Once Upon A Night

BIRTHSONG

He looks anything but a king. His face is prunish and red. His cry, though strong and healthy, is still the helpless and piercing cry of a baby. And he is absolutely dependent upon Mary for

his well-being…This baby had overlooked the universe. These rags keeping him warm were the robes of eternity. His golden throne room had

been abandoned in favor of a dirty sheep pen. And worshipping angels

had been replaced with kind but bewildered shepherds.

Max Lucado

HEAVEN REMEMBERED

US TODAY

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her

heart.

Luke 2:19

Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love's pure light;

radiant beams from thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth

Silent Night

LISTEN TO THE SILENCE

OF THE NIGHT

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.

Luke 2:25

SIMEON’S BLESSING

SIMEON & THE SAVIOR

) Infinite, and an infant. Eternal, and yet born of a woman.

Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a

mother’s arms. King of angels, and yet the reputed son of

Joseph. Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter’s despised son. Oh,

the wonder of Christmas.

Spurgeon

I. Simeon’s Background

II. Simeon’s Song

III. Simeon’s Prophecy

I. Simeon’s Background

I. Simeon’s Background

II. Simeon’s Song

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

I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people,

a light for the nations

Isaiah 42:6

…he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Isaiah 49:6

Give attention to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law will go out from me, and I

will set my justice for a light to the peoples.

Isaiah 51:4

The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall

see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:10

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 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. And nations shall come to

your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Isaiah 60:1-3

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.

Hebrews 1:1-2

O Come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here; Disperse the gloomy cloud of night,

and death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee,

O Israel!

O Come, O Come

Immanuel

I. Simeon’s Background

II. Simeon’s Song

III. Simeon’s Prophecy

…as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of

stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will

not be put to shame.

Romans 9:33

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

I Peter 2:4-8

6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

I Peter 2:4-8

8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

I Peter 2:4-8

The son of God became man so that men can become sons

of God.

C.S. Lewis

Here’s a side to the Christmas story that isn’t often told: Those

soft little hands, fashioned by the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb, were

made so that nails might be driven through them. Those baby feet, pink and unable to walk, would

one day walk up a dusty hill to be nailed to a cross. That sweet

infant’s head with sparkling eyes and eager mouth was formed so that someday men might force a

crown of thorns onto it...

MacArthur

That tender body, warm and soft, wrapped in swaddling

clothes, would one day be ripped open by a spear. Jesus was born

to die

MacArthur

He was created of a mother whom He created. He was

carried by hands that He formed. He cried in the manger in

wordless infancy, He the Word, without whom all human

eloquence is mute.

Augustine

RAISE THE CHRISTMAS

HALLELUJAH