Away In The Manger ( Love Advent)

Advent: love Candle

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 22:36-40

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1st Corinthians 13:13

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1st Corinthians 14:3-7

Background

Possibly written by Luther - Luter was the writer of many different hymns many of which that you may know, like a mighty fortress is our God and 40 other hymns He wrote in one of his letters

I firmly believe, nor am I ashamed to assert, that next to theology no art is equal to music; for it is the only one, except theology, which is able to give a quiet and happy mind. This is manifestly proved by the fact that the devil, the author of depressing care and distressing disturbances, almost flees from the sound of music as he does from the word of theology. This is the reason why the prophets practiced music more than any art and did not put their theology into geometry, into arithmetic, or into astronomy, but into music, intimately uniting theology and music, telling the truth in psalms and songs.

So Music is important. We as people need music and stories to help us understand God’s truth. Songs like stories make truths sit in our minds easier then just memorizing a slate of facts.

You may find the odd duck that loves statistics, but must people will never forget their favorite song. You may have a hymn that never leaves your heart.

So Luther wrote music. This song is for children because, while a child and really many adults, may not be able to put into easy word the nature of Christ we can sing these truths into our minds.

Imagine Luther writing a mighty fortress. He lived in the Medieval Germany and walled cities and bulwarks were a thing that he would run into. Walled fortresses and Castles were common place enough

A fortress was a place of safety that you’d run to when an enemy force showed up! God cannot fail like some had.

This hymn for children was made to give them comfort

A Christmas hymn for Children

First 2 stanzas are a lulaby in character

stanza 3 is a bedtime prayer

Stanza 1

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head; the stars in the heavens looked down where He lay, the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

WRITING NOTE: The doctrine of the incarnation

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The incarnation is the central fact of history and of the church's confession: "great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: he was manifested in the flesh" first Timothy 3:16

The Trinity was all active in the incarnation.

So you see the Trinity at work in salvation in Eph. 1

The father prepared the body

Hebrews 10:5 ESV

5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;

quoting Psalm 40:6

Psalm 40:6 ESV

6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.

The father ordained, formed, made fit and able Christ's human nature to undergo, suffer and fulfill that for which he was sent into the world. Thomas Brooks

The Holy Spirit was active in the Trinity Luke 1:35 Matthew 1:18, 20

Jesus was active in the incarnation by taking on human nature this is called the hypostatic union.

In Jesus there is a union of divine and human: he is very God a very God and very man of very man.

Incarnation and Salvation

When it comes to salvation His humanity is as important as his divinity.

Jesus had to be human so he might identify with us and be a payment for sin but he also had to be God so that he could forgive sin these realities needed to be joined but separate.

Jesus by claiming to forgive sins like you did in Matthew 9:6

Matthew 9:6 ESV

6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

demonstrated he was God if he was man that would have been a blasphemous statement

Nature of the Incarnation

In in this union the niche nature is preserved there's no mixture or confusion of the two natures the divine nature of possesses infinite knowledge power dominion and so on the human nature obeyed died rose again and so on.

But We have to be careful when we describe the natures because this is one person doing these things not two.

So When Jesus acts it is unity in himself.

Application of incarnation

Because of the incarnation he can identify with us and our sufferings

Hebrews 1

The angels want to look into the mystery of the gospel

Stanza 2/3

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky and stay by my side until morning is nigh.

WRITING NOTE: Christology - Jesus shares the ability to know all things with the father

Now the Theology of this text is not a 100% but you have to remember that this was written for children!

The Lord Jesus was fully man and fully God, so of course he would have cried.

A Baby cries for food, for comfort, for rest, for attention. Jesus was truly man so that he could make the proper intersession for us

Hebrews 4:15 ESV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

So for the dear children and for us adults in the room the lesson here is not to be tempted to sin. You can see that from the second verse where Luther says that he looks down from the sky.

We are called to be a joyful people if we can help it, we are called not to complain or to entertain a woe is me spirit.

This is Christmastime, want to ruin the holiday in one easy step that’s how you do it!

But wheat we need to know is that while Christ suffered with the issues of human flesh, hunger and need, and so on, He never entertained sin.

He was tempted for sure, but he never sinned!

So if your tempted to sin you must resist it by the Holy Spirit. Remove that temptation from your life.

I have been studying the nature of the Lord’s supper in my own time and a point about sin came up that stunned me.

Would a wife keep the sword that murdered her husband? No she would hate it with all her soul, she would seek to destroy that weapon. Would you knowing your sin was the cause of Christ death keep it nearby knowing it killed the one who loves you perfectly? You should in like seek the end of that sin with your every effort.

This can be done by the power of God, rest oin his Holy Spirit and call on him when you need aid.

Our High priest knows your sin. This is a gift of Christmas a God who truly loves and care about you, that truly knows your need truer then anyone ever has. A God who loves your soul all the way down.

Application:

No gloomy christian households. Set the temperature to joy this Christmas. No crying he makes!

So kids if you don’t get the thing you wanted for Christmas remember the greatest gift is Christ. If your having a humble Christmas this year, or again. Remember the person of Christ and choose to be like our older brother Christ who sets his face for our Good.

You're not alone in your sin. You have a God who knows you.

Stanza 3/4-6

Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay close by me forever, and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, and fit us for heaven, to live with Thee there.

Importance of prayer

We must Remember that the birth of Christ was an answer to 1000’s of years of prayer.

Adam and Eve had to trust in the promised Seed. Moses in the coming greater prophet. David in the one that would establish his thrown forever.

We must like those saints trust in prayer. You and I on this side of the cross pray fro many things I’m sure chief among them is

Revelation 22:17 NKJV

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

The prayer of the church for the second and greater Advent.

When you hear this hymn and you sing it in light of it being a prayer for children Here are three things about prayer to share with your Children, Grands, and your family this Christmas about prayer

Pray Intentionally - it’s real easy to do things by rope, even if you have a favored prayer you always pray, pray it earnestly and

What to pray for. If your not sure what you should pray for, pray the Lord’s will back to God. Pray for his return, pray that thelost maybe saved, pray for the needs of each other, pray the Lord’s prayer. The Lord’s prayer is an excellent model to teach your children.

Pray to God like you would speak to a friend. Matt. 7:11

Matthew 7:11 ESV

11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Importance of teaching children prayer

The point of this song was to teach kids about the truths of Jesus.

Be near me, Lord Jesus I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children In Thy tender care And take us to heaven To live with Thee there

These truths kids need to know. They need to know that Jesus loves them, that he can stay near them, that he cares for them, and that he can bring them to his side.

This is a truth that we adults need also, as we can also feel lonely if we’re honest

The Gospel

Take us to heaven To live with Thee there

(Give the gospel)

Benediction

300 Quotations and Prayers for Christmas May We Be Prepared for the Second Advent

May we, in commemorating the First Advent of the Redeemer, anticipate His Second, and so be prepared to welcome Him as King—to share His triumph and enter into His joy!