Nativity scenes tell of ‘greatest gift of all time’

The Rev. Sonny Wilkes was excited to ride out to supper last week. Not only was he looking forward to a dinner with his wife, Joanie, but he also wanted to take a little tour to see the nativity scenes throughout the county.

“I wanted to look at the different scenes, and I wanted to take pictures of them,” said Wilkes, who preaches at Trinity Assembly of God in Wrightsville but lives in Dublin. “Our community is special. We are so blessed to live in Dublin, Laurens County, and to know that Jesus is the reason not only for this season but for every season and especially for Christmas season. That miraculous birth happened over 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem’s manger. What a wonderful gift God gave us.” 

It was the hope needed, given so long ago.

“It is the greatest gift of all time,” Wilkes said. “We needed a way to be saved. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.” 

Wilkes likes to read the Christmas story found in Luke 2. He hopes people will take this story with them every day and not just on Christmas.

“We should think about this on the Fourth of July and every day,” Wilkes said. “Really, it is Christmas every day for the Christian. We need to celebrate this every day.”   

He recently watched “The Chosen Christmas” special. 

“Even though He was God, and it was God’s will, He didn’t make it any easier,” Wilkes said. “He didn’t pull any punches. Jesus had to go through the struggle just like everybody else. … People back then were looking for a king or a conquering general that would defeat everybody and give them first place among all. But that wasn’t the king that he was. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” 

Which led Jesus to the cross, where He died for our sins.

“Really, the reason He came, which is told to us in His word, is to get to the cross,” Wilkes said. “We’re thankful for that little baby that we sing about in the Christmas play, and the others at the manger like Mary and Joseph and the angels. But that was done so that He could get to the cross. If He hadn’t gone to the cross we would have no hope. But, we have hope because of what He did on the cross.”

Wilkes likes the opportunity the Nativity shows to everyone who passes them. 

“What laid in that manger was the King of Glory,” he said. “How wonderful. It was the greatest gift of all.”