tral theme of that first Christmas. The star, the song, the gifts, the joy, the hope, the excitement—all were because of Him. This is God’s gift of Christmas: • the cradle—His Son; • the Cross—His life; • the crown—His coming Kingdom. But . . . a gift, to be complete, must be received! Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.