FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK: O Christmas Tree
Trees play an important role in the Bible. From the first to last chapter of the bible, different species of trees make their appearance. In the different types of trees, we see God’s plan to save us.
When Adam and Eve sinned and ate the forbidden fruit, they sewed fig leaves together (Genesis 3:7). They felt sick and sad because of what they had done. They experienced new feelings of guilt and shame. The fig tree has large leaves and reminds us of man’s attempts to cover up sin. Our human condition might think it can fix the problem of sin, but it cannot.
The oak tree stood as a witness behind Abraham as God made a promise to him at Mamre (Genesis 18). God promised that one day His Son would be born of Abraham’s family tree, and that from this child, the entire world would find blessing. Time would come and go, and years would come and pass, and yet God’s promise remained. Some 2,000 years later, a little baby was born in a manger who was the son of Abraham (Mt 1:1). Like a sturdy oak tree, God keeps His promises. They seem long in coming, yet He remains true.
One tree that we could not claim for ourselves would be the olive tree. Olive trees flourished in Israel. They provided food for eating, and oil for beauty, anointing priests, and giving light in the tabernacle. As pagan Gentiles, we were wild and barren desert trees, alienated from the prophets and the promises given to Israel. But God had mercy and pity upon us, and took us Gentiles, a fruitless branch, and grafted us into the tree that was alive (Romans 11:7). He brought us into the promises that He made to the Jews, making, in Christ, one church out of two people. As Christians the olive tree reminds us that we can never say, “Look how I am a Christian, how great I am,” but are to fear, believe, and thank God for His grace.
Lutheran, Christian, Protestant, Lancaster
Church
According to tradition, the custom of bringing evergreen trees into the home at Christmas originated with Martin Luther. Though other trees lose their leaves and color, this tree does not. In the bleak wasteland of humanity, our God, who heaven and earth cannot contain, came to hard and inhospitable earth. This last tree, ever-green and full of life, is a symbol of the nativity and incarnation Jesus Christ who stands in the cold of winter, beckoning us to joy.
Time does not permit us to look at the apple tree (Song of Songs 2:3) which pictures holy communion and the sweetness of the fruit of Jesus’ flesh that we partake, the broom tree & willow (1 Kings 19:5, Ps 137:2) which picture sorrow that we will face here, the Palm Tree (Ex. 15:27, 1 Kings 6:29-35) which figured in the heavenly worship of the temple and the worship of Jesus (John 12:13) and the Tree of Life of Revelation which is ever-bearing and has leaves that heal the nations (Rev 22:2). And yet, from all these trees and the tree of our season, we are reminded that at long last Jesus was born so that our Christmas might be truly merry with the life that He gives. By His death on the tree of the cross we may not die but be ever-green with the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation that He brings. “O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree! You have a wondrous message: You do proclaim the Savior’s birth, Good will to men and peace on earth. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree! You have a wondrous message.”
A blessed Christmastide to you and yours.
Pastor Christopher Seifferlein
