The Indescribable Gift

The Indescribable Gift

21 December, 2025

Thesis: Christmas reveals Jesus as the promised Son who reconciles Abraham's dispersed descendants and all nations to God through worship.

Summary: The sermon begins by establishing Christ's holiness and then delves into Genesis 25, where Abraham sends his other sons eastward with gifts while bestowing his full inheritance upon Isaac, framing this as the genesis of a two-thousand-year redemption narrative. The preacher explains this narrative culminates in Christmas, signifying the return of estranged nations to God through Christ. He draws a parallel between Abraham's dedication of his inheritance to Isaac and God the Father's exalting of Jesus as the true Son of promise. The sermon traces the lineage of Abraham's eastern-sent sons, connecting them to nations like Midian and Sheba, which appear in Isaiah 60 as nations that will one day return to worship, bearing gold and spices. This prophecy, the preacher asserts, finds its fulfillment in Matthew 2, where the Magi, originating from these same eastern regions, follow a star to worship Jesus, offering gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh as an acknowledgment of his divine kingship. The Magi's actions are presented as a symbolic act of restitution and universal worship, culminating in the vision from Revelation where all nations unite in adoration before the throne.

Sermon

Told me I had to dismiss for children’s church. They pawned the job off on me. All right. There we go.

Well, thank you all for coming out this morning, choosing to worship the Lord with us here at Jessup Grove. We chose that song specifically because Christ is holy forever, and He is worthy of our worship. We are called to adore Him. He is holy. The very word holy means that there’s none like Him. There’s no category to put Him in. And as such, He deserves our worship. He deserves us to fall upon our faces and worship. So we’re going to talk a little bit about that this morning.

If you have your Bibles with you this morning, I hope you do, turn to the book of Genesis chapter 25. Genesis 25. And I know what you’re thinking. I can already see the wheels turning. Why on earth are we going to Genesis chapter 25 and not Luke 1 or Luke 2 or Matthew 2? Well, it’s a good question. And we’ll find out here in just a moment.

Genesis 25 is where we find the story of Abraham’s sons and gifts, and it’s a seemingly unusual Christmas sermon text. Yet this chapter reveals how God’s holiness and sovereignty shape history, even as human choices ripple through generations. It’s a reminder that worship is not just about the moment, but about aligning our lives with the eternal purposes of a holy God. We’ll see how this connects to the heart of our worship this morning.

But as I was thinking about a story to kind of hook your mind, to grab your interest this morning, I was thinking about some of the great Christmas movies that have been made. And my mind came to the movie *How the Grinch Stole Christmas*. A wonderful film with theological themes. If you’ve never seen it, you should watch it. The Jim Carrey version specifically. It is a powerful illustration of redemption and transformation—themes that resonate deeply with the narrative we’ll explore in Genesis 25. That is the ultimate movie ever made. It doesn’t get any better than *How the Grinch Stole Christmas*. The Jim Carrey version specifically.

And you remember the scene? Well, who’s all seen it? Everybody seen it pretty much? Okay. We watched it last night. Now, when Clay was growing up, I can’t remember. I guess he was probably one, maybe two. We had to watch that movie every single day for a year. Every single day. So I have become very familiar with *How the Grinch Stole Christmas*.

But do you remember when he was in school as a little Grinchling? He had a crush on Martha Mae Juvier. Remember that? And he made her this gift. But then, as the events play out, he gets made fun of, right? He’s eight years old and he has a beard. Right? Remember? He starts getting picked on, and he becomes angry. He smashes his gift, picks up the tree, and he launches it across the room. Then he climbs the mountain, and he lives up there for years and years.

Well, we’re going to talk here in Genesis 25 about gifts that are given and then about sons who also leave and are away for a long period of time. So Genesis 25, beginning in verse 1. Now, I want you to picture this. Picture Abraham. He has strong hands. They’re weathered. And now they’re trembling with age. He is placing gifts into the hands of his sons. Perhaps he’s given them some gold. Maybe he’s handing them some livestock. Perhaps he’s given them treasure that’s been accumulated over a lifetime. He speaks blessings over them, embraces them, and then sends them away. He sends them toward the east, toward the rising of the sun, away from the land of promise. So picture that scene in your mind, okay?

Begin here in verse 1. Genesis 25, verse 1. “And Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah.” After Sarah’s passing, this aged patriarch, trembling with the weight of years, takes another wife—unexpected, perhaps even jarring. Yet here he is, not diminished by time, but still a man of action. Look at his remarkable vitality: he fathers these children. After Isaac, Keturah bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan, in turn, fathered Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. The sons of Midian included Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. These were the children of Keturah—names etched into the fabric of history, a testament to a man who, even in his twilight years, continued to shape the story of God’s covenant.

And that’s exactly what you expected me to read the Sunday before Christmas, right? That’s all you needed—yet another genealogy out of Genesis. I knew it.

“And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac.” Keep that in your mind. “But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had. And while he was still living, he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east.” So imagine this. Here he is, giving gifts to his children. Then he embraces them, and then he sends them away eastward. Now, underline that word eastward, because that will be a key word as we go through our sermon.

Can you imagine the ache in his chest as he watches them disappear? Remember, he’s already sent one son away—remember Ishmael? And now he sends all these other sons away as well. But friends, this is not the story of rejection. It is actually the beginning of a story of redemption that would unfold over 2,000 years. This story of sending sons away, of blessing and separation, points forward to the ultimate Son who would reconcile all nations to God through worship—the promised Seed of Abraham, Jesus Christ, who fulfills the covenant and brings blessing to the entire world.

This morning, I want you to see something you may have never noticed before. Here in Genesis 25, Christmas is not just about a baby in a manger. Rather, it is the climax of a promise that began long before Bethlehem. This promise was spoken to one man named Abraham—a promise that through his seed, all nations on the earth would be blessed. This is the foundation of the Christmas story, a divine plan unfolding over centuries, rooted in the covenant God made with Abraham. It is not merely a historical event but the fulfillment of an ancient promise, revealing how God’s redemptive work began with one man and extended to all humanity.

And so this morning, we’re going to trace this golden thread of redemption from Genesis to Isaiah to Matthew and finally to Revelation. Because the promise of redemption is not just about a baby in a manger. The Christmas story is actually the story of sons sent away becoming nations drawn near to God. It is a story of gifts once given becoming gifts laid at the feet of Christ. It is a story of enemies becoming friends through the reconciling work of Jesus, the promised Son of Abraham. It is a story of those once separated experiencing salvation through worship. And at the center of it all stands Jesus, the child in Bethlehem who changes everything, who changes history by fulfilling the promise made to Abraham to bless all nations through His sacrifice and resurrection.

So let’s begin here where Christmas sermons never go—Genesis 25. We know Abraham’s son of promise through Sarah was Isaac. We’ve already discussed his firstborn, Ishmael, born to Hagar, whom he sent away. But Abraham later took another wife, Keturah, and she bore him many sons—whose names we won’t attempt to pronounce again. This story of Abraham’s family, with its tangled lines and multiple sons, sets the stage for the greater narrative of God’s redemptive plan, where all nations will one day be drawn near through the promised Son who reconciles them to God.

Now, some people question the exact timing. 1 Chronicles 1:32 calls Keturah a concubine. And it’s possible she was part of Abraham’s household during Sarah’s lifetime. Or it’s possible that he married her after Sarah’s death. However, the Scripture is clear. Abraham had other sons beside Isaac and Ishmael. This is not just a historical footnote—it’s a divine pattern. Just as Abraham’s family was a mosaic of many sons, so too does God’s redemptive plan embrace all nations through Jesus, the promised Son who reconciles every tribe, tongue, and people to Himself. Abraham’s legacy shows that God’s covenant is not confined to one line but flows through many, pointing forward to the ultimate inheritance in Christ.

But notice what the Scripture says. Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. However, he also gave gifts to all his other sons. There is a clear distinction here: Abraham gave gifts to these sons, but he gave everything he had to Isaac. In other words, Isaac received the inheritance, the covenant, the blessings, and the promises. These other sons received gifts and blessings, but they were not children of the promise. They were not covenant heirs. They were sent eastward, as the text indicates. This distinction highlights God’s sovereign choice, pointing forward to Jesus, the ultimate Son of promise, to whom the Father has given all His glory and inheritance.

Now, Abraham’s not playing favorites here. Rather, he is recognizing God’s sovereignly chosen line through whom the Messiah would come. But I believe also that this points us to an even greater Father who, just as Abraham gave everything to Isaac, has given all He has to His Son of promise. Did you know, friends, that God the Father has lavished all glory, honor, wealth, power, and majesty upon His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ?

Listen to what the Scripture says. Colossians 1:19: “It pleased the Father that in Christ all the fullness should dwell.” This is the promised Son, the one through whom God reconciles all nations to Himself through worship. He, in these last days, has spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things. God has highly exalted Jesus, giving Him the name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, through the glory of God the Father.

Abraham lavished his wealth upon Isaac. He publicly identified him as the heir and the bearer of the covenant promises. And likewise, the Father has bestowed all glory upon Jesus Christ, the true Son of the promise. Because, see, friends, God shares the very glory of the Father, the same glory that they had before creation. He has given Him His own name, the name of Lord, so that everyone will understand that He has all authority and power in heaven and on earth. He affirms His deity and His authority.

The Lord declares in Isaiah 42:8, “My glory I will not give to another.” However, of the Son, He says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.” Again, the Father testifies, “This is my beloved Son.” You hear Him. You adore Him. You honor Him. You obey Him. You worship Him. So, like Isaac, but in a far greater and eternal sense, the Father has appointed His Son heir over all things.

What does that mean? That means everything belongs to Jesus—God has given Him everything, since all things were made by Him, through Him, and exist for Him. And He upholds all things by the word of His power. That means all creation—every person, every power, every spiritual being—exists for His glory. He reigns over a kingdom without end, and His dominion knows no boundaries. The Father has given all that He has to the Son. Why? So that we may give Him the same honor and glory we give to the Father.

God the Father commands us: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. You hear Him. You worship Him.” All the angels worship Him. All of creation worships Him. Should we not also join in worshiping the heir, the King over all things—the one who reconciles Abraham’s descendants and all nations to Himself, the promised Son who fulfills the covenant of blessing for every tongue and tribe?

Notice also that the sons of Abraham are now sent away. Through the sons of the concubines, Abraham gives gifts while he was still living. And he sent them away, from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country. He doesn’t send them away empty-handed. He blesses them abundantly. He provides for them generously. And in doing so, he models the character of God who is good to all, who gives every person common grace, who gives life and breath and food to all. However, there is but one covenant Son, just as there is one true Son of promise, just as there is one Messiah, one Savior, one mediator between God and man—that is the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone reconciles all nations to God through His sacrifice, fulfilling the promise made to Abraham and Isaac.

So let’s look at these sons. I told you I wouldn’t try to pronounce their names again, but here we go. We have Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Ishbak, and Shuah. They travel eastward with the gifts of their father in their hands. Who on earth are these people, and why does their story matter in the grand narrative of God’s redemptive plan?

Well, Midian becomes the father of the Midianites. Jokshan becomes the father of Sheba and Dedan. Now keep those names in mind—these descendants will settle in areas such as Arabia, Babylonia, the Orient, and other eastern regions. They became great trading peoples, known for their wealth in spices, myrrh, frankincense, and gold. These trade routes weren’t just economic highways—they were spiritual arteries, connecting the ancient world in ways that would shape the grand narrative of God’s redemptive plan. Some of you are starting to see where we’re going—this is where the story begins to unfold, where God’s purposes intersect with human history in unexpected ways.

Now what’s remarkable is that these same sons and descendants of Abraham appear throughout Scripture. They pop up time and again. The thing is, they don’t always appear as friends. Sometimes they appear as enemies. Take the Midianites, for example. The Midianites will begin to oppress Israel during the time of the judges. And Gideon and his 300 men will fight against these Midianites. So we have Midian, a son of Abraham, becoming Israel’s enemy.

But sometimes they’re peaceful. Sometimes they are worshipers. There’s a queen of Sheba who pops up in 1 Kings chapter 10. Remember she is a descendant of Abraham’s son Jokshan. And she travels a great distance to see King Solomon. She hears about his wisdom. She hears about his fame. And she comes to test him with questions. She comes to see his glory. And she brings gifts. She brings gold. She brings spices. She brings frankincense and precious stones.

To see this son of Isaac. To see this king with great wisdom and majesty. Yet Jesus declares in Matthew 12, “There is one greater than Solomon, and that is I.” He is referring to Himself. Just as the queen of Sheba once journeyed to honor Solomon, so too will all nations come to honor the true King, Jesus Christ, who alone is greater than Solomon.

Now turn with me, please, to Isaiah chapter 60, verses 1 through 6. Fast forward about a thousand years into the future. The prophet Isaiah stands in Jerusalem. He looks into the future with eyes illuminated by the Holy Spirit. What he sees takes his breath away. He sees a day when the glory of God will rise—not just over Israel, but over all the nations. The light dawns. And the nations, even these distant ones, even those who were former enemies, will come back to the land of Canaan and they will worship.

Beginning in verse 1: “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.” That sounds awfully familiar. It echoes the promise of the coming Messiah, the promised Son of God, who would bring light to the world, doesn’t it?

Listen to what happens here. “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.” Remember, as the shepherds are out in the fields, the glory of the Lord comes upon them, shines down upon them, and they announce the good news that a Savior has been born.

But listen even further. “The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” Lift your eyes and see them all gathering together. They come to you. The promised Son shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you will see and become radiant, your heart swelling with joy, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you. The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you, as they bring gold and incense, proclaiming the praises of the Lord.

Listen. “The multitude of camels shall cover your land, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and incense, and they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord.” Those names sound strangely familiar. Are those not Abraham’s other children? Descendants of Abraham through Keturah, Midian, and Jokshan? And what will they bring? On these camels, they shall bring gold and incense, and shall proclaim the praises of the Lord.

Indeed, these are the same nations—Midian, Abraham’s son by Keturah; Ephah, grandson of Abraham through Midian; Sheba, grandson through Jokshan—mentioned a thousand years later. They return not as enemies, but as worshipers. Their gold and incense, once symbols of distant commerce, now become offerings of adoration. How? Why? Because through Jesus’ coming, all nations are reconciled to God. Enemies become worshipers. The distant are drawn near. Not by force, but by the power of His grace.

Here we have these same sons and their descendants, mentioned a thousand years later. Midian, Abraham’s son by Keturah—the very people who later became Israel’s enemies. Ephah, the grandson of Abraham through Midian. Sheba, the grandson of Abraham through Jokshan, in the same lineage as the queen of Sheba. They all come back. All these sons who were sent eastward, all these sons who walked away from the covenant—the very nations that became Israel’s oppressors—will return. Not as enemies, but as worshipers. They bring gold and frankincense. The ones once sent away will return in adoration. Enemies will become worshipers. The distant will be drawn near.

How? Why? Because they are worshiping a Son of promise, a Messiah King who has been born. This One whom Isaiah says will be called the Prince of Peace. The government will be upon His shoulders. He’ll bring peace on earth—not through conquest, but through reconciliation. He will be the one who brings the wayward back. He will be the one who makes enemies into sons and daughters. He will be the one who brings light to those living in the shadow of death. He will be the one whose birth brings peace on earth and good will toward men. He will be the one who is the Savior of all who will believe. He will be the one whose birth brings good tidings of great joy for all people, from every nation, tribe, and tongue. And all the nations will gather around His throne and worship Him.

Friends, what Isaiah is seeing is the announcement of the good news that reconciles enemies and turns them into friends. But when will this happen? How will this happen? Through whom will this happen?

Now keep in mind, for 700 years mothers told their daughters. Fathers taught their sons. One day light will come. One day nations will return. One day the Midianites will worship. And then one night in Bethlehem, everything changed. Because a radiant celestial event, a heavenly sign, suddenly appeared. Where? In the east. And this was not some random celestial event. This was a divine appointment. And this star in the east would lead these distant nations to worship a king who had been born. And they would bring what? Gold. Frankincense. And myrrh.

Now fast forward 700 more years. Turn in your Bibles to Matthew, chapter 2. Look, we ended up there. And Matthew’s gospel begins—not in a temple, not even really in a palace. It begins on a dusty road from the east. Matthew 2, verse 1: “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’”

Oh, Herod was troubled indeed when he heard of this newborn king. He gathered the chief priests and scribes, inquiring where the Christ was to be born. They told him it would be in Bethlehem of Judea, for that’s what the prophet Micah had written centuries ago: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.” And when Herod saw the star that had guided the wise men appear again in the east, he sent them to Bethlehem with orders to return and report back to him so that he too could go and worship this new king. But we know his true intentions were not to worship, but to eliminate any threat to his throne.

And when they heard the king, they departed. And behold, the star which they had seen in the east went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy and went to the house. They saw the young child with Mary His mother and fell down and worshiped Him. That is the proper response to the Lord Jesus Christ—for us to fall down and worship Him. Oh, but it doesn’t end there.

And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him. What did they present? Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Hallelujah. Amen. Is the Bible not a grand story of redemption, pointing to the one hero, the Lord Jesus Christ?

Now let’s break it down. Y’all ready? Who are these men? Who on earth are these wise men? Well, they come. The word Magi comes from the Greek *Magoi*. These were not kings, by the way—despite the Christmas carol. They were scholar priests, astrologers, and advisors to kings. In some cases, they held power, wealth, and influence. As court advisors, they had the authority to crown kings and bestow power, wealth, and support upon them. They came from where? The East—from Persia, Arabia, Mesopotamia, and the Orient. All the same regions where Abraham sent his sons centuries before. This is significant, because these men, as learned advisors and priests, represent the nations Abraham’s descendants were called to reconcile through the coming of Jesus—the promised Son who would unite all peoples to God through worship.

Now what did they study? They studied the stars. Absolutely. But they were more than that. They were learned men. They studied ancient texts. They studied royal genealogies. They studied prophetic writings. And here’s what’s crucial. They had to have knowledge of ancient prophecies about a coming king, about a promised Messiah, about a star that would appear in the sky, which would announce His birth. This knowledge, rooted in the wisdom of the East, pointed directly to the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham—uniting all peoples through the revelation of the Messiah, the one who would reconcile the world to God through worship.

Now where on earth would they get such knowledge? In the Middle Ages—several centuries by the way—there is a man by the name of Daniel, who is a prophet who has been exiled in Babylon in the East. And this man Daniel becomes chief of the magicians, also known as the Magi. And he would have taught them about the God of Israel. He would have taught them about the coming kingdom of the Messiah.

But they would also have an even more ancient source—the prophecy of a soothsayer, a prophet named Balaam, in the book of Numbers. He was hired to curse Israel, but he could only pronounce blessings. And here’s what he says in Numbers 24:17: “I see him—that is the Messiah, but not now. I behold him, but not near. A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.” This false prophet, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, says: “I see it—a king who is coming. I see a star. I see a scepter.”

Now this prophecy would have been carefully preserved and studied by Daniel and his magicians. They knew what to look for. And so when this star blazed across the heavens—its shimmering light piercing the darkness—they knew. This is the celestial beacon. The divine announcement that a king has been born.

What is this star? I don’t rightly know. Here’s an educated guess. The same glory that hovered over the Israelites’ encampment and led them through the wilderness. Perhaps it’s the same glory that filled the temple. And this glory begins to move from the east to the west. And these descendants of Abraham’s son begin to follow this star. And they bear the same gifts—gold and frankincense—that Isaiah prophesied to bring.

Now this wasn’t just some hop, skip, and a jump away. Scholars say that they traveled for over a thousand miles across the desert. That’s eastward, isn’t it? That’s far east. These guys come from afar, and for two years they traveled across this barren desert, following this star.

And then when they finally get to Jerusalem, the whole city is in an uproar, because these are not three kings. This is a mighty caravan of king-makers. And Herod, the paranoid king, becomes alarmed. Who are these men? And why are they here?

And so they ask the question. “Where is He who is born King of the Jews?” Notice they didn’t ask, “There might be a king.” He has been born. “Where is He?” Jesus Christ is not the king who might be. He’s the King who is—the King of kings, the Lord of lords. So Herod gathers his chief priests and his scribes. And they begin to read the prophets, stumbling across Micah in chapter 5, verse 2. And they say, “Here’s the Scriptures. He’s going to be born in Bethlehem.”

Now get this. None of them show up. And yet these magi, these king-makers, travel for two years, over a thousand miles, to worship this King. And when they come into the house, they fall and they worship Him. And then they open their treasures.

So let’s pull all the pieces together. Are you ready? This is a lot of history. But here’s what it boils down to. These magi—Abraham’s descendants from the east—who once belonged to the great Babylonian empire, which had once laid waste to Judah, shattered the First Temple, and carried away its golden treasures. God, in His sovereign grace, plants a witness named Daniel among them. Daniel, through divine providence, rises to rule over the magi. And he teaches them that a Messiah King is going to be born in Bethlehem—and that a star will announce His arrival.

And for 600 years these men anticipate the coming of a Messiah. They pass down this knowledge from generation to generation until at last this star appears. These magi are Bible-believing men. They are men who understand the prophecies and believe the promises of God. They follow Balaam’s star to the exact place Micah said the Messiah would be born. And they understand that this is no ordinary king. They understand that this King is divine. They don’t just pay homage to Him. Matthew says they worship Him. They know this is not merely a boy child. This is God. He is worthy of worship.

Now listen. It is almost as if by bringing this gold, they are taking back what their ancestors once took away. It is almost as if they are saying: This gold our fathers plundered from the temple of Yahweh—we now return to You. We recognize that it belongs to You. This treasure which we carry, once given to us centuries ago by our forefather Abraham—we now return it to the One to whom it belongs. The true Son of promise, the divine heir, the incarnate Son. The true seed of Abraham, through whom all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

Friends, they don’t find a baby in a manger. They find a toddler, two years old at this time most likely. That is the reason why Herod wants all baby boys from two years old and under to be slaughtered.

But they bring these gifts. Notice what they bring. They give gold to Him. Gold that is a present fit for a king. By bringing Him gold, they are acknowledging His royalty and His reign. They bring Him frankincense, which is fit for a priest. This is the incense of worship, which rises to God, which was used for burial. They are prophetically pointing to the death of this Messiah King, as foretold in Isaiah 60:3, where nations bring gifts to the light of the world. They bring the exact same gifts that Isaiah prophesied they would bring. This act of worship by the nations foreshadows Jesus’ role as the promised Son who reconciles all nations to God through worship.

So what do we see here? We see a beautiful picture of the gospel unfolding in Genesis. Abraham gives gifts to his sons. In Matthew, these same descendants of these sons give gifts to the true Son of promise. Abraham in Genesis gives generously, but these nations now return in generous worship. But the giving doesn’t stop there, because this child they worship will give the greatest gift of all. He will grow up, He will be crucified, He will give His life as a ransom for all. He is the true Son of promise who unites the nations in worship.

Friends, all these gifts are pointing to Jesus as God’s precious and unspeakable gift. And here is the wonderful truth about the exchanging of gifts: that Jesus, the Son of promise, is the ultimate gift. He is the promise and the fulfillment to Abraham, and in Him all the families of the earth will be blessed.

See, the promises of God didn’t end with Abraham’s death. No, they carried on through Abraham’s greater Son. Christ is God’s gift to the nations. The gospel is God’s gift to the nations. And it is through Him all the nations of the earth are blessed. The angels declared it on the night He was born: “Fear not, for behold I bring you good news of great joy, which shall be to all people.” Good news that is the euangelion—the gospel. For who? For all people, from every nation, from every tribe and tongue, for every people group. Peace on earth—not through military conquest, not through human effort, but through the Prince of Peace, who reconciles humanity to God through His shed blood on the cross.

Friends, John 3:16—you all know it. God loved us so much that He what? He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Friends, Jesus is the most precious gift that has ever been given. His salvation is a gift that is freely received. Ephesians 2 tells us that we are saved not of works, lest any man should boast. It’s the gift of God. It is received by grace through faith.

So this week as you tear into those presents, you didn’t have to work for it. You didn’t have to purchase it. You didn’t have to earn it. You just received it. Friends, God gives you His Son—the gift of salvation. And all you do is simply receive it by faith. And say yes: Abraham, the one Isaiah predicted, the one to whom the star announced His birth—yes, the King of glory. I will receive Your gift of salvation, freely given to me.

See, Abraham gave a gift to his sons. But God gave us the gift of His Son. The Magi gave treasures to Jesus. But Jesus gives His life for us. And when we come to worship Him, we understand that we are actually the ones who are doing the receiving. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9, thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.

Now I said we are going all the way to Revelation. You guys ready? We have this final gathering: from a house to a throne. Because the scene in Matthew 2 is just the beginning. The Magi came to a house in Bethlehem. They bowed and worshiped and gave gifts. But this is just a preview of coming attractions. Because Revelation tells us that this same scene will be replayed on a cosmic scale.

And Revelation 7 verse 9 through 10: John says, “I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” Get that. Midianites and Israelites together. Jews and Gentiles. The scattered sons of Abraham. People from distant eastern lands. All gathered together in one family. Around one throne. Worshiping one King.

Jesus is the Messiah who brings the wayward home, who unites the nations in worship. People from every tribe and tongue and nation who have been redeemed gather in worship. And friends, they are not worshiping a toddler in the house. Friends, they are worshiping a King seated on the throne, whose reign never ends, who is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is not receiving gold and frankincense and myrrh because He has already died. And He has already risen from the grave. Friends, He is receiving the praise and the glory and adoration of the nations of the redeemed. Praise God. We will all gather around Him. We will sing His praises for all eternity. That is the King whom we worship this morning. Praise God.

What does this mean for us? Because this story is not just ancient history. You and I are included in this story. Because we are part of the all nations through whom the Son of Abraham came for, through whom all the nations will be blessed. What will you do with Jesus this morning? Abraham made his choice. The Magi made their choice. The prophets pointed the way. And now it is your turn. Just as Abraham and the Magi made their choices, the question now falls to you.

I am going to give you four applications.

Like the wise men, be wise and seek Him. They were wise because they knew a King was to be born. They didn’t ignore Him, like those who live seven miles away. No, they knew that He is worthy of traveling a thousand miles across barren wilderness. But in doing so, as you seek the Lord, instead know that He sought you first. The Son of Abraham who came to seek and save that which was lost.

Secondly, understand that Jesus, as the promised Son of God, is the one who brings the wayward back into reconciliation. He is the one who transforms enemies into friends, who restores the estranged and makes them sons and daughters. He is the one who drew the Midianites and the people from Sheba, those distant lands, back to Himself through the Magi. Friends, if He could draw the Magi from the ends of the earth, He can draw your prodigal child home. He can save your hard-hearted co-worker. He can save your unbelieving spouse. And perhaps this morning, you have been hard and calloused, separated from God through your sin, wanting nothing to do with Him. Friends, maybe just now, just this morning, He is drawing you to Himself. He is calling you to come home—to come to this King, to bow, to worship, and to surrender to Him. This is the same Jesus who reconciles all things to Himself, who demands our worship as the rightful King.

Thirdly, the right response to Jesus is always worship. The Magi got it right. They opened their treasures. They bowed and worshiped. Friends, we should give Him the treasure of our resources, our time, talents, and possessions. We should give Him our frankincense, the incense of our prayers and our praise and our worship as they ascend to God. He deserves our myrrh, our willingness to die to ourselves, to take up our cross and follow Him. So will you come and worship this King? Will you surrender every part of your life at His feet?

Fourthly and lastly, your response to Jesus should be to humbly receive the gift that He gives. We may bring Him gold, but He gives us an everlasting kingdom. We may bring Him incense, but He gives us access to the throne of God. We may bring Him myrrh, but He gives us everlasting life. He is the true Prophet, Priest, and King to which all these gifts point. Christ and His salvation are the gift of God. You can’t work for it, you can’t earn it, but what you can do is gladly and humbly receive it with outstretched hands.

So we’ve gone from Genesis to Revelation. We’ve seen the weathered hands of Abraham give these gifts to sons sent away. These sons return in the Magi, and they give them to the tiny hands of the toddler Jesus. And these same hands would one day be stretched out and nailed to a cross, and then lifted in triumph as He ascends back to heaven. These hands still bear the marks of the nails, and now hold an iron rod and a royal scepter. And these hands reach out to you to give you gifts this morning—the gift of eternal life. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.

As they come and give us a hymn of invitation, perhaps you are lost this morning. The greatest thing that could ever happen to you is for you to repent, turn from your sins, and place your faith in Jesus Christ. The best thing you can ever do is receive salvation as a free gift. You say, how do I do it? Guess what? You don’t do anything. It’s already been done for you. You are commanded to turn from your sin and believe the gospel. To place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. To call upon Him. And be saved. To cast yourself at His merciful feet. And find forgiveness. To find peace between you and God.

And maybe this morning you are a believer, and you want to come, and you just want to bow before your King and say, Lord, here’s the treasure of my heart. Here’s my life. Here’s everything I am. I open it up and I pour it out before You. Begin to practice, for that is what we will be doing for all eternity around the throne. With sons of Abraham, and sons of Ishmael, and sons of Isaac, and sons of the East, and sons of the West. All the redeemed. We’re going to be pouring out our treasures of praise before the throne. So if you want to come forward and pray, join me up here, up front.