Immanuel: God with Us
Matthew 1:18-25
Immanuel: God with US
Matthew 1:18-25
Main Idea: Christmas is the disruptive good news that Christ saves us from sin and frees us from fear.
I. Christmas is the Fulfillment of God’s Plan
Jesus’ birth was not an accident of history but the fulfillment of God’s eternal plan of salvation. Matthew specifically sees the fulfillment that Christ would be born in the line of David, and that he would be conceived and born of a virgin (cf. Isa. 7:14).
The birth of Christ was the incarnation of God: it was God taking upon himself humanity—a mystery, a wondrous mystery, to be believed in rather than to be defined… Infinite, and an infant — eternal, and yet born of a woman — Almighty... supporting the universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms.
~ Charles Spurgeon, “His Name - Wonderful!”
II. Christmas is the Assurance of God’s Presence
The angel’s announcement to Joseph and the circumstances surrounding the birth of Christ are disruptive and a complete overhaul of his life and future. “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance, the only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” ~ C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock
In the face of this disruption, Joseph trusts that this child is indeed ‘Immanuel’ - God with us. Two implications of this good news:
We do not have to fear (1:20; cf. Isa. 41:10)
We can embrace the cost of following Jesus (cf. Mt. 16:24)
III. Christmas is the Promise of God’s Pardon
The crucial significance of the cradle at Bethlehem lies in its place in the sequence of steps that led the Son of God to the cross of Calvary… the Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity – hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory – because at the Father’s will Jesus Christ became poor and was born in a stable so that thirty years later he might hang on a cross. It is the most wonderful message that the world has ever heard or will hear.”
~ J.I. Packer, Knowing God
The First Christmas Song (Christmas Eve 2021)
Luke 1:46-56
The First Christmas Song
Luke 1:46-56
Main Idea: Christmas is an invitation to humbly sing about the good news of Christ’s coming.
I. Why Mary Sings
Mary responds to the visit of the Angel Gabriel in stages:
Searching (1:29): she takes an “accounting” of this disruptive news
Surrender (1:38): she offers a simple surrender in faith
Singing (1:46-47): she is moved in her “spirit” and her “soul” to magnify the Lord, “my Savior”
II. What Mary Sings
Mary sings about:
God’s Character (1:49-50). He is mighty, holy, and merciful.
God’s Purposes (1:51-53). His strong ‘arm’ brings salvation; he humbles the exalted and exalts the humble.
God’s Promises (1:54-55). Though Mary had every earthly circumstantial reason to doubt God’s promises, he is faithful to his people and his word.
“There has never been a gift offered that makes you swallow your pride to the depths that the gift of Jesus Christ requires us to do. Christmas means that we are so lost, so unable to save ourselves, that nothing less than the death of the Son of God himself could save us. That means you are not somebody who can pull yourself together and live a moral and good life. To accept the true Christmas gift, you have to admit you’re a sinner. You need to be saved by grace. You need to give up control of your life.” ~ Tim Keller
III. How We Can Sing
We can join the song of Mary by:
Humbly receiving the mercy of God through Jesus Christ
“Christ is always born in Bethlehem among the little ones. Big hearts never get Christ inside of them; Christ lives not in great hearts, but in little ones. Mighty and proud spirits never have Jesus Christ, for he comes in at low doors, but he will not come in at high ones. He who has a broken heart, and a low spirit, shall have the Savior, but none else.” ~ Charles Spurgeon
Filling our minds with the holy wonder of Christmas
“The crucial significance of the cradle at Bethlehem lies in its place in the sequence of steps that led the Son of God to the cross of Calvary… the Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity – hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory – because at the Father’s will Jesus Christ became poor and was born in a stable so that thirty years later he might hang on a cross. It is the most wonderful message that the world has ever heard or will hear.” ~ J.I. Packer