Why is a CHRISTMAS TREE a symbol of Christmas?
Galatians 3:13 "But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”"
Plastic or Pine? It seems that many will put up some symbol of a Christmas Tree in their home during this season. Even Charlie Brown went on the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree and came back with a lowly limp tree, but fit the scene perfect for the touching performance of the Peanuts gang.
The other night my family and I were watching a television contest show about Christmas light displays and in one persons home display they lit and decorated 12 Christmas trees, one for every window of their home. My family and I were in awe. I remember one year, while pastoring in Florida, we decorated 5 different tress for the church and home. During this season you can walk into most public places and more than likely will see a big decorated Christmas tree. You may walk into churches and possibly see more than one tree put up in display. Why so many trees? Why are they important?
Now I feel it's significant again, at this time, to remind you as a reader that I am not blogging about the history of where these Christmas symbols originated from and the true meaning behind them. No, instead I want readers to embrace all that the season brings, but to use it to point our families to Christ. Because after all "Jesus is the reason for the season!" Some of these symbols, maybe even most, may not even have their origins in Christianity, but we can still use them to shed light of the hidden truths of Heaven. Even Paul in Acts 17 while walking through the city and seeing shrines and altars saw the altar to the "unknown god" and used that to point to Jesus. So again, these writings are not for theological purposes but for the purpose of giving glory to Jesus in our homes during Christmas.
So why do we decorate and display a Christmas tree in the focal point of our homes? It's not just for the fresh smell of pine to fill the air. While choosing and decorating a Christmas tree for our own home, I remind my children that we (my family) as believers choose to put up a Christmas tree because Christmas is Jesus birthday and a Christmas tree is a reminder of why He was even born!
Jesus came to die on a tree, well technically to die on a cross, but a cross is probably just as big and wood from a tree. The Bible says that everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed (Deuteronomy 21) but also says what God has blessed no man can curse (Numbers 22). Therefore, Jesus was the full blessing of God given to man and though man tried to curse Him, He can't be cursed! But Jesus took the curse on Himself that was due to us. Because of our sins we deserved to die a death like that, on display and shameful, but Jesus was born with a purpose to show God's love to us by taking our place.
When we put up our Christmas tree we are remembering that the curse is broken and now we have a tree of life. We decorate it with lights and ornaments and so much more because all these things as the 12 days of #ChristmasRevealed continues, we will see that they remind us of all that Jesus did for us by being born into this world.
To my family a Christmas Tree is a reminder of all that Christmas is. A reminder of all that Jesus did for us. No longer a symbol of a curse, but a symbol of peace, joy, hope, and love.
So display your Christmas Tree because Christ was put on display in your place. Decorate that tree to the fullness of beauty because what Jesus did on that tree was a beautiful thing to all who believe!
I hope when you look at a Christmas Tree this season you will be reminded that this is why Jesus came, not only to die on a tree but to reverse that curse and give us life and make us shine beautifully!
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