The Day After Christmas

17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

- Luke 2:17-20

Three ways to respond at the end of Christmas.

Ponder - Reflect the meaning of the event and the gift.

17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

- Luke 2:17

Praise - Celebrate the gift.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

- Luke 2:20

Proclaim - Celebrate the giver.

17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

- Luke 2:17-18

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

- Isaiah 53:5-6

Christmas - It's Time!

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

- Isaiah 7:14

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”). 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

- Matthew 1:23

Immanuel: A Hebrew name meaning “God with us.”

God with us - Christmas time is about God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

- John 1:1

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

- John 8:48

God with us - Christmas time isn’t just about presents; Christmas is about God’s presence.

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. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

- Hebrews 4:15-16

God with us - Christmas time is about God’s gift to us.

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

- Psalm 137:7-10

Ready for Lights

Difficulty might be on your doorstep.

Then the Lord said to me, “Take a large tablet and write on it in common characters, ‘Belonging to Maher-shalal-hash-baz.’ 2 And I will get reliable witnesses, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah, to attest for me.” 3 And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, “Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz; 4 for before the boy knows how to cry ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria.”

- Isaiah 8:1-4 ESV

Distress can rule the day.

They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will speak contemptuously against their king and their God, and turn their faces upward. 22 And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.

- Isaiah 8:21-22

9 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

- Isaiah 9:1-2

God wants to be with us. 

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

- Isaiah 7:14

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

- Isaiah 9:6

God brings His light into our lives when we let Him reign.

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

- Isaiah 9:7

The "Altared" Dreams of Joseph

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was betrothed to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 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 as your wife, because the child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call him 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 shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

- Matthew 1:18-25

Sound betrothal.

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was betrothed to be married to Joseph…

- Matthew 1:18a

A sense of betrayal.

…but before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

- Matthew 1:18b

A solid breakup.

19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 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 as your wife, because the child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call him 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 shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

- Matthew 1:19-23

Seamlessly bound.

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

- Matthew 1:24-25