Christmas Day! - Jesus

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning!
Jesus, to thee be all glory given.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.
O, come, let us adore him.
Christ, the Lord.


Is there such a thing as the 29th day of Advent? I don't think so. I think Christmas Day is a season in and of itself? Anyway, today is Christmas, and the last day of my attempt at being a regularly scheduled blogger :) Here's a nice verse to give us closure:




Matthew 1:21 - "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus ["the LORD saves"], for he will save his people from their sins.”

Advent Day 28 - Manifested

So, I know you'll be reading through Luke 2 today :) Read these passages in addition:

Hebrews 1

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Romans 3

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 

John 1: 14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

Advent Day 26 - Come and Worship

Isaiah 60

1 Arise, shine, for your light has come,

   and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,

   and thick darkness the peoples;

but the LORD will arise upon you,

   and his glory will be seen upon you.

3 And nations shall come to your light,

   and kings to the brightness of your rising. 

Matthew 2

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar,
Seek the great Desire of Nations;
Ye have seen his natal star;
Come and worship,

Worship Christ the new-born King. 

(from "Angels from the Realms of Glory")

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.
Fall on your knees, hear the angel voices!

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,
In all our trials born to be our Friend!
He knows our need—to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!

(from "O Holy Night")

Advent Day 25 - Recognition

Luke 2

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

 29 "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,

    according to your word;

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation

 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

   and for glory to your people Israel."

 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."

 36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.


Saints, before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord descending
In His temple shall appear;
Come and worship, 
Worship Christ the new-born King.


Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doom'd for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you--break your chains;
Come and worship,
Worship Christ the new-born King.
(from "Angels From the Realms of Glory," 1854)

Advent Day 24 - Proclamation

Luke 2

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 fear. 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 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.

 21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth,
to touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, good will to all,
from heaven's all-gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
to hear the angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife
the world has suffered long;
beneath the angel strain have rolled
two thousand years of wrong;
and warring humankind hears not 
the love song which they bring.
O hush the noise and cease your strife,
and hear the angels sing.

For, lo! the days are hastening on,
by prophets seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold,
When the new heav'n and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace their King, 
and the whole world send back the song
which now the angels sing.

Advent Day 23 - Manger

Luke 2

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 

Micah 5

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

   who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

   one who is to be ruler in Israel,

whose coming forth is from of old,

   from ancient days. 

"Do you want to see the humility of God? Look in the manger and see him lying there. Surely this is our God. Seeing an infant, I wonder how this could be the one who says, 'Do not I fill heaven and earth?' I see a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. Is this the one who is clothed in the beautiful glory of unapproachable light?

"Listen! He is crying. Is this the one who thunders in the heaven making the angels lower their wings? Yes, but he has emptied himself in order to fill us."

         

    -Guerric of Igny 

Advent Day 22 - In the fullness of time

Isaiah 9

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.

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.  

Galatians 4

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

"Hark, the Herald Angels Sing"

Hark! the herald-angels sing

Glory to the new-born King;

Peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!

Joyful, all ye nations, rise,

Join the triumph of the skies;

With the angelic host proclaim

Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Hark! the herald-angels sing

Glory to the new-born King.

Christ, by highest heaven adored,

Christ, the Everlasting Lord,

Late in time behold Him come,

Offspring of the Virgin's womb:

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;

Hail the Incarnate Deity,

Pleased as Man with men to dwell,

Jesus our Immanuel.

Hark! the herald-angels sing

Glory to the new-born King.

Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace!

Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings.

Risen with healing in His wings,

 Mild he lays his glory by,

born that man no more may die  

born to raise us from the earth, 

born to give us second birth.

Hark! the herald-angels sing

Glory to the new-born King.