Encouragement for a Pandemic Christmas

A Chapter A Day

• Sunday, December 20, Luke 19
• Monday, December 21, Luke 20
• Tuesday, December 22, Luke 21
• Wednesday, December 23, Luke 22
• Thursday, December 24, Luke 23
• Friday, December 25, Luke 24
• Saturday, December 26, 1 John 1

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Luke 2:8-20

⁸ And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. (ESV)

1. At Christmas God brings to our .

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 9:2, ESV)

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 1:4-5, ESV)

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, ESV)

 ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (Luke 2:10, ESV) 

2. At Christmas God brings for our .

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)

 ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11, ESV)

3. At Christmas God gave us his Son who is . . .

• Savior – he is our
• Christ – Messiah, the anointed one; the one who fulfills God’s promises
• Lord – we should to his authority and his commands
• Jesus – The name “Jesus” (Gk. Iēsous) is the equivalent of Yeshua‘/Yehoshua‘ (Joshua) in Hebrew, meaning “Yahweh saves” or “the Lord saves.” (ESV Study Bible, p. 1948)

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21, ESV)

¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ¹⁴  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” ¹⁵ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 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 2:12-20, ESV)

5. In order to our lives, Christmas requires a from us.