Immanuel: God With Us As Savior
Luke 2:8-12, 25-32; Luke 1:76-79; Hosea 13:4-6
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
76And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
4“But I have been the Lord your God ever since you came out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me. 5I cared for you in the wilderness, in the land of burning heat. 6When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.
A Moses/Jesus connection
Born in unique circumstances
Given a charge from God
Moses - led his people out of bondage and to the brink of a Promised land
But…(Hosea 13:4-6) -
Jesus - led all of us from a bondage, not of slavery to Egypt, But out of the bondage of sin and separation to an new Kingdom now and in the future - an eternal promised Land
History repeats itself - will we too become prideful to the point we turn our backs on God?
Jesus is God’s final, everlasting plan - Our Savior
Closing Prayer
Mighty God, we give you thanks and praise for sending that tiny baby who was laid in that manger - the one who was You and is You, the one who came to deliver us from sin and the consequences of sin and separation, the One who gives us life - new life - eternal life - abundant life - the One who is our hope and our peace. We invite you to come in and fill us full of the Holy Spirit for these last hours of preparation until the celebration begins. In that baby’s mighty name - the name of Jesus. Amen
Next Sunday: Immanuel: God With Us As Prophet, Priest, and King
TODAY’S PREACHER
Randy Reese is Directing Pastor of Calvary UMC