Hello, and welcome back to Nations 4 Jesus. Today I want to share a beautiful Mexican legend that captures the heart of what true worship is—the legend of the poinsettia. This story, combined with the rich history of Christianity in Mexico, reminds us that God values the humble gifts of a sincere heart more than the impressive offerings of pride.
Every Christmas, millions of homes display poinsettias—those brilliant red flowers that have become synonymous with the season. But do you know where they come from and what they represent? The story begins in Mexico with a poor girl named Pepita, and it connects to a fascinating history of faith that stretches back 500 years.
The legend tells of Pepita, a poor Mexican girl who had no gift to present to the Christ Child at Christmas Eve services. As Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy. Everyone else seemed to have beautiful gifts to bring—flowers, food, handmade items. But Pepita had nothing.
"I'm sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes," said Pedro consolingly. His words were kind, but Pepita still felt the weight of having nothing to offer.
Not knowing what else to do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by the humbleness of her offering. What would people think when they saw her lay weeds at the altar while others brought beautiful gifts?
But as she approached the altar, she remembered Pedro's kind words: "Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes." She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the nativity scene.
And then, suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red! All who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes. God had transformed Pepita's humble offering into something beautiful, not because of what she brought, but because of the love and sincerity with which she brought it.
From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the "Flores de Noche Buena"—Flowers of the Holy Night—for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season. Today, we know them as poinsettias, named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, who introduced them to the United States in the 1820s.
This legend beautifully illustrates a biblical truth. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul writes: "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." God doesn't measure our gifts by their monetary value or impressiveness—He looks at the heart behind the gift.
Remember the widow's mite in Luke 21? Jesus watched the rich people putting their gifts into the temple treasury, and then He saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
Pepita's weeds, given in love and humility, were more precious to God than all the expensive gifts brought by others. That's the heart of true worship—not what we have, but what we give from what we have.
But to understand the depth of this Mexican legend, we need to understand how Christianity came to Mexico. The Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés arrived in Mexico in 1519, and by 1521, he had conquered the Aztec Empire. Along with the soldiers came Catholic missionaries—primarily Franciscans, Dominicans, and Augustinians—who saw the conquest as an opportunity to evangelize the indigenous peoples.
The conversion of Mexico happened rapidly—some would say too rapidly. Millions of indigenous Mexicans were baptized, often with little understanding of what they were accepting. The missionaries faced enormous challenges: language barriers, the violent methods of the conquistadors that contradicted the Gospel message, and the deeply entrenched Aztec religion with its practice of human sacrifice.
But something remarkable happened in 1531 that transformed Mexican Christianity. According to Catholic tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to a poor indigenous man named Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City. She spoke to him in his native Nahuatl language and asked that a church be built on that site. When the skeptical bishop demanded proof, Juan Diego's tilma (cloak) miraculously bore the image of Mary.
Now, whether you accept the miraculous nature of this event or not, its impact on Mexican Christianity is undeniable. The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe—a dark-skinned Mary who spoke the indigenous language—made Christianity feel accessible to the native peoples in a way that the Spanish priests had not. Millions converted following this event. Today, Our Lady of Guadalupe remains the most important religious symbol in Mexico, and her feast day on December 12th is celebrated throughout the country.
Mexican Christianity developed as a unique blend of Catholic tradition and indigenous customs—what scholars call "syncretism." While this concerned some church leaders, it also meant that faith became deeply woven into Mexican culture. Religious festivals, pilgrimages, devotion to saints, elaborate Christmas celebrations—all became central to Mexican identity.
By the early 1800s, when Mexico gained independence from Spain, the Catholic Church was enormously powerful, owning significant land and wielding political influence. But this power led to conflict. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, Mexico experienced periods of intense anti-clerical sentiment, including the Cristero War (1926-1929) when Catholics took up arms to resist government persecution.
Protestant Christianity came to Mexico much later, in the mid-to-late 1800s as Mexico opened to religious freedom. Missionaries from various denominations—Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal—established churches, schools, and hospitals. Growth was slow at first, as Mexico was overwhelmingly Catholic.
But in the 20th century, especially from the 1960s onward, Protestant and evangelical Christianity exploded in Mexico. Pentecostal churches grew rapidly. House churches multiplied. Today, while Mexico remains about 78% Catholic, approximately 10-12% of Mexicans identify as Protestant or evangelical—that's over 13 million people! And these numbers are growing, particularly among younger generations.
Let me mention a few notable Mexican Christians whose faith has impacted the world. First, there's Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1651-1695), a brilliant nun, poet, and scholar who defended women's right to education and wrote beautiful religious poetry. She's considered one of the greatest writers in the Spanish language.
More recently, there's Samuel Ruiz García (1924-2011), the Bishop of Chiapas who became known as the "Bishop of the Indians" for his decades of advocacy for indigenous peoples' rights, combining deep Catholic faith with social justice.
In the evangelical world, there's Luis Palau (1934-2021), though born in Argentina, who had significant ministry in Mexico and throughout Latin America, preaching the Gospel to millions through crusades and media. And there are countless Mexican missionaries serving around the world today, taking the Gospel from Mexico to unreached peoples in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Mexican Christmas traditions beautifully express the vibrant faith of Mexican Christianity. Let me share a few with you. First, there are "Las Posadas"—nine nights of processions from December 16-24, reenacting Mary and Joseph's search for lodging in Bethlehem. Families go from house to house singing, with some playing Mary and Joseph and others turning them away until finally they're welcomed in for celebration, food, and prayer.
Then there's the "Nacimiento"—elaborate nativity scenes that are central to Mexican Christmas celebrations. These aren't just small figurine sets—many families create entire miniature villages with intricate detail, and adding the baby Jesus to the manger on Christmas Eve is a sacred family moment.
On Christmas Eve, "Noche Buena," families attend Midnight Mass called "Misa de Gallo" (Rooster's Mass), then return home for a feast that often lasts until dawn. The celebration is deeply religious—it's not primarily about Santa Claus or presents, but about the birth of Jesus.
And of course, there are the poinsettias—"Flores de Noche Buena"—which decorate churches and homes throughout the season, reminding Mexicans of Pepita's humble gift that God transformed into something beautiful.
So what's the state of Christianity in Mexico today? It's a mixed picture. On one hand, Mexico remains deeply Catholic in culture and identity. Religious festivals, pilgrimages to Guadalupe, and Christmas traditions continue strong. Churches are full for major celebrations. Faith is woven into daily life in ways that have largely disappeared in the United States and Europe.
But there are also challenges. Nominal Christianity is common—many Mexicans identify as Catholic but rarely attend Mass or read Scripture. Secularization is increasing, especially in urban areas and among young people. Materialism and consumerism are eroding traditional values. The horrific violence of drug cartels has devastated communities and driven many to despair.
However, there's also genuine hope! Evangelical Christianity is growing rapidly, bringing biblical teaching, personal conversion, and vibrant worship to millions. Catholic renewal movements are revitalizing parishes. Young people are discovering authentic faith. Mexican missionaries are being sent to unreached peoples. Churches are addressing social problems—addiction, poverty, violence—with Gospel-centered solutions.
Mexico is also becoming a missionary-sending nation. Organizations like COMIMEX (Cooperación Misionera de México) are mobilizing Mexican believers to reach unreached people groups. Mexican missionaries serve in North Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and among unreached indigenous groups within Mexico itself. The nation that received missionaries 500 years ago is now sending missionaries—that's the beautiful cycle of the Great Commission!
So what can we learn from the legend of the poinsettia and the story of Mexican Christianity? First, God values humble gifts given in love. Pepita's weeds became a miracle because of her sincere heart. God doesn't need our impressive offerings—He wants our authentic worship. Whatever you have to offer God this Christmas, offer it with love, and He will accept it.
Second, God works through unexpected people and places. Who would have thought that a poor indigenous girl's gift of weeds would become the most popular Christmas flower in the world? Who would have thought that Mexico, conquered and colonized, would develop such a rich Christian heritage and now send missionaries globally? God delights in using the humble and unexpected to display His glory.
Third, true faith must become indigenous to be lasting. The poinsettia legend shows Christianity taking root in Mexican soil, using Mexican imagery and speaking to Mexican hearts. The Gospel is universal, but it must be expressed in culturally relevant ways. That's why Mexican missionaries can reach people that American missionaries can't—they bring a different cultural perspective on the same unchanging Gospel.
This Christmas, I want to challenge you with Pepita's example. What humble gift can you offer to Jesus? Maybe it's not money or talents—maybe it's just your sincere love, your broken heart, your honest prayers, your willingness to serve in small ways that no one notices.
Remember what Pedro told Pepita: "Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes." That's still true today. God isn't impressed by what impresses people. He looks at the heart. Bring Him your weeds, and watch Him transform them into something beautiful.
And pray for Mexico! Pray for the millions of nominal Catholics to encounter Jesus personally. Pray for the growing evangelical church to remain biblical and missional. Pray for Mexican missionaries serving in hard places. Pray for an end to cartel violence and for the Gospel to bring peace. Mexico has a rich Christian heritage—pray that it will experience a new awakening in this generation!
Let me pray:
Thank you for joining me today. This Christmas, when you see a poinsettia, remember Pepita's humble gift and the vibrant faith of Mexican Christianity. And remember that God can take the humblest offering and transform it into something beautiful for His glory.
Until next time, remember—keep your eyes on the nations and bring Jesus your humble gifts!
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