“Cantique de Noel”
O Holy Night: O holy night, the stars are brightly shining; It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Luke 2:8–11 NLT: That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
I. Christmas is hopeful because Jesus is God
1. The evidence that He is God
Isaiah 9:6 NLT: For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father
1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
2. The alternative that He is God
Matthew 16:13–15 NLT: When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
Matthew 16:16–17 NLT: Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah…” 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed…”
O Holy Night: Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here came the wise men from Orient land. The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger…
Luke 2:12 NLT: And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Matthew 2:1, 9–11 NLT: …About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem … 9 the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
II. Christmas is hopeful because Jesus is God
1. Where we are
Psalm 139:5, 7-8 NLT: You go before me and follow me … 7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.
2. As we are
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.
Romans 5:8 NLT: But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
O Holy Night: In all our trials born to be our friend! Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His Gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother And in His Name all oppression shall cease.
Isaiah 9:2,4,7 NLT: The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine … 4 you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod … 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity…
III. Christmas is hopeful because Jesus is God
1. For our freedom
Romans 6:18 NLT: Now you are free from your slavery to sin…
Hebrews 2:14 NLT: …the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil…
Galatians 5:1 NLT: So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.
1 Corinthians 15:25–26 NLT: For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. 26 And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.
2. For our peace
Colossians 1:20 NLT: …He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
Ephesians 2:14 NLT: For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us…
Philippians 4:7 NLT: Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
O Holy Night: Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, Let all within us praise His holy Name! Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born! O night, O holy night, O night divine!
Luke 2:13–14 NLT: …the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
Titus 2:12–13 NLT: …We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.
Hebrews 9:28 NLT: …He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who [with hope] are waiting for him.