Advent (1)

What do you love the most about Christmas? If I am honest my favorite thing about Christmas is the gift. I like things, I like to collect things, to have things, to sell things, to buy things. I like to have stuff. But I also really enjoy spending time with Mrs. Stephanie for the holidays and being able to eat a lot of food. There are so many things I like about Christmas. What do you love the most about Christmas?

You know, there are some things we must recognize about Christmas as we get super close to that time, Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays in this country, and we make sure we decorate, we make sure the lights turn on, we do all sorts of stuff as we prepare for Christmas.

But Christmas is celebrated during the darkest part of the year. and that is intentional. It reminds all of us, that God entered our cold and dark world full of sin to bring us light, love, joy and peace. Jesus came so that we may be with God now, and for all eternity.

I want us to take some time the next few weeks learning from a pastor that is currently preaching at a church in Raleigh and Durham. Watch with me friends.

What does the name Emmanuel mean?

Emmanuel means “God with us”

I want you all here to think about time that you felt God was with you.

Is there anything that happens in your life that makes you feel like God might not be with you? It might be easy to feel disconnected from God. Sometimes that is because we see God as this distant person because He’s up in the sky. But sometimes we feel like God is so far away because of the things that happen in our life. that could be fear, betrayal, sickness, or maybe when we loose family members we feel distant from God.

Let’s take a look at the story of how Jesus’ was named Emmanuel in the New Testament.

Matthew 1:18–23 NIV

18 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. 19 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. 20 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. 21 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.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

I truly believe the entire reason Jesus came to you and me is stated in verse .

Matthew 1:21 NIV

21 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.”

Jesus came to save His people from their sins. Remember how we get so caught up in our hurt and pain and it makes us feel as if God was so so far away? Life is hard, and pain will come, and no matter what you do in life, there is no way to avoid the hurt and the pain and the suffering that comes in life. But Jesus came to you, he came to me, he came to live with us and be a part of our lives. And when people enter our lives they share in our hurt and pain and suffering and Jesus Himself shares in your hurt and pain.

His love is so big that He shares in your sufferings. But sometimes we miss out on some things to because Matthew teaches in verse 21 that Jesus came to save us from our sins. And boy do we wait for Jesus to come and save us from our sufferings instead. The people of that time waited for Jesus to save them from their oppressors. What is your oppressor today? is it loss? hurt? pain? loneliness? depression? it sure can be, and Jesus can take those things away from your life but it is not guaranteed. Jesus came to save you from YOUR sins. Sin is the biggest oppressor of today. And that’s why Jesus came for you and me.

I hope we remember what the gentleman on the video said, Jesus came to take on death so that the only thing we get to experience, is the shadow of death.

man do we go through all sorts of hard circumstances, What would it take for you to glorify God in your hard moments? God has been with us for a long time now, but I praise Him because not many kinds or presidents or leaders of their country spend much time with their people, But God did.

He left His throne to be with you, to be with me, to take on our hurt and pain and suffering but most importantly to take on death and sin and win.