At Christmas time it is so easy to get distracted by the food and festivities, as well as gatherings with family and friends. We give and receive all sorts of gifts, but can so easily forget the greatest gift of all.  What is that gift?  First and foremost it is Jesus Christ – the central figure of the human race. He is the reason for the season.

This 2 minute video goes through thousands of years of Old Testament history to show us why He is the best gift there is.

If you don’t know the Old Testament, then that may seem somewhat overwhelming! What the speaker Tim Keller has done is to show us that of the many great heroes of the past, there is only one who has lived a perfect life and who can truly fulfil the longings of the human heart.

To recap the video:

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in a much tougher garden (Gethsemane) and whose obedience becomes ours when we put our trust in Him.

Jesus is the true and better Abel whose blood cries out not for our condemnation (as Abel’s did when he was unjustly killed by his brother, Cain), but for our acquittal even though we took Him to the cross.

Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar to go by faith into the unknown.

Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mountain, but was truly sacrificed for us all. God said to Abraham, “I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from me.” Now we at the foot of the cross can say to God, ‘Now I know that you love me, because you did not withhold your Son, your only son, whom you love from me.’

Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserve so we like Jacob only receive the wounds of grace that will wake us up and discipline us. (For more on this see post Is Father Christmas for Real?)

Jesus is the true and better Joseph who is at the right hand of the king and forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his power to save them.

Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and mediates a new covenant that is better than the 10 Commandments.

Jesus is the true and better rock of Moses who struck with the rock of God’s justice and now gives us water in the desert.

Jesus is the true and better Job who is the truly innocent sufferer who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.

Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes the people’s victory even though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk losing an earthly palace, but lost the ultimate heavenly one; who didn’t just risk losing his life, but gave his life; who didn’t say ‘If I perish I perish.’ but ‘when I perish, I will perish for them to save my people.’

Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so we could be brought in.

He is the real Passover Lamb.

He is the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king , the true sacrifice, the true Lamb, the true light and the true bread.

Are these new ideas to you?

If you have come across this before how does this perspective shape your thinking?

For previous posts on Christmas see Is Father Christmas for Real? and What is the Message behind Christmas?

It would be great to have your thoughts and comments below.