Well, please take your Bibles and open them up this morning to the book of Matthew.
Book of Matthew, this one week break in between our series and Philippians.
We're pausing just for one week to go through the Christmas story this morning on the Sunday before Christmas.
And so this morning we'll be in Matthew chapter 1 and our text will be verses 18 through 25.
And I always encourage you to please, I encourage you to have a Bible open in front of you.
There's Bibles, copies of God's Word in the seat backs in front of you if you didn't bring your own.
And if you don't have a Bible at all, take that one home.
It's our gift to you.
We want you to have a copy of God's Word available to you.
So when you found it, Matthew chapter 1 verses 18 through 25,
let's please stand in honor of the reading of God's Word if you are able.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way.
When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph before they came together,
she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame,
resolved to divorce her quietly.
But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream,
saying, Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife,
for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will bear a son, and he shall call his name Jesus,
for he will save his people from their sins.
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means God with us.
When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.
He took his wife but knew her not until she had given birth to a son,
and he called his name Jesus.
Father, as we look to this familiar story, we ask God,
would you give us eyes of faith and hearts of faith?
Would you give us fresh eyes to see this story in all of its beauty and all of its glory?
And God, we ask that you would show us Christ.
We pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Would you please be seated?
I had the opportunity last Saturday to give a brief gospel presentation
at the German Christmas market here in All in All.
This is now the third year that I've had that opportunity,
and I look forward to it every year.
But every single year is a challenge because I am allotted two minutes.
Two minutes to share the gospel.
And each year, as I prepare and think about cramming this glorious story into just two minutes,
I remember, I think back on the story of Charles Spurgeon.
I'm not sure exactly where I first heard this,
but he shares a story of an occurrence that happened early on in his ministry.
He said,
One day in 1857, a day or two before preaching at the Crystal Palace,
I went to decide where the platform should be fixed.
They didn't have microphones and amplification like we do.
It had to be positioned just right to maximize his voice.
So he said,
I went to decide where the platform should be fixed,
and in order to test the acoustic properties of the building,
I cried out in a loud voice,
Behold the Lamb of God,
which taketh away the sin of the world.
He said that out in one of the galleries,
there was a workman who knew nothing of what was being done.
He heard the words,
and they came like a message from heaven to his soul.
He was smitten with conviction on account of sin,
put down his tools, went home,
and there after a season of spiritual struggling,
found peace and life by beholding the Lamb of God.
It's an encouragement for me,
whether in two minutes or 42 minutes,
we believe that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who believe.
But what stood out to me this year is,
as I thought and I prepared and I got ready for that moment,
and those two minutes as I prepared to share,
I thought about just how familiar so many people are with the story of Christmas.
Probably a few thousand people came through over two weekends there,
and you really couldn't escape it if you walked through.
There were manger scenes set up all over the place.
There were Christmas hymns being sung over the speakers.
There were musicians there playing these familiar Christmas songs.
The whole thing was called the Christ Kindle Marked,
Christ Child Market.
Everybody there was so near to the story of Christmas.
But here's what I told them.
Just because you're familiar with the story of Christmas,
I don't take it for granted that you truly understand the message of the gospel.
Just because you're familiar with Christ,
I especially don't take it for granted that you have faith in Christ.
I feel that same burden as I prepared to preach this familiar story this morning of the birth of Jesus.
I would be willing to bet that everybody in this room this morning,
as we come close to Christmas this year,
just a few days away,
I would be willing to bet that at least all of you on some level are at least familiar with the story of Christmas.
You've heard these words before.
You're familiar with the story of Christ's birth.
You've seen the baby in the manger.
You've heard and you've sung these Christmas hymns,
maybe for years and for years and for years.
But please,
don't make the fatal mistake
of confusing familiarity for faith.
There is an eternity of difference
between familiarity with Jesus
and faith in Jesus.
As we look again to the birth
and the wonder of Jesus this Christmas,
don't make that fatal mistake.
I want to spend our time this morning looking once again to this familiar story of Jesus' birth.
And I want to ask the question,
who is this child in the manger?
Who is this child
that we still talk about
and sing about
and celebrate some 2,000 years later
after his birth?
Who is Jesus?
We need to understand this
and be reminded of this once again
so that
we might know him
and trust in him
and love him
and worship him
and honor him
as he deserves
this Christmas.
Who is this child?
We get answers in three places
here in Matthew chapter 1.
Three places where we get answers to that question.
Who is this child?
First,
the circumstances of Jesus' birth
show us who he is.
The circumstances
surrounding his birth story,
they teach us a little bit about who he is.
Look there with me again to verse 18.
Sometimes new parents,
as they have a new child,
bring a new baby into the world,
I've been in conversations before,
they like to share the birth stories.
Have you ever had those conversations?
You share the stories
of how your child came into the world.
But listen,
I have yet to see
and to hear a story
that matches this one.
The birth of Jesus Christ
begins with a scandal.
Matthew tells us
Mary,
his mother,
was betrothed to Joseph.
That betrothal period
was a little bit
like an engagement period,
but it's much more
legally formal than that.
Mary and Joseph,
they were legally bound together
to be married.
So all of the legal,
all of the official,
all of the procedural agreements
were set.
You really didn't call off
a betrothal
for just on a whim
like we might call off
an engagement today.
There's really only a few ways
out of a betrothal,
death being one,
divorce being another.
And so Mary and Joseph
are set to be married,
but that marriage
was not yet officially official,
and they had not yet
consummated their marriage.
And that's an important detail
because here's the scandal.
Matthew tells us
before they came together,
Mary was found
to be with child.
It's a scandal.
No way around it.
In fact,
this was grounds
to call the whole thing off.
Under Jewish law,
Joseph had full grounds
to call the thing off.
In fact,
adultery was legal grounds
to stone the guilty party.
And yet it says,
Joseph,
being a just man
and unwilling
to put her to shame,
he resolved
to divorce her quietly.
But as he thought
about all of this,
as he processed,
something unusual happened.
It says,
as he considered
these things,
behold,
an angel of the Lord
appeared to him
in a dream.
And he gave him
some marriage advice.
He said,
Joseph, son of David,
do not fear
to take Mary
as your wife.
Why?
For that which is conceived
in her
is from the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes as we read
our Bible,
we can kind of get used
to things like this,
angels speaking
and divine encounters,
revelation.
We should recognize
this is anything
but normal.
This is not
a normal occurrence.
Most people do not
hear from angels.
This is an incredibly
unusual
and unique experience.
And the message
that he gives
is almost even
more strange
than that.
He says,
this child
in the womb
of your betrothed
isn't the result
of infidelity.
This isn't some
tragic mistake.
It's not the result
of sin.
This is the work
of God.
This is the product.
This child
in the womb
of Mary
is unlike
any other child
that's ever been born.
He will be
both God
and man.
He will be
born of the Spirit
of God
without an earthly father.
He'll be carried
in the womb
of the virgin
but he'll have
this divine nature.
He'll be fully divine
and yet fully man.
I assume
that you've heard
that before
but ask yourself again
do you fully grasp
the importance
of why that matters
so much?
Why do we make
such a big deal
about this virgin birth
and why does it matter
that the baby
in the manger
is born of God
and born of a virgin?
And the answer
to that question
it has everything
to do with
who Jesus is
and why Jesus
has come.
And we sing about it
often in the song
Come Behold
the Wondrous Mystery
Come Behold
the Wondrous Mystery
and the dawning
of the King
He the theme
of Heaven's praises
robed in frail humanity
in our longing
in our darkness
now the light
of life has come
look to Christ
who condescended
took on flesh
to ransom us
the eternal
Son of God
became man
took on
human flesh
in order
to redeem
us
it goes on
Come Behold
the Wondrous Mystery
He the perfect
Son of Man
in His living
in His suffering
never trace
nor stain
of sin
see the true
and better Adam
come to save
the hell bound man
Christ the great
and sure fulfillment
of the law
in Him
we stand
this child
is born
to be
the second Adam
He's born
to be the
true
and better
Adam
you think
about the
story of
Adam
and Eve
in the
garden
Adam
in the
garden
failed
in the
garden
of Eden
Adam
failed
and was
kicked out
of the
garden
he was
cursed
he was
sentenced
to death
and separation
from God
but not only
him
it's Adam
and all
those who
he represented
it's Adam
and every
child who's
ever been
born
of Adam
it's Adam
and every
human who's
ever been
naturally
descended
from the
line
of Adam
we are
all born
under
Adam's
curse
we all
inherit
Adam's
guilt
we all
inherit
Adam's
natural
separation
from God
we all
inherit
Adam's
natural
sin
nature
you want
to know
why you
sin
it's because
you are
born a
sinner
in Adam
every
child
who's
ever been
born
has been
born
in Adam
except
for one
the angel
says there's
something different
about this
child
this child
isn't born
of ordinary
means
he isn't
born with
Adam as
a father
he doesn't
inherit
Adam's
guilt
he doesn't
inherit
Adam's
curse
he doesn't
inherit
Adam's
sin
nature
this
child
is the
head
of a
new
and better
covenant
this
child
is
the
head
the
beginning
of a
new
and better
human
race
if this
child
succeeds
then all
that he
represents
succeed
if this
child
conquers
then all
who are
counted
in him
conquer
if this
child
lives
perfectly
then all
who are
included
in him
are reckoned
as if
they
have
lived
perfectly
praise
God
he's
the
true
and better
Adam
never
trace
nor
stain
of sin
where the
first Adam
disobeyed
and failed
the second
Adam
has come
and has
lived
perfectly
where the
first Adam
led us
out of the
presence of
God
the second
Adam
has come
to bring
us back
into the
presence
of God
where the
first Adam
allowed the
serpent
to deceive
and to
destroy
his bride
the second
Adam
has come
to finally
crush the
head of
the serpent
and to
defend
and redeem
his bride
for as
by one
man's
disobedience
the many
were made
sinners
so by
with the
one man's
obedience
the many
will be
made
righteous
these unique
circumstances
around Jesus
birth are
significant
because they
tell us that
this child
is the
God
man
the true
and better
Adam
the hope
of life
for all
who have
been cursed
with death
not only
this
second
Jesus'
lineage
teaches us
who he
is
Jesus'
lineage
teaches us
who he
is
you might
notice
as you
look up
above our
passage
there's a
long list
of names
right up
there in
verses 1
through 17
I've preached
on this
long list
of names
before
but I
spared you
this morning
of having
to have me
read this
out loud
to you
this year
but I
want you
to know
this isn't
just filler
information
here
he's not
just trying
to meet
his word
count
here
as he
writes the
gospel of
Matthew
this is
a
genealogy
of this
newborn
child
and it
tells us
who he
is
I know
over the
past several
years
there's
kind of
been a
rise
of
different
companies
that do
ancestry
type of
research
maybe you've
done some
of that
before
I know
some of
them are
getting in
some trouble
right now
for losing
their data
so if you've
done it
you might
want to
look into
that
but I
think it's
clear that
a lot of
people are
interested to
know where
they come
from
and to
have a
sort of
sense of
belonging
and identity
and ancestry
genealogy
it kind of
gives us a
little bit of
that rooted
sense of
identity
Jewish culture
was very
interested in
genealogy
and for
them it
had everything
to do with
belonging
and identity
only the
point here
isn't just
to trace
a family
tree
the point
here is
to trace
a promise
actually
multiple
promises
here
Jesus'
lineage
shows us
that he
is the
fulfillment
of the
promises
of
God
ever
since
Genesis
3
15
God
has
been
promising
that
he
would
send
someone
to
restore
what
sin
has
broken
ever
since
Genesis
3
he
has
promised
that he
would
send
somebody
who
would
crush
the
head
of
the
serpent
ever
since
Genesis
3
in the
fall
in the
garden
God's
people
have
looked
forward
to
and
longed
for
and
expected
someone
who
will
come
the
seed
of
the
woman
who
will
come
and
restore
what's
been
broken
in the
fall
when
will
the
Christ
come
here
Matthew
chapter 1
verse 1
tells us
this is the
book
of the
genealogy
of Jesus
Christ
the son
of David
the son
of Abraham
every
single Jew
would have
known the
significance
of this
sentence
this
child
is not
just
an
ordinary
child
Matthew
says
he
is
the
Christ
he
is
the
fulfillment
of the
hope
of Israel
he
is
the
one
that
we've
been
waiting
for
he
is
the
promised
Messiah
the
long
awaited
king
in
delivery
he's
the
anointed
one
he's
the
Christ
he
says
he's
the
promised
son
of
Abraham
and
we're
getting
ready
to
preach
through
Genesis
next
year
this
will
be
sort
of
a
preview
for
you
in
Genesis
chapter
12
we'll
be
there
in
August
Genesis
chapter
12
God
made
a
covenant
with
Abraham
he
made
a
promise
he
promised
that
he
would
make
out
of
Abraham
a
great
nation
and
he
promised
to
bless
him
and
promised
to
make
his
name
great
so
that
he
would
be
a
blessing
and
he
said
I
will
bless
those
who
bless
you
and
those
who
dishonor
you
I
will
curse
in
you
all
the
families
of
the
earth
shall
be
blessed
this
covenant
it
was
incredibly
significant
for the
Jewish
people
it
marked
out
their
identity
it
marked
out
their
hope
it
marked
out
their
belonging
to
the
people
of
God
to
be
a
son
of
Abraham
was
to
be
a
child
of
God
but
now
Matthew
is
showing
us
that
all
of
this
all
of
these
promises
are
found
in
Jesus
he
is
the
promised
seed
of
Abraham
this
child
Jesus
is
the
heir
of
all
of
the
promises
God
made
to
Abraham
this
child
Jesus
is
the
true
fulfillment
of
the
Abrahamic
covenant
it's
in
him
that
all
the
nations
of
the
earth
will
be
blessed
through
faith
in
him
it's
in
him
by
faith
in
him
that
one
is
included
in
the
people
of
God
it's
in
him
he
is
the
true
son
of
God
it's
in
him
that
all
nations
all
peoples
of
the
earth
can
be
called
sons
and
daughters
of
God
as
his
kingdom
that's
the
true
promised
land
for
all
of
God's
people
Jew
and
Gentile
alike
it's
his
life
and
his
death
and
his
resurrection
and
all
the
many
benefits
of
the
gospel
that
are
held
out
and
offered
to
the
world
that's
the
blessing
for
the
nations
it's
in
Jesus
that
we
find
our
identity
our
hope
our
belonging
to
the
people
of
God
he
is
the
Christ
the
son
of
Abraham
not
only
this
he
says
he's
also
the
promised
son
of
David
son
of
David
2nd
Samuel
chapter
7
God
makes
another
promise
another
covenant
with
David
and
David
wanted
to build
God
a
house
he
wanted
to build
a temple
for the
Lord
but the
Lord
responded
and said
no no no
you're not
going to
build me
a house
guess what
I'm
going to
build
you
a house
here's
what he
promised
when your
days are
fulfilled
and you
lie down
with your
fathers
I will
raise up
your
offspring
after you
who
shall
come
from
your
body
and I
will
establish
his
kingdom
he
shall
build
a
house
for
my
name
and I
will
establish
the throne
of his
kingdom
forever
I will
be to him
a father
and he
shall be
to me
a son
he
promised
David
your
throne
will be
established
forever
only what
happened
as we
look through
this list
of names
Solomon
came
and went
Rehoboam
came
and went
Abijah
came
and went
Asaph
came
and went
Jehoshaphat
came
and went
Joram
came
and went
Uzziah
came
and went
you thought
I wasn't
going to
read those
names
I couldn't
resist
some of
these guys
were decent
leaders
and some
of them
were okay
kings
but all
of them
were sinners
and all
of them
died
none
of them
met up
to this
expectation
of a
forever
king
not one
of them
met up
to the
longing
and expectation
of fulfillment
of this
promise
I will
give you
a kingdom
forever
Matthew
says
this child
in the
manger
he is
the promised
king
the point
of this
long list
of names
is to
link
this child's
legal claim
to the throne
of David
to show
he is
the fulfillment
of all the
promises
of God
he is
the one
that Isaiah
announced
to us
a child
is born
to us
a son
is given
the government
shall be
upon his
shoulder
and his
name
shall be
called
wonderful
counselor
mighty
God
everlasting
father
prince
of peace
of the
increase
of his
government
and of
peace
there will
be no
end
on the
throne
of David
and over
his
kingdom
to establish
it
and to
uphold
it
with
justice
and with
righteousness
from
this
time
forth
and
forever
more
he's
the one
that
Daniel
saw
the one
who came
with the clouds
of heaven
one like a son of man
who came to the ancient of days
and was presented before him
and to him was given
dominion
and glory
and a kingdom
that all peoples
nations
and languages
should serve him
his dominion
is an everlasting
dominion
which shall not
pass away
and his kingdom
is one
that shall not
be
destroyed
Jesus
is
the promised
king
we sing another song
at Christmas
come thou long
expected
Jesus
and second verse
goes like this
born thy people
to deliver
born a child
and yet
a king
born to reign
in us
forever
now
thy gracious
kingdom
bring
church
we get to
rejoice
at Christmas
time
that we look
back
and realize
the king
has come
Jesus
is the promised
king
he has
come already
to defeat
our greatest
enemy
he has come
already
to establish
and to
inaugurate
his kingdom
and we look
forward to the
time
as we pray
and we sing
come thou
long
expected
Jesus
when the king
will return
to finish
what he
begun
he will
return
to establish
his kingdom
in full
to finally
defeat
our enemies
to finally
establish
peace
to finally
bring us
home
exactly as
God has
promised
Jesus'
birth story
tells us
who he is
his birth
family
tells us
who he is
and lastly
we see here
that his name
tells us
who he is
third
the names
of Jesus
tell us
who he is
you know
each time
that Amanda
and I
had a baby
on the way
three times
now
we got
three boys
every single
time
we wrestled
we toss
out this
name
or that
name
we discuss
what we
wanted to
name our
children
because the
name is
important
it's
representative
of who
they might
be
I think
I still
have a
list
on my
phone
of notes
of what
we might
name our
children
even the
first two
we didn't
know if
they were
going to
be a
boy
or a
girl
so we
had to
have
boy names
picked
out
we had to
have
girl names
picked out
and we
spent a lot
of time
discussing the
names of
our coming
children
Mary and
Joseph didn't
have that
problem
did they
they were
told exactly
what to
name their
child
two names
here
actually
and just
like with
the genealogy
these aren't
just empty
names
these names
hold within
them
promises
of God
held out to
you this
morning
church
Jesus
verse 21
and Emmanuel
verse 23
the name
Jesus
literally
means
savior
means
deliverer
verse 21
says she
will bear
a son
and you
shall call
his name
Jesus
why
for he
will save
his people
from their
sins
as we
look to
the manger
and we
see the
baby
Jesus
this baby
in the
manger
is born
to be
the savior
of the
world
what we
celebrate
at Christmas
is the
beginning
of the
answer
to our
greatest
problem
I don't
know what
you would
consider to
be your
greatest
problem
this year
whether
it's
stress
or financial
issues
or health
issues
or family
issues
whatever it
may be
we need
to understand
that our
greatest
problem
is none
of these
things
these are
far downstream
from our
true greatest
problem
our greatest
problem
yours and
mine
is our
sin
not just
our sin
but the
result of
our sin
is God's
wrath
against our
sin
we need to
know that
left to
ourself
our greatest
problem is
God's holy
wrath
his justice
and his
holiness
when that's
paired with
our sin
and our
guilt
that is a
problem
for us
but here
the angel
says
here is
hope
for sinners
like me
here is
a savior
for sinners
like you
here is a
a deliverer
he's
Jesus
for he
will save
his people
from their
sins
how will he
do it
in the most
unthinkable
way
God
himself
comes
to save
us
from the
wrath
of God
God
himself
becomes
man
God
himself
comes
to
live
in our
place
and to
perfectly
fulfill
all the
requirements
of the
law
that
you
and I
have
failed
and
failed
and
failed
because
none
of us
can
do it
and then
God
himself
has
come
and
has
suffered
and
died
in our
place
God
himself
saves
sinners
by
God
bearing
the
wrath
of
God
against
our
sin
this
is the
gospel
God
himself
becomes
sin
for us
so that
in him
we might
become
the
righteousness
of God
therefore
as Paul
says in
Philippians 2
God
has
highly
exalted
him
and bestowed
on him
the name
that is
above
every name
so that
at the
name
of Jesus
every knee
should bow
in heaven
and on earth
and under
the earth
and every
tongue
confess
that Jesus
Christ
is Lord
to the
glory
of God
the
father
there is
salvation
in no
one else
for there is
no other
name
under heaven
given among
men by which
we must
be saved
only
the name
of Jesus
and everyone
who calls
upon the name
of the
Lord
will be
saved
I wonder
what you
think of
when you
hear the
name
Jesus
I wonder
if it's
just
familiar
to you
if it's
just normal
and ordinary
to you
or I wonder
if you
hear the
name
Jesus
and you
say
that
is my
salvation
Jesus
is the
first name
verse 22
gives us
a second
name
for this
child
finally
we see
his name
is Jesus
and second
his name
is
Emmanuel
look there
to verse 22
verse 22
it tells us
all of this
took place
to fulfill
what the
Lord had
spoken
by the
prophet
behold
the
virgin
shall
conceive
and bear
a son
and they
shall
call
his
name
Emmanuel
which
means
God
with us
this is
the second
name
Emmanuel
God
with us
some
700
years
before
the birth
of this
child
think
about
that
700
years
before
this
baby
was
born
the
prophet
Isaiah
was
talking
about
the
birth
of
this
child
prophesied
that
a virgin
would
conceive
and bear
a son
and prophesied
that they
would call
his name
Emmanuel
let me
just
walk you
through the
story of
the Bible
real quick
here
ever since
the garden
when Adam
and Eve
were cast
out of
the presence
of God
mankind
has
needed
an answer
to this
problem
we cannot
be with
a holy
God
our sin
has
distanced
us
from
a holy
God
our sin
has
separated
us
from
God
we had
it
for a
moment
in the
garden
and it
is
gone
and yet
by his
grace
as we
read
through
our
Old
Testament
as we
lead up
to the
coming
of Christ
we see
by his
grace
God
has
continuously
made a
way
and made
a way
and made
a way
to be
with his
people
in part
God was
with Israel
in the
pillar of
cloud
and of
fire
he guided
them through
the wilderness
and out
of exile
God made
a way
to be
with them
in the
tabernacle
and his
presence
dwelt
there
especially
within this
tent
as they
journeyed
on their
way to
the
promised
land
then when
they got
there
God
was with
them
God
was with
them
in the
temple
in a
more
stable
in a
more
lasting
way
this
was
really
the
pinnacle
of God's
presence
with them
in the
Old Testament
but even
then we know
this was not
enough
all of these
were wonderful
but partial
offerings
of the presence
of God
the problem
of sin
still remained
the need
for reconciliation
with a holy
God
still remained
all of the
limitations
of place
and people
and physical
restraints
still remained
even the
temple
as glorious
as it
was
it served
both as a
reminder
of God's
presence
but also
of his
distance
our sin
still separated
man from
God
but now
Matthew
says
now
Emmanuel
has
come
God
with
us
has
come
this
baby
in the
manger
Paul
says
in
Colossians
1
is the
image
of the
invisible
God
and in
him
all the
fullness
of God
was pleased
to dwell
and through
him
to reconcile
to himself
all things
whether on
earth
or in
heaven
making
peace
by the
blood
of his
cross
at Christmas
we look
and we
recognize
Christ
our
savior
has
come
he
is
Emmanuel
God
with
us
he
is
God
and
sinners
reconciled
this is
what we
celebrate
at Christmas
church
God
has
come
to us
no longer
is his
presence
with us
restrained
by sin
he
has
paid
for
our
sin
that
curtain
in the
temple
is torn
in two
we
have
access
to
him
by
faith
in
Christ
no longer
is his
presence
with us
limited
to just
one
particular
people
he
has
come
for
the
nations
he
has
come
for
you
no
longer
is his
presence
limited
to one
particular
place
he
can
be
known
and
he
can
be
worshipped
in
all
and
in
Pakistan
and
in
Jordan
and
in
Kenya
and
in
Taiwan
and
Uzbekistan
and no
longer
is his
presence
something
that we
only
wait
for
in the
future
he
has
come
and
you
may
know
him
and
his
presence
with
you
right
now
and
by
knowing
him
now
we
can
look
forward
to
the
time
that
John
saw
in
his
vision
behold
the
dwelling
places
of
God
is
with
man
he
will
dwell
with
them
and
they
will
be
his
people
for
God
himself
will
be
with
them
as
their
God
friend
have
you
heard
these
things
before
do
not
pass
over
this
incredible
truth
this
Christmas
as
something
routine
as
something
familiar
don't
lose
your
wonder
at
this
truth
God
has
come
to
be
with
us
Charles
Spurgeon
preached
a Christmas
Eve
sermon
170
years
ago
December
24
1854
let
me
quote
him
and
just
listen
to
the
wonder
in
his
words
so
the
virgin
mary
called
her
son
Emmanuel
that
there
might
be
a
meaning
in
his
name
God
with
us
my
soul
ring
these
words
again
God
with
us
God
oh
it
is
one
of
the
bells
of
heaven
let
us
strike
it
yet
again
God
with
us
oh
it
is
a
stray
note
from
the
sonnets
of
paradise
God
with
us
oh
it
is
the
lisping
of
a
seraph
God
with
us
oh
it
is
one
of
the
notes
of
the
singing
of
Jehovah
when
he
rejoices
over
his
church
with
singing
God
with
us
tell
it
tell
it
he
has
not
lost
that
name
Jesus
had
that
name
on
earth
and
he
has
it
now
in
heaven
he
is
now
God
with
us
believer
he
is
God
with
thee
to
protect
thee
thou
art
not
alone
because
the
savior
is
with
thee
put
me
in
the
desert
where
vegetation
grows
not
I
can
still
say
God
with
us
put
me
on
the
wild
ocean
and
let
my
ship
dance
madly
on
the
waves I will still say Immanuel God with us mount me on the sunbeam and let me fly beyond the western sea still I would say God with us let my body dive down into the depths of the ocean let me hide in its caverns still I could say as a child of God God with us I am in the grave sleeping there in corruption still I can see the footmarks of Jesus I can see the footmarks of Jesus and the footmarks of Jesus.
He trod the path of all his people and still his name is God with us.
If you are struggling this Christmas with worry and anxiety,
look to Christ and remember God is with you.
If you are struggling with some lingering sin in your life,
whatever that may be,
friend, look to Christ and remember God is with you.
He has come to save sinners like you.
If you find yourself spiritually sluggish this Christmas,
look to Christ.
God is with us.
And if you find yourself far from God this Christmas,
friend, look to Christ.
God has come down to you so that you can be near to God and not just know about him and be familiar with him,
but to truly know God.
But it's in Christ and only in Christ that you can know him.
So look to Christ this Christmas, church.
Behold the Lamb of God this Christmas who taketh away the sin of the world.
Look to this child and behold the true and better Adam who has lived perfectly in your place to save ruined sinners from what our sin deserves.
Behold in the manger the promised seed of Abraham.
Behold the promised King of David.
Behold the Christ.
Behold Jesus the Savior of the world.
Behold Emmanuel, God with us.
Look to Christ and let his name be praised in your hearts, in your families, in this church, in this community, in the world this Christmas now and to eternity.
Let's pray.
Father, we praise you for Emmanuel, God with us.
Lord, we praise you for Christ, for his coming, for his humility, for his mission to save sinners.
Lord, we pray that if there are any who have joined us this morning who do not know Christ by faith,
would you give them the gift of faith right this moment?
Cause them and lead them to call out to you for saving mercy and to know that they will receive it in full
if they only look to Christ in faith.
We pray, Father, would you be exalted as we remember you this Christmas.
We love you.
We pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen.