Immanuel!

Christ is born! God is with us! Behold, your salvation is at hand!

December’s Awakening, Day 25—For Christmas

The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity—hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory—because at the Father’s will Jesus Christ became poor, and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross.

 -J. I. Packer 

The King of glory sends his Son,

To make his entrance on this earth;

Behold the midnight bright as noon,

And heav’nly hosts declare his birth!

About the young Redeemer's head,

What wonders, and what glories meet!

An unknown star arose, and led

The eastern sages to his feet.

Simeon and Anna both conspire

The infant Savior to proclaim

Inward they felt the sacred fire,

And bless’d the babe, and own'd his name.

Let pagan hordes blaspheme aloud,

And treat the holy child with scorn;

Our souls adore th’ eternal God

Who condescended to be born.

 —Isaac Watts

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23 NIV

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6–7 NIV

            The Savior of the world has arrived, not with the armies of heaven, wielding great power and glory, but as a baby born in a stable in human frailty and humility. He had a single purpose to fulfill—to be the Savior of all mankind, the sacrificial Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. A tall order resting on the shoulders of this infant. But this child was no ordinary Son.