The Dead Tree That Bore Eternal Life

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

Mark sat in the living room soaking in the smells, sights and sounds of Christmas. His iPod was playing his favorite Christmas songs. The tree he had decorated for the family was before him in all its glory. He had really decked it out with beautiful glass ornaments, electrical bubble lights and strands of colored beads. On top he had placed the shiny silver star that had been passed down through his family over many generations. He sipped thick luscious eggnog out of his favorite mug and bathed in the nostalgia of Christmas. His thoughts went back to previous Christmas seasons during his child hood and when he was first married. What a glorious season it was.

 

Mark glanced down at the gifts that cluttered the floor under the Christmas tree and marveled at the variety of wrapping paper that his family had used to cover their precious gifts. This is what Christmas was all about, Christmas trees, beautiful lights, cozy sounds and the generosity of people giving to others. Or was it?

 

Something inside him caused him to question his thoughts and motives. Was this what Christmas was all about? He began to think of how commercial Christmas had become. He glanced over at the pile of newspapers by the fireplace and noticed that very likely eighty percent of the pile of papers consisted of slick advertisements from department stores and malls. The massive amounts of advertising basically consisted of retail stores telling you what you needed to buy for your loved ones for Christmas. What was missing from such a materialistic Christmas?

 

He thought of how jolly Old Saint Nick had replaced Jesus Christ as the central figure of Christmas. Most children nowadays had no concept of baby Jesus. It was all about what presents Santa Claus was going to bring them. What was missing from such a side tracked season of giving?

 

He thought about how he had lost his temper yesterday while driving in to town. The brutality of people was amazing as they rushed around in traffic trying to shop during the season of so-called peace and joy. There was definitely no grace on the road during the Christmas season. Maybe that was what was missing, grace, God’s grace?

 

He thought about his faith in God and how Jesus really was the reason for the season. He remembered that by God’s grace Jesus had come in human form to save mankind from their sins. It was by that grace that he himself had been saved. Maybe he had it all wrong when he thought Christmas was all about sitting sipping eggnog, listening to Christmas carols and thinking about what presents he was going to get and give. Then he gazed at the beautiful green tree before him. How out of place it was in some funny way. He realized it was the main icon that everyone thought symbolized Christmas, but did it accurately portray the meaning of Christmas?

 

Christmas was about the birth of Christ, God’s only Son. Christmas was really about the greatest gift that any man or woman could ever receive, salvation from one’s sins and eternal life with God in heaven. Christmas was about the celebration of the birth of Christ, not feeling cozy on the couch with the atmosphere of the season. Christmas was not about a beautiful green decorated Christmas tree it was about the dead wooden tree, the cross, that bore the Savior’s beaten and bloodied body. Christmas was not about the numerous presents and gifts that were scattered under his beautiful green evergreen. Christmas was about the numerous spatters of blood that lay under the dead tree that Jesus was crucified on. It was as if Jesus was placing gifts beneath His own dead Christmas tree as His precious blood dripped from His wounds. Each small smatter of red was a gift of His life for any sinner that would accept Him as Lord and Savior. What a sacrifice. What a gift.

 

Mark looked at the beautiful tree before him and then closed his eyes. The tree in his memory was transformed into the image of a cross with His loving Savior hanging upon it. He gazed up at this vision of his Savior and his eyes grew dim from the tears welling up within them. As he watched the tortured face of his Savior, Jesus turned and looked directly at him. It was as if Jesus was looking right into the depths of his soul. Jesus’ tender compassionate eyes met his. Mark felt a tear gather in the corner of his eye and trickle down his cheek. Mark prayed to His Savior.

”Father God, let me enjoy the Christmas season, but let me never forget what it really means. It is a celebration of the birth of Your Son. It really is a commemoration of you breaking into history and demonstrating your love for me. It is really a celebration not only of your Son’s birth but also of His death and resurrection. When I see a Christmas tree in all its glory, help me remember the dead tree upon which my Savior died. Father God, thank you for your love and faithfulness. Thank you for loving me and saving me from my sin. May I be bold to tell others of the true meaning of Christmas. Heavenly Father, every time I give or receive a gift during this season, let me remember the gift of the blood of Christ that was spilled for me. Thank you for His sacrifice and all it means.”

 

Mark opened his eyes and looked at the tree before him. He gazed to the top where the antique star ornament sat perched. He would never take Christmas for granted again. He would enjoy the season for all it had to offer, but would treasure the true meaning of it in his heart for eternity.

 

The true reality of Christmas was the dead tree that bore eternal life, eternal life through Jesus Christ the Savior. The reality of Christmas was that God Himself was born in human form. He was Jesus, God’s only Son and His sole purpose of being born was to live and to die for the souls of men and women everywhere. Only by the birth of Jesus could anyone ever be born again because their eternal life was dependent on Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection.

 

Malachi 3:1

“’See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,’ says the LORD Almighty.”

 

Luke 2:6-12

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 

John 19:17-18

“Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull. Here they crucified him,”

 

Mark 16:5-7

“As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter.’”