The Gift We Really, Really Need

December 26, 2004

The Rev. Dr. Anthony J. Godlefski, Pastor

Montgomery United Methodist Church

Friends, I’d like to share a few thoughts with you this morning on one of the most remarkable pieces of literature ever written. It’s the beginning of the Gospel according to St. John, the first chapter of St. John. St. John refers to Jesus Christ as “The Word.” Let’s see what St. John has to say about The Word made flesh. I’ll be reading from the New Living Translation.

“¹In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and He was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³He created everything there is. Nothing exists that He didn't make. ⁴Life was in Him, and that life was the light of us all. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never put it out….

“¹⁰But although the world was made through Him, the world didn't recognize Him when He came. ¹¹Even in His own land and among His own people, He was not accepted. ¹²But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the power to become children of God…. ¹⁴So the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen the light of His glory, the glory of the only perfect Son of the Father….

“¹⁶We have benefited from the rich blessings He brought to us--one gracious blessing after another. ¹⁷For the law was given through Moses; but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸Now no one has ever seen God with human eyes. But His only perfect Son, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart and has told us about Him.”

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, good morning. Did you all get nice presents yesterday? I had a wonderful time. I was over at my sister’s house, and we talked, sang, played instruments. If there’s an odor of fireplace and turkey roasting about these instruments we used this morning, that’s because they were at my sister’s house last night.

And we exchanged gifts. You know, gifts are very much at the heart of our Christmas celebration, aren’t they? And the one thing I’d like to invite you to think about with me is that Jesus Christ and Christmas are God’s gift to us. You see, we ought not think about Christmas as an event or just a tradition or a celebration long ago. Friends, Christmas is a gift to you and to me.

In the Bible, we read this interesting phrase in the Gospel according to St. John: “Although the world was created through Him, when He came to earth, His own people received Him not. But to those who accepted Him, He gave the power to become the children of God.” Friend, Jesus Christ is the gift of the Heavenly Father, and in Jesus Christ God gives us a gift that we really, really need.

There are all kinds of gifts, aren’t there? We could get a gift that we really want or we think we want. We could receive a cooking utensil or another paintbrush or a book or something I think I want. But you know, we also get gifts, along with those (which are delightful), of things we really need. And I’ve been given gifts I really, really need this Christmas, too. Maybe you have, too. What? A hug, an affirming word, a gracious smile, acceptance – those are things we really need. And the truth of the matter is that Jesus Christ is the gift that God gives us that we really, really, really need.

There’s a story told about a man back in the ‘30’s who was driving a Model T Ford. He was driving along the road and his Model T broke down. He couldn’t figure out what was wrong, and he was hoping he’d find a mechanic. Just then, a great big limousine pulled up and stopped. Out of the back of the limousine there exited an elderly man, obviously very rich. He went over to the fellow with the broken-down Model T and said, “Can I help you?”

“Oh,” the fellow said. “That’s so nice of you to stop, sir. I appreciate it very much, but there’s nothing you can do. What I need is a mechanic.”

The elderly gentleman said, “Let me try anyway.” He opened up the hood of the Model T, looked inside, made an adjustment, and said, “Try it now.”

“Vroom.” The car started right up. The car owner said, “That was amazing. I appreciate your help very much. I thank you, sir. I was hoping for a mechanic, but evidently you know something about cars.”

He said, “You’re very welcome, son. I’m glad to help. My name is Henry Ford.” It’s a true story.

That fellow got the gift of what he really, really needed. And friend, if there’s one thing I want to send you home with it’s this: I invite you to think about this question this week: What do I really, really need from Jesus Christ? How is it that the gift of Jesus to me is God’s gift of what I really, really need?

When God sent Jesus, He looked down on us with such love and said, “I’m going to send them the best gift I can. I’m going to send them a self-portrait. I’m going to put all of myself that I can in Jesus Christ. And I’m going to send it as a gift. I’m going to send my Son to live with people forever. And no matter what they do to Him, He will never ever let them go.”

And so He did. And when we receive Him, what is it that we really need? Friendship? You’ve got it, forever and ever, through hard times and good, through losses and plenty. You have His friendship when you invite Him into your life. What else do you need? A teacher? Someone to show you what right living is all about? You’ve got it. His name is Jesus Christ. He shows us the way; He makes us the people that we are. He makes us special. He makes us unique.

What do you need? A savior? Someone who will put us right with God, and someone who be there on the other side when you and I cross over, there with our loved ones who have gone before us to be with Him. For He promised that where He is we also will be. Oh, I can’t think of a better gift than that. Can you?

Jesus Christ is a gift, God’s gift to you, the gift that we really, really need. And so, my friends, this Christmas won’t you think about that? Won’t you take that home with you? Won’t you know that Jesus is the gift that we really need? And let us thank God – forgive me, but let us thank God – that He cared enough to send the very best.

God bless you. God loves you, and I do, too. Merry Christmas. Amen.