The Indescribable Gift: What Christmas Reveals About God’s Greatest Present
Every December, we exchange gifts with loved ones – tokens of love, symbols of joy, and gestures of generosity. But Scripture points to a gift that breaks every category, one so rich and overwhelming that the apostle Paul simply calls it “indescribable.” This Christmas season, let’s explore what this extraordinary gift reveals about God’s character and His love for us.
What Does Christmas Tell Us About God?
Just as your choice of font says something about who you are and the message you’re trying to convey, Christmas says something profound about God’s character. When Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift,” he’s revealing fundamental truths about our Creator that we need to understand.
God Is the Ultimate Gift Giver
From the very beginning of Scripture, we encounter God as a generous giver. In Genesis, He gave life itself. To Abraham, He gave a covenant. To Israel, He provided deliverance from Egypt, the law, and the promised land. Throughout history, God has given His people prophets, peace, His Word, His Spirit, and His grace.
The most famous verse in the Bible captures this perfectly: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son” (John 3:16). We love because God loved us first. We give because God first gave to us.
Why Is Jesus Called an “Indescribable” Gift?
Paul, a brilliant scholar who spoke at least four languages fluently, struggled to find adequate words to describe Jesus. Here was a man who could communicate complex theological concepts across multiple cultures, yet when it came to articulating the gift of Christ, he was left speechless.
Jesus Is God Gift-Wrapped in Humanity
Throughout history, God had been foreshadowing this ultimate gift. From the promise in the Garden of Eden about one who would defeat the serpent, to Abraham’s glimpse of the gospel, to Moses’ prophecy of a coming prophet, to the Messianic psalms – all of Scripture pointed toward this moment when God would wrap Himself in human flesh.
Jesus is not 50% God and 50% man. He is fully God and fully man – a mystery that defies human comprehension. This is why Paul had to create new vocabulary to describe Him as “indescribable.”
Understanding Jesus Through His Many Names and Attributes
We can approach understanding this indescribable gift by studying His names: Savior, Messiah, Christ, Lord, Emmanuel, Redeemer, Shepherd, King, Word, Lamb, Prince of Peace, Light of the World, Teacher, Healer, Alpha and Omega.
His attributes reveal more: eternal, sovereign, holy, all-powerful, all-knowing, unchanging, righteous, glorious, and almighty.
His character shows us even more: compassionate, gentle, faithful, humble, gracious, loving, just, patient, merciful, and good.
Jesus made ten profound “I am” statements about Himself, declaring He is the light of the world, the bread of life, the good shepherd, the door, the resurrection and the life, the way, the truth, and the life, the true vine, and one with the Father.
Yet even all of these descriptions combined don’t tell the complete story. He remains indescribable.
What Did This Gift Cost God?
While this gift is free for us to receive, it came at an enormous cost to God. Understanding this cost helps us grasp the true value of what we’ve been given.
The Father’s Sacrifice
Imagine the cost to a father from eternity past, giving His son as a sacrifice for our sin. Picture the strain of hearing His son pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Father, if there’s any other way, let this cup pass from me” – and knowing there was no other way.
The Son’s Sacrifice
Throughout His three-and-a-half-year ministry, Jesus knew with perfect knowledge that everything was moving toward one moment in Jerusalem where He would be sacrificed for sin. As Paul wrote in Philippians 2, “He humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.”
The gift is free to receive but was infinitely costly to give.
How Should We Respond to God’s Indescribable Gift?
Paul’s response in 2 Corinthians 9:15 shows us two essential ways we should respond to God’s gift.
Gratitude: “Thanks Be to God”
Everything good in our lives comes from God. He supplies seed to the sower and bread for food. He enriches us in every way so that we might give thanks to Him. Christmas reminds us that God deserves our gratitude for His incredible generosity.
Reception: The Gift Must Be Received
This may be the most important truth about Christmas: the gift must be received. John 1:12 tells us, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”
Jesus stands at the door and knocks (Revelation 3:20), but we must hear His voice and open the door. We’re saved by grace through faith – and that faith response is how we receive the gift we could never earn.
Life Application
This Christmas season, take time to truly receive and appreciate God’s indescribable gift. If you’ve never personally received Jesus Christ as your Savior, don’t let another day pass without opening your heart to Him. If you’re already a believer, let the magnitude of this gift transform your gratitude and generosity toward others.
Consider these questions as you reflect on God’s indescribable gift:
- Have you personally received the gift of salvation that God offers through Jesus Christ?
- How does understanding the cost of God’s gift change your perspective on His love for you?
- In what ways can you express genuine gratitude for the indescribable gift you’ve received?
- How might God be calling you to be more generous with others, reflecting His generous heart toward you?
Just as Dawson Trotman died the way he lived – always lifting people up – Jesus died the way He lived, lifting people up to the Father. This Christmas, remember that Jesus is the only way to the Father, and He offers Himself as God’s indescribable gift to you.