The Surprise Package Under The Tree

1 Timothy 3:14-16

(Hymn on Christ’s Adoration)

14I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, 15so that if I can’t come for a while, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and support of the truth.

16Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith:

Christ appeared in the flesh

and was shown to be righteous by the Spirit.

He was seen by angels

and was announced to the nations.

He was believed on in the world

and was taken up into heaven.

Psalm Link

Psalm 72:19

Bless his glorious name forever!

Let the whole earth be filled with his glory.

Amen and amen!

At Christmas do you ever try to guess what’s in the packages under the tree? Surely you’ve learned by now that the size of the package can be very misleading. A diamond ring doesn’t require a big box.

This early Christian hymn depicts Jesus as a surprise package, the “mystery of our faith.” He came as a humble babe in a poor manger—not a very impressive package on the outside. He lived 90 percent of his life in Nazareth in the home of a carpenter. His ministry was among humble folk; his first disciples were fishermen.

Then the package opens, or rather, explodes with surprises. The Holy Spirit witnesses to Jesus’ righteousness at his baptism. Filled with the Spirit’s power, Jesus performs great miracles. After his crucifixion, he is raised by the Spirit, and angels witness his resurrection.

But there’s more. Jesus’ small band of frightened followers carries the gospel to the ends of the world, and people of every tribe and nation begin to worship him. One day all of creation will give him glory.

Don’t make the mistake of misjudging that little surprise package in the manger!

Who is he in yonder stall, at whose feet the shepherd’s fall?

Who is he in deep distress, fasting in the wilderness?

Who is he on yonder tree dies in grief and agony?

Who is he that from his throne rules through all the world alone?

‘Tis the Lord! O wondrous story! ‘Tis the Lord! the King of glory!

At his feet we humbly fall, crown him, crown him Lord of all!

BENJAMIN HANBY

Bible Networking

For more on the angels’ involvement in what was happening, see Matthew 28:2-7; Luke 2:9-15; and Acts 1:10-11.

Notable Quotable

“After Jesus died, the number of his followers was one hundred and twenty. All that his followers had to offer was the story of a Galilean carpenter. And yet before seventy years had passed, that story had gone out to the ends of the earth, and men of every nation accepted Jesus as Lord.”

WILLIAM BARCLAY