The Greatest Gift Ever Given

 

The Greatest Gift Ever Given

Leviticus 3:5 “And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.6 And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the Lord be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.”

     It is better to give than receive.  God knows that. He wrote it.  Quite often what you get back is greater than what is initially given.  Surely a blessing we receive from Him who sees all things done in secret.  But what if the giving were done openly, with great announcements?  Would that invalidate the reward?  Not in this case.

     Christmas is a time of mutual giving when we tangibly show others how special they are to us.  Not a bad holiday.  Sometimes the proof has got to be in the pudding.  What we work with our hands can create a picture showing our affections.  A gift in wrapping keeps one’s attention until that unveiling day.  Christ knew the power of giving.

      Not to rehearse the morbid story again, but things changed with God when Adam made his choice.  A perfect relationship came under fire.  God lost His son.  Tension on the string threatened to snap altogether if it wasn’t for Noah’s generations keeping themselves perfectly.  He found grace in God’s eyes, and He relented from destroying all of Mankind.  The hurt was that great and called for drastic action.  His holiness could not abide with Man.  Man hurt man.  Man hurt God.  God could stand it no longer.  If not for the undeniable nature of God, We would be no more.  God chose grace.

     Peace we lost with God.  The sacrificial system did not remit the entirety of Mankind’s sins.  God could only come so close.  No longer could He hold a creature He had specially created.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

     We all know God’s gift to the world was Jesus the peace offering to take away our spiritual suffering.  God wanted Us to be at rest, so He provided the Way of reconciliation.  A great Gift came down from Heaven but what did we give back?  Sanctified souls worshipping Him forever?  God did not need this.

     God needed resolution.  A discordant chord struck back in the Garden haunted the halls of His conscience.  Great angelic anthems marched across Heaven with His praise held high, but Man played no part.  A ransomed multitude from every tribe, tongue, and people could care less.  With God’s offer of intimacy thwarted, His soul stressed beyond belief for God is love.

     Jesus, His Son, knew this.  In one act, He became the greatest gift giver ever.  Yes, for God so loved the world… but what did He get in return?  A sweet savor arose.  Tension in the soul of God eased.  Thousands of years focused on a cross on a hill.  God gave; Jesus gave back.

What greater gift can a son give his father but his everything?

Romans 5:7 “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.”

      Jesus knew His Father’s hurt.  In giving His all back to Him, Jesus took away pain.  What greater gift is relief?

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