The Unspeakable Gift of Christmas

Written: Early 2005

Last Christmas (2004), the Indonesian congregation of the church that I attended in Singapore, Bukit Batok Presbyterian Church (BBPC), set this theme: "The Unspeakable Gift of Christmas". The meaning can be summarized as follows:

Some people give gifts because they don't need the items anymore, we call those gifts: unwanted gifts. Some people give gifts to people they loved, we call those gifts: ordinary gift. Some people give special gifts that requires a lot of sacrifices, we call those gifts: extraordinary gifts. But God has given man, a very special gift, the "unspeakable" gift of Christmas, too wonderful to be phrased in words. Because on Christmas, Baby Jesus was given to us, and He has brought us goodness and life :)

The following song is our church theme song for this Christmas, created by: Mrs Esther & Mr. Mario. The lyrics are biblical and surely touching. A (not so good) English translation is provided.

Ke dalam dunia, Yesus t'lah datang. Tiada tempat untuk berbaring.
(To the world, Jesus has come, but no place to sleep.)
S'orang Anak t'lah lahir, pemberian sorgawi.
(A child was born, a gift from heaven.)
Mengubah duka hati menjadi sukacita.
(Turning grief to joy.)
Kepada manusia, Kau s'lalu ingat. Janji s'lamat Kau anugrahkan.
(To us, You always remember. The promise of salvation is given.)
Tiada daya dan kata yang mampu ku lukiskan:
(There is nothing or words that I can do to describe:)
hadiah sukacita bagi yang menyambutMu.
(a joyful gift for those who accepts You.)

Reff: Sgala hormat dan puji kuangkat bagiMu!
(I lifted all adoration and praise to You.)
Sgala syukur dan sembah ku brikan bagiMu!
(I give all praise and worship to You).
S'bab Kau brikan diriMu dalam rupa manusia,
(Because You've given Yourself in human form.)
Rendahkan diriMu serupa kami.
(Lower yourself to be like us.)
Sungguh panjang dan lebar kasihMu, ya Tuhan!
(How wide is your love, O God!)
Sungguh tinggi dan dalam anugrah slamatMu!
(How high and deep is your gift of salvation!)
Kau brikan bayi Yesus, bagi kami manusia,
(You gave us baby Jesus, for us human,)
Hadiah terbaik yang tak terselami.
(The Unspeakable Gift).

Ke dalam dunia, Yesus t'lah datang. Dalam Dia hidup dibrikan
(To the world, Jesus has come. In Him, life is given.)
Pada kita manusia yang percaya padaNya
(To us human who believes in Him.)
Sebenarnya ku tak layak kan had'ah hidup kekal
(Actually I'm not worthy to earn the gift of salvation).
Kau tinggalkan sorga lahir di kandang, satu tujuan mati disalib
(But You left heaven, born in a manger, one reason, to die on the cross.)
Demi kalahkan maut untuk jadi pemenang
(To defeat death and be a winner.)
Agar kami dapatkan hidup kekal abadi (Repeat reff)
(So that we can obtain the gift of salvation.)

Ke dalam dunia, Yesus t'lah datang, Bagi dunia damai sejaht'ra
(To the world, Jesus has come. To the world, peace is given.)
Raja Damai t'lah lahir, m'laikat Sorga bersorak
(Prince of peace has been born, Angels sings:)
"Kemuliaan bagi Allah di tempat maha tinggi!"
(Glory to the Lord in the highest!)
Ke dalam hatiku, Yesus berikan sebuah damai indah abadi.
(For my heart, Jesus has given an everlasting peace.)
Damai yang padaku tak dib'rikan dunia,
(Peace that was not given by the world,)
Melainkan sejahtera Kekuatan dari Bapa. (Repeat reff)
(But given from Father.)

Ke dalam dunia, Yesus t'lah datang. Janji Allah t'lah digenapi.
(To the world, Jesus has come. God's promise has been fullfilled.)
Barangsiapa percaya, b'lenggu dosa dipatahkan,
(For whoever believes, the barrier of sin is broken,)
B'lenggu maut dikalahkan, buktikan kemenangan.
(The barrier of death is defeated, the winner is proven.)
Kepada manusia, Kau hadiahkan. Bayi Kudus, Juruselamat,
(You've given to the world, a holy infant, the savior,)
Penasihat Ajaib, Allah yang Perkasa, Dialah Bapa Kekal,
(Wonderful counselor, mighty God, He is the everlasting Father,)
Dialah Raja Damai. (Repeat reff)
(He is the prince of peace.)

Merry Christmas 2004, Let this Christmas bring you peace that is being searched by every humankind, the peace given by the Creator. :)