Emmanuel: God With Us

With Christmas less than a week away, we felt it was fitting to reflect on the Nativity of Jesus, joining the broader celebration of His birth.

well start in:

Luke 2:1–20 CSB

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. 2 This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, 5 to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors! 15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.

Pray

When reading this passage I was convicted and encouraged by the work of the Trinity in the nativity because each person in the Godhead IS co-equal and co-eternal yet played distinct roles in bringing salvation to the world.

Today I want to talk about each of their roles!

1. The Father ordained the Plan of salvation

In Luke 2:1-7 Caesar Augustus sent for a census of the roman empire. Culturally this meant that the Israelites would travel to their ancestral towns, which differed based on their tribal lineage. Now this looks like a formality by the Roman Government and customs of the Israelites, but is actually evidence of Gods sovereignty.

Micah 5:2 CSB

2 Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times.

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this event highlights how God aligns historical, political, and cultural circumstances to bring about His will. God orchestrated this very moment to happen in this very place to fulfill the Micah 5:2 prophecy.

God didn’t just decide in heaven the day before Jesus birth to send Jesus down to live and die for us.

This started in Genesis 3:15 , at the beginning of our fall God had already ordained the plan of our salvation through Jesus.

Genesis 3:15 CSB

15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.

While the Father ordains the plan of salvation, it is the Holy Spirit who brings the plan into action and empowers its fulfillment.

2. The Holy Spirit empowers and applies the plan

Luke 1:35–37 CSB

35 The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

In this passage we see divine intervention of the “Holy spirit coming upon you” and “the power of the Most High will overshadow you” this shows that Jesus conception wasn't resulting from man but from God.

This also parallels the Spirit’s work in creation, as seen in Genesis 1:2, where “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Just as the Spirit brought order and life in the beginning, He now brings the divine life of Jesus into the world through Mary. The wording “overshadow” here brings a similar image of Gods glory filling and covering of the tabernacle in Exodus 40:34-35

“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”

The cloud represented God dwelling among his people, in the same way the Spirit’s overshadowing of Mary represents God’s intimate and protective presence so that Jesus can incarnate.

With the Father’s plan ordained and the Holy Spirit’s power at work, we now turn to the Son, who humbly steps into His mission with incredible love and obedience.

3. The Son Humbly Fulfills the Mission

Luke 2:11 CSB

11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

At first glance, the Son’s role might seem simple, but as we look deeper, we realize the profound cost and humility involved.

Philippians 2:7–8 CSB

7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

See his humanity allows Him to identify with us, while His divinity secures our salvation. He came into this world like the rest of us, in some cases harder then us to feel what we feel, to see what we see, to live how we lived to be like us.

But had a supernatural beginning because not only is he human he is God like John 1:1 says he is the word and the word is God. Jesus is the eternal Word made flesh (John 1:14), fully human yet fully divine, uniquely qualified to accomplish the mission of salvation for all who except him.

So what Now, How are we supposed to respond to this?

During the holidays we usually celebrate the season, rather than the reason for the season (Thanksgiving to God and Christs birth) we see this season as a time to given so that we can receive gifts from others and commercialized whats a Holy day.

how should we respond in this season?

We see following the birth of Jesus in Luke 2:13-20 Two different groups responding the same way The angels praise God, declaring peace on earth. The shepherds respond by glorifying and praising God.

We should respond with Worship through praise, proclamation, and a life surrendered to Him.

this doesn't mean we cant give to one another, its an emphasis on Rejoicing in the lord first and everything after.

- In what ways can we, like the shepherds, glorify and praise God in our daily lives?

-What are some creative ways we can share the 'good news' of Christ's birth with our friends and family this Christmas?