is finally up and decorated. You are happy when you see the tree with all the presents underneath. I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like a good tree.
But how different is that from what the verses we read today say about a tree – “Anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse.” And when we think about the things that we hang from the tree the ornaments and the lights, we think about things that we love and admire, but how different is that than the people that hang on the tree. The worst sort of curse, the worst sort of punishment in the way to die.
It’s kind of like how Joseph must have felt at coming to find out Mary was pregnant. Usually the news of a pregnancy is met with joy, but not for Joseph knowing that he had never been with Mary. But then renewed joy at the news that his wife’s child would be the Savior of the world.
It’s not that normal to think about Jesus’ crucifixion as we prepare for our Savior’s birth, but the two really go hand in hand. Jesus was here on this earth for one reason really. And that was to be under God’s curse. That was to hang on a tree.
Just think of all the joyous sights that come to mind as we recall the birth of our Savior. Everything that we remember, everything that we read, we remember all the events with a smile on our faces. The star that shined over Jesus’ place of birth. The shepherds eagerly running to see the baby. The angels singing God’s praises from the starry sky. Even the fact that Jesus was born in a stable, though that certainly would be sure to be traumatic and stressful to actually go through that kind of event, still just think about Jesus lying in a manger, his family gathered around in a stable, still it can’t help but make you smile.
But even with the smiles that we share when we think about the birth of this baby-king, God in human flesh, it was a birth that was born in inevitability. Jesus came to this earth with a destiny. To live under the curse of God. In 2 Corinthians Paul said this very thing, “God made him, who had no sin, to be sin, for us.” And that started in that manger. Born as a man, born under the law of God, he was born to fulfill God’s demands. And he was born to pay your punishment for your sin.
And so it is only fitting to look at where this baby boy would end up only so many years later. You can look at that little baby crying in the manger so peacefully, so sweetly. But it was the same tears that Jesus cried out on the tree that he was cursed to hang on. So as you look at baby Jesus on the manger, as you look at your Savior hanging on the cross, remember those tears were for you. Jesus cried his first tears because he wasn’t willing to stay in heaven and watch you be lost. Jesus cried out on that tree and gave up his life so that the punishment that should have been yours would be gone.
And so when we see that baby in the manger this Christmas and we hear him crying at his birth, remember that was for you too. Jesus was born for you too. Even from the moment that he was named, it was clear why he was here, to save you from your sins. Jesus had a destiny from the very beginning, to save you.
And when you see him in the manger for who he truly is, you will say the same thing the centurion did. “Surely he is the Son of God!” So let that be the focus of your preparation this Advent season. Marvel at the Son of God come to live in this world for you. And speak with the same admiration of the centurion, “Surely he is the Son of God!” Surely he is my Savior!
So now when you look at a Christmas tree – you can still look at it with a smile on your face. Because even Jesus’ cross brings a smile to your face. Jesus’ suffering is over and done. He is no longer hanging on the tree. The punishment has been paid. And so we can look at the evergreen tree and see what is yours through Jesus’ tree – everlasting life won by the tree of Jesus.