Intro: For our Advent season this year, I have chosen to enjoy the Jesse Tree by sharing a 24-day practice to prepare us for the celebration of Christ’s birth; the event we celebrate and honor at Christmas. From the root of Jesse’s stump, we will discover or rediscover the people in the family Tree of Jesus Messiah who were instrumental in bringing the presence of God near to us in order to revive the Spirit-led family of faith. With each day’s reading, we will add a new symbol—an ornament—to our family tree.
Today, is day twenty-four of our journey and our symbol is the Baby in the Manger.
I have truly enjoyed the time we have spent together these past twenty-four days studying the many ways God has moved throughout history by drawing near to His human creation in order to reveal His plan, purpose, and promise to love us into His glory. We were created to bring glory to God and if we do not know what is required or understand what pleases Him, we will fail. The Word and the Spirit lead us to the Truth—Jesus, is the Christ for the world.
In our lesson today, we receive the Good News about the Baby in the Manger—Immanuel—God with us. God’s love came down to save us; to kiss the world and draw us all to Himself. The prophets told about our need for a Messiah, but it seemed unlikely that God would send the Messiah to such humble beginnings. Therefore, many missed the beauty of God’s gentleness and compassionate nature for ALL people; we have ALL sinned and fallen short of revealing God’s glory. The penalty for our sin is death; we need a sacrificial Lamb. So, the Glorious One came down to show us the Way and to be the Light of Truth to bring victory to our lives.
We have learned many things through our lessons from the Jesse Tree and the Righteous Branch. God’s plan for redemption includes unlikely people used in unexpected ways for the work of salvation which fills us with great Hope. We have learned God’s Peace is His purpose and gift to bring us wholeness that mends our wounded hearts and restores our broken lives due to sin. We have learned joy is a choice and an act of obedience in response to Christ’s grace and what he has done for us, so we must pursue and dwell in His presence where we find fullness of Joy. And lastly, we have learned God’s Love is faithful and unending and is best seen through His merciful act of sending the Baby in the Manger—the One who would mature and show us how to live in a way that pleases the Father—as well as, be the Messiah who would die for our sins.
God’s love—salvation—is offered in Christ, but we must connect to Him in order to receive the bounty of grace and glory that awaits our lives. The Baby in the Manger is the same Man who hung on the cross. May our response to the Christ be like the faith of Simeon and allow God’s work through His Son to make us spiritually alive, vibrant, and whole. Simeon did not need to see Christ’s crucifixion, but He allows the Spirit to lead him and knew the Messiah when He saw Him. In the Spirit, we know Him, too. Jesus, the Christ, is our Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love and we are the sinners who desperately need Him. Thank You, Son of God, for rescuing us from sin and making us sons and daughters for your glory!
Isaiah 7:14 NLT All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).
Matthew 1:21-23 NLT 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
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“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”
Luke 2:25-33 NLT The Prophecy of Simeon
25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
29
“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,
as you have promised.
30
I have seen your salvation,
31
which you have prepared for all people.
32
He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him.
John 3:17 NLT God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
1 Timothy 1:15 NLT This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for leading us by the Spirit into your glorious presence and salvation. We praise you for being our Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Give us a heart to love and direct others to your fountain of Life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Note: I will be taking a break from writing daily devotionals and teaching Bible Study during the holidays in order to enjoy a time of restoration with family and friends, as we continue to celebrate our King and His glorious Kingdom of extravagant Love. Yet, please stay in the Word of God in your personal study time each day. I will get back to sharing daily devotionals with you on January 2, 2024 and teaching through Bible Study starting January 10, 2024. I love you all. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!