Imagine your favorite Christmas as a child when you came running out of your room to see the wrapped presents under the tree. Looking at beautifully wrapped presents is incredible: the bows, the paper, the anticipation. But the point isn't to just admire the wrapping. The point is to dig in and rip the paper off so that you can discover what's actually inside.

That's where we are with the Christmas story. At Christmas, there are all the wrappings of presents, carols, lights, events, and parties, but it would be a shame not dig into the story. 

I want us to understand what God is actually giving us.

Please open with me to Luke 2. My goal this morning as we look into the Word of God, is that you would understand the meaning and purpose of the Christmas story. 

The Christmas Story is the story of the eternal God of Heaven being born on earth over 2000 years ago, on a dark night in Bethlehem. Jesus was born, swaddled, and placed in a manger. But Luke isn’t just giving us a sweet scene for the season, he’s announcing something shocking: the eternal God of heaven has come near. And the point of the baby in the manger is not to give you the warm fuzzies on the inside, but His purpose is to grow up and purchase our peace with His blood. Jesus allows the weary sinner’s heart to find everlasting peace. 

Last week, we looked at how Jesus is God’s gift of hope, and this week, we are going to see how Jesus is God’s gift of peace.