Why are POINSETTIAS a symbol of Christmas?
Luke 2:16 "So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger."
My wife loves Poinsettias. As a matter of fact it was one of the only Christmas decorations that made the move from Florida to California. We had to let go of all our Christmas decorations due to limited moving space, but she made sure that we took the Poinsettias. To her it made Christmas a little more special and brighter.
Many churches, I've seen, typically have Poinsettias decorating their altars during Christmas. Most reception desks, in businesses, will have one sitting on their counter. Even hotels like to have Poinsettias in their lobbies welcoming their guests. What is it about Poinsettias that make them a symbol of Christmas? After all it's just a plant. Is it because it's red? Why are they so special above other plants at this season? And how do they point us to Christ during Christmas?
Now I'm not sure about the facts of the history of the Poinsettia, but I once heard a story about where they came from. It's said that long ago in Mexico there was a church that had a Nativity scene displayed out front and one Christmas Eve, a poor boy named Pablo was on his way to go see it. However, Pablo felt that he couldn't show up empty handed, but wanted to bring something to honor the new born king. He was a poor boy and didn't have anything to bring and being that it was winter everything was pretty barren. So on his way to the nativity he stopped by the side of the road and grabbed a handful of weeds. A handful of weeds? What kind of gift is that? Yeah that's what the other kids mocked as well. Pablo came and presented his offering to the displayed new born king and as others looked with disgust and ridicule those weeds started to sprout into a beautiful red star flower to where we have the Poinsettia, the Christmas flower.
Though this is may be just a legend I see the Poinsettia as a symbol of Christmas to teach us to remember to honor the king. When I see a Poinsettia I see a reminder that we need to come to Jesus and give Him what we have. Though it may be dead to us and others to Jesus He can bring life to it.
We need not to wait to come to Him until we have things all together, but instead receive the good news that our king is here and hurry off to see Him; bringing whatever we have to offer Him. The Christmas story reminds me of this story of Pablo for it was poor shepherds that the angel came to tell of the new born king and they, with nothing to offer, hurried off and went to see the first Nativity scene. What a sight!
On this Christmas Eve though you may feel like the year has been heavy on you and you have nothing left to bring to Jesus, don't hesitate. Receive the good news and come to see Him this Christmas season. And every time you see a Poinsettia let is serve as a reminder that when we bring all we have to Jesus He will take it and give it life. You have something to offer and God will bless it even in the eyes of others.
Just like the bright star in the sky led the wise to find the king allow the bright red star from the ground to lead you to Him as well!
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