The Most Magnificently Decorated Tree

Several sources claim that in 1510, Martin Luther was walking through a forest one evening in Riga, Latvia.  He came upon a fir tree whose branches glistened in the light of the moon and stars.  Impressed by its beauty, he chopped down a smaller tree and took it home for his children.  To recreate the moonlight, he fixed candles to the branches.  An enchanting sight, I'm sure, but not the most magnificent tree.

Charles Minnegrode is said to have introduced the custom of decorating trees in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1832.  Franklin Pierce was the first president to introduce the Christmas tree to the White House in 1856.  AFW Woolworth brought the tradition of dressing trees with glass ornaments to the US in 1890.  The first decorated national Christmas tree was lit in 1923 on the White House lawn by President Calvin Coolidge.  Beautiful and elegant, no doubt, but not the most magnificent tree of all.

In the 1970's, my 'nonnie' Nicoletta displayed a Christmas tree of most unique splendor.  In her Chapel St., New Haven apartment, she had a coffee table which held her  tree, with silver metal branches and silver foil needles.  (It was a perfect match for the silver aluminum foil flags attached to her TV antennae).  The tree was accented with pink glass ornaments and illuminated by the 4-color rotating light disk at it's base.  Just close your eyes for a moment and picture the scene.  (Perhaps the decor of the disco era found it's roots here).  The tree was interesting, to say the least, but not the most magnificent tree of all time.

Over the years, trees have been draped with everything from strung cranberries and popcorn to exquisite garlands.  Lighting has progressed from candles to electric bulbs.  Ornaments of glass, wood or plastic are attached to the limbs by hooks.  The evergreen boughs are embellished with tinsel, angel's hair, and swags of pearls and other items.  The Christmas tree has a become a standard, if not obligatory piece of holiday decor.

Though there is much information about its history, few sources reached back far enough to mention the most magnificently decorated tree of all.  This extravagant tree is not found at Rockefeller Center, at the White House, of even in my nonnie's apartment.  It was grown long before Luther's walk in the 1500's.

This tree was cultivated from seed in rich soil, watered by rain and nourished by sunlight.  It grew tall and strong until it was hewn from the grounds and it's boughs were trimmed close to the trunk and a lateral beam placed near its top.  The tree was transported to its ultimate destination and anchored high upon a hill for all to see. In its perfect time, it was decorated by the One who had planted and nurtured it so long ago.  Lovingly, painstakingly and at tremendous cost, He decorated the tree with the body of His own Son, secured, not with hooks, but with nails.  The only color on the tree was the crimson blood of our Savior.  The tree reached from the earth, where imperfect mankind lives, and pointed to the heavens, God's perfect, holy place.  Between the two was pinned the only means to bridge these two worlds... the Lamb of God, sacrificed as payment for our every sin so that we may be forgiven and made clean enough to stand before a holy, perfect God.  Upon that tree, Christ took our shame and imparts to us His holiness.

The tree is no longer there and neither is the sacrifice laid upon it.  He has risen, bringing assurance of new life, peace with the Father, and the hope of heaven.  You will see many beautiful trees this season, but not he most magnificently decorated tree of all.  You see the best gift wasn't under the tree...it was on the tree.  2 Corinthians 9:15  Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.