Devotion: The True Christmas Tree

"And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, ..." John 19:17,18

Each year, in December, families all across our nation gather together to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. One of the most visible symbols of this holiday season is the Christmas tree. This evergreen tree is placed in a position of prominence in our homes and decorated with lights and ornaments as a part of the festive nature of the Christmas season.

However, this tree is a far cry from the original "Christmas Tree." For you see, the first Christmas tree was not a beautiful evergreen found in some quiet spot in the woods. Rather, it was a piece of rough-hewn wood with no natural beauty whatsoever. Its sole purpose was to bring misery and pain and eventually death, and its only beauty was in the purpose for which God was using it.

Instead of being decorated with lights and ornaments, upon the two limbs of this tree hung the Light of the World. His body beaten and bruised by the Roman soldiers responsible for his punishment. Beneath this tree there was no skirt of soft white cloth representing snow. No, the ground beneath this tree was stained crimson red by the blood being shed for the remission of the sins of the world.

Whereas we stand around the tree and sing Christmas carols, those standing around this tree were hurling insults and blasphemies. The bible says the mocked him, and said "If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross" (Matt 27:40) Even those who were being crucified with him showed him no mercy.

Today we place gifts under our Christmas tree, but tradition has it that in the past small gifts were tied to the branches of the tree for children to search for and find. This is the only similarity between our Christmas tree and the true Christmas tree. The greatest gift of all time was "tied" to the branches of the tree on Golgotha. There, Jesus died for our sins that we might be able to be reunited with him for all eternity. This gift was freely given, and unlike the gifts we give one another, this gift is still active and available today.

As you look at your Christmas tree this year, don't let your gaze stop at the lights and decorations, look "through" it to the true Christmas tree.