For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. — Isaiah 9:6

On Christmas Day and throughout the Christmas season, there is an immense focus on gift-giving. There is more focus on our communities and charities. For kids, there’s excitement about what potential gift may be received. There’s something special about the season and the idea of a gift.

There are many in religious circles that would argue against the idea of gifts, however. They argue that Christmas shouldn’t be so focused on gifts and things that we give each other. There is some truth to that thought. We have become a society so focused on gifts that we often overlook the real reason for Christmas.

The celebration of Christmas is certainly about our Savior, born of a virgin in a manger in Bethlehem. It was the fulfillment of a promise in the Old Testament. But it was also perhaps the strangest gift ever given. It wasn’t just a baby in a manger, but it was a Savior.

If you are like me, I have certainly been given some interesting and strange gifts. Maybe it was the fruit cake, pair of socks, Christmas ornament, or one of the dozens of other gifts that are given. None of them compare to the gift I was given that day in Bethlehem. Who would have thought that a baby, born in a stable for the livestock, would be the Savior of all?!

There’s nothing wrong with giving this time of year, especially when we consider the amazing gift that we all received. Maybe you will open up that pair of socks or fruit cake. Just don’t forget it is not the strangest gift ever. That gift was given many years ago in Bethlehem. Strange because it was in a stable, in a manger, as a Savior who was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Truly, He is Wonderful, as Isaiah says.

Jared Dyson