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Church of the Nazarene – Harrisonburg
The Christmas Gifts – Part 1Christmas Gifts Part 1 “Presence”
As we enter the Advent season for 2022, we will seek to grow deeper in our understanding of the free gifts available to us through Christ and His coming. Gifts we cannot earn and do not deserve.
Christmas is a time to celebrate the presence that came at that first Christmas, and it’s an opportunity for all to receive the greatest gift in Christ. It is no accident that gift giving is a part of Christmas since Christmas itself is a great gift!
Matthew 1:18-23
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.-His name, Jesus, specifies what he does (“God saves”), and Immanuel specifies who He is (“God with us”).
-Part of Jesus’ saving activity is indelibly connected to His presence with us. You don’t get one without the other.
-It’s difficult to imagine the presence of God unless you know what it’s like to be away from His presence, which is what the people in Isaiah’s time would have known. They knew darkness and despair and what seemed hopeless. Thus, the reason for the promise. Immanuel is coming!
John 1:9-14
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Bottom Line:
He was born in that manger so He could be with you.
It’s not that Jesus came to be with you (past tense), it’s that His presence is still with us now!
Verses for further study/reflection:
Philippians 2:6-8
Isaiah 41:10
Isaiah 8:8-10