Presence Not Presents

Who Is This Baby?

Hundreds of prophesies all pointing to this coming.

Warned of the coming messiah.

Anticipated for centuries

Why then?

Pax Romana

Greek Language very widely spoken

Road systems

Angels warned of His coming/and heralded His arrival

Angels spoke to Mary

Apparently they are scary to see

Angels appeared in a dream to Joseph

Angels appeared to Shepherds in the Countryside

Who Is This Baby?

Divine in Origin (V18, 20)

Of the line of David (v1-17)

Jesus- Name and Title (Derived from Hebrew for Save) (V21)

Fulfillment of Prophesy (v22)

What happened?

This Baby, Jesus came. The God of the Universe existing outside of time and space, wrapped Himself in the very existence He created to come to earth and provide a way for us to restore ourselves to His Presence.

The Man from this story accepted a call. Joseph did as the angel commanded. He took her and married her and raised Him as his own.

When Did He Come

During the Pax Romana

A significant time in World History where there was relative peace.

Where Did He Come

Where Did He Come

Why not Europe, America, or Africa?

Why the holy Land? Because of the Pax Romana

Why Did He Come?

Immanuel!

God WITH us!

Adam/Enoch/Moses walked with God

God desires for us to enjoy His Presence!

Christmas is about the presence of God!

How Do We...

Be Present?

Pax Romana

The holidays are a time when we think of others being happy. We think of a joyful time where all the troubles of the world fade away into the joys of the yuletide season.

For many this Christmas the joyous season will be peppered with very difficult times. Perhaps its the memories of a failed relationship that rips a child away through the season. Maybe its the reminders of parents who are long passed, but the reminders of the loss causes sad moments. Or perhaps it is still a raw wound of recent loss. For these people we need not worry about what is okay to say. We needn’t rehearse lines and fret about their feelings. We must simply be there. They don’t need our words, they don’t need our presents, they only need our presence.

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.”

-Henri Nouwen

Restore the presence of God?

Roads

Gospel presentation. Reminding of the birth leading to the cross and the necessity of the resurrection.

Common Language