I turned to Isaiah 60, a prophetic passage that promises the culminating kingdom of Christ: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you” (Isaiah 60:1). As I read about the glory, light, and hope of this promised kingdom, I turned on my Christmas tree. The room was suddenly filled with the soft, warm glow of its lights, and I couldn’t help but think: what a beautiful picture of what I was reading. The tree before me seemed to echo the themes of Isaiah 60, and I began to see it as more than just a decoration; it was a symbol full of profound gospel truth.
The Christmas tree has an interesting history, one that includes pagan roots. Long before the birth of Christ, ancient peoples used evergreen boughs during the winter solstice to symbolize life and renewal. Yet, in the beauty of God’s redemptive plan, these old pagan customs have been exchanged for new hope, meaning, and truth. Just as early Christian hymns adapted melodies from tavern songs to proclaim the gospel, the evergreen tree has been redeemed to tell the story of Christmas and point us to Christ.
Look closely at your tree this year, and you might see how it beautifully fits into the overarching theme of the Bible:
The Evergreen Life: The tree’s evergreen nature points to eternal life—life that never fades, just as Christ promises to those who trust in Him.
The Triangle and the Trinity: Its shape reminds us of the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The God who sent His Son into the world to bring light into our darkness is the same God who walks with us every day.
The Lights of the World: The twinkling lights remind us of the Light of the World. Isaiah 60 speaks of a time when “the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory” (Isaiah 60:19). Christmas lights echo the promise that darkness will not overcome the light.
Ornaments and the Joy of Life: The ornaments reflect the beauty and joy of life in Christ. Each one can represent the years, the memories, and the stories of our lives made meaningful through Him. If you have a star on the top- think of the Bethlehem star!
The Gifts Beneath the Tree: The presents under the tree point to prosperity and blessing, like the gifts brought to the Christ child: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Yet they also remind us of the greatest gift of all: Jesus Himself. God in the flesh, Emmanuel, “God with us.”
As you enjoy your Christmas tree this year, let it remind you of the glorious gospel message. The tree tells the story of God’s redemptive work: exchanging old, empty traditions for new hope, meaning, and truth. From the promise of light in the darkness to the joy of life and the ultimate gift of salvation, the tree embodies the themes of Scripture. It proclaims the great story of God’s covenant: “You will be my people, and I will be your God.”
This Christmas, let your tree be more than a decoration. Let it be a reminder of the beauty and truth of the gospel, a picture of light triumphing over darkness, warmth over cold, and forgiveness over sin. And let it fill your heart with hope as you anticipate the fulfillment of Isaiah’s promise: the kingdom of Christ in all its glory.
More Christmas Devotionals below:
As we enter these last few weeks before Christmas, I wanted to share some devotionals that continue the theme of ‘Christmas in Isaiah’ These are very informal and typical of my blog…. full of flaws and awkward rambling at times.
Not all of these devotionals are ‘candy canes and cocoa’- there are some pretty challenging and hard things about Christmas. This world is a violent and cruel place. Sin has really sad consequences.
May we all stay ‘child-like’ as we contemplate the mystery of “The WORD became flesh and dwelt among us”.
The Comfort of Christmas
https://www.jayopsis.com/2015/
The Only Government with Hope
https://www.jayopsis.com/2015/
The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Christmas
https://www.jayopsis.com/2015/
Christmas Green
https://www.jayopsis.com/2015/
Christmas Red
https://www.jayopsis.com/2015/
Why Christmas Includes Sorrow
https://www.jayopsis.com/2018/
A Christmas Feast Worth the Wait
https://www.jayopsis.com/2015/
Finally, I have published some music to convey these ideas as well.
Playlist on Soundcloud- Christmas Sorrow, Joy, and Hope
No comments:
Post a Comment