.jpg)
Matthew 1:20-23 :: December 21, 2025
Week #4: “God With Us, Emmanuel”
“Advent” means “coming.” Christmas is coming. Jesus has come and is coming again.
As we light each Advent candle, we are anticipating the arrival of our Lord by reflecting on the scriptural truth embedded in the classic carol, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.”
[LIGHT FIRST CANDLE AGAIN.]
Our first candle was a candle of freedom. When Jesus comes, He will release us from our fears and sins. We will find our rest in Him.
[LIGHT SECOND CANDLE AGAIN.]
The second candle was a candle of joy. Jesus is the true fulfillment of all of our longings. When He returns, He will fill the world with His glory and His people with unending joy.
[LIGHT THIRD CANDLE AGAIN.]
Our third candle was a candle of hope. Jesus is the light of the world. When He comes, our Lord will dispel the darkness with all of its coldness, emptiness, and despair. The bright promised Star of Jacob will shine His light of hope upon us.
[LIGHT FOURTH CANDLE.]
The fourth candle is a candle of nearness. The newest stanza of this carol reads:
“Son of heaven, son of Mary,
hear the song of angels tell
thou hast come to save thy people,
God with us, Emmanuel.”
The ancient prophet Isaiah predicted that a virgin would give birth to a son who would be given the name “Emmanuel” which, in Hebrew, means “God with us.” Then Matthew the Evangelist revealed that this prophecy was fulfilled by the Son of Mary when he wrote of what the angel told Mary’s husband Joseph in a dream.
[READ MATTHEW 1:20-23.]
When Jesus was born, God came near. The Son of Heaven made His dwelling among us (John 1:14). Because God is with us, we are not alone. We are never abandoned nor forsaken (Hebrews 13:5). Our God is close. And when Emmanuel returns, we will be near God in the fullest way forever–as we will see His face! (Revelation 22:4)
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus!
***
0 comments:
Post a Comment