Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 8) - Lamb of God

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 

John 1:29

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth: He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.

Isaiah 53:7

"God has a problem, and it's a big one. He loves people but He hates sin. God is completely good and kind and loving, and He hates it when we aren't. How can He love us when He hates our sins? So God decided to solve this big problem by getting rid of our sins rather than getting rid of us. That's why He sent His Son. Jesus took the punishment for all the wrong things we do. Jesus' death took away our sins, so that now, when God looks at us, He doesn't see the sin that He hates but only the people He loves.

It is impossible to understand the title "Lamb of God" without understanding something about the practice of animal sacrifice. The sacrificial system provided a way for God's people to approach Him even though they had sinned and disobeyed His laws. When a lamb was offered its blood was shed and its body was burned on the altar. Those who offered sacrifices understood that the animal was a symbolic representation of themselves and their desire to offer their own lives to God. 

To the Jews the lamb represented innocence and gentleness. Because the lamb represented the person's pure intentions before God, the lamb had to be physically perfect."

from Praying the Names of Jesus by Ann Spangler

Discuss: Imagine that you are walking into the temple holding a young lamb in your arms. He is like a favorite pet, but now he is going to be sacrificed for your sins. How do you feel? Now imagine doing the same thing over and over because no one sacrifice can possibly take away your sins. What thoughts go through your mind? What do you think of when you think of Jesus as the Lamb of God?  

Prayer: Oh Jesus, Lamb of God, you are worthy of our thankfulness, our praise, and our worship!  Thank you for being so kind and gentle.  Thank you for your sacrifice on the cross that we may one day be with you in Heaven.  Amen

Songs: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks, In the Bleak Midwinter

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Craft: Make lambs out of cotton and cardboard. Set them in a little display to remind yourselves of the Lamb of God.

Service Project Idea:  During the cold winter months, many homeless individuals could use a blanket.  You may want to participate in making and/or gathering donated blankets to take to a homeless shelter.

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 7) - Immanuel

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us.
-- Matthew 1:23

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 
-- Isaiah 7:14

The name Immanuel means "God with us." "When our sins made it impossible for us to come to Him, God took the outrageous step of coming to us, of making Himself susceptible to sorrow, familiar with temptation, and vulnerable to sin's disruptive power, in order to cancel its claim. In Jesus we see how extreme God's love is.
One of the greatest of all the promises in the Bible is this: I am with you. Jesus said it to His disciples (and to us) at the end of Matthew's Gospel: 'Surely I am with you always. to the very end of the age.' If the Lord is with us, what do we have to fear? What do we lack? How can we lose? The same Lord who walked on water, healed the sick, and rose from the dead is saving us, watching over us, guiding our steps.
Remember this the next time you feel discouraged, abandoned, or too scared to try something new. For Jesus is still Immanuel - He is still 'God with us.'"  From Praying the Names of Jesus by Ann Spangler

Prayer: Immanuel, I praise You for Your faithful love -- drawing me near when I was far from you. Instead of casting me away from Your presence, You came to call me home. Instead of punishing me for my sins, You came to free from them. Immanuel, my God, You are here with me today. Live in me and glorify Your name, I pray.  Amen

Discuss:  Read and discuss. What are the implications of “God With Us?” What does it mean? How do we know God is with us?

Songs: O Come, O Come Immanuel; God is With Us by Casting Crowns

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Craft: Have the student draw or paint a picture of “God With Us” means to them.

Service Project Idea:  Help set up a community nativity scene (at Christmas) or take part in a community production of the life of Jesus (usually found going on during the Easter/Passover holiday)

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 6) - A Child

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. 
-- Isaiah 9:6

In a loud voice she (Elizabeth) exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!"
-- Luke 1:42

"One of the reasons I find the Gospel so convincing is that it's nothing I would have dreamed up. Think about it, God became human, a little baby who had to be fed, burped, and bathed. God allowed Himself to get the flu, to be teased, to stub His toe like any other kid.
What if I had been God? Would I have devised an all-loving strategy to woo my people back to myself, developing a plan that would require weakness, humility, and dependency on the part of my child? I doubt it. My strategy would probably have involved more power than love because power seems less risky.
The apostle Paul speaks of Christ's crucifixion by saying: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 But surely God's "foolishness" began when He allowed His Son to be born in a stable and laid in a manger.
Jesus puts in to His disciples like this: 'Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven' Matthew 18:3-4.
But what does it mean to become like little children? Most children don't have much money. They don't have a lot of power. They often lack wisdom. And they aren't afraid of asking for help. Hasn't Jesus already made it plain? If you want to be big in God's kingdom, become small in this world. If you want to save your life, be willing to lose it.
Today, God is calling all of us, adult and child, to become like a little child, asking you to follow Him with humility and trust. Decide to embrace His "foolish-seeming" plan for your life, confident that His strength will be perfected through your weakness." Ann Spangler from Praying the Names of Jesus

Discuss: How would you have saved the world? Why do you think God chose this "foolish" way?

Songs: Away in a Manger, One Small Child, A Strange Way to Save the World

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Craft:  You may wish to create a homemade manger scene, draw a family tree and illustrate it, etc.

Service Project Idea:  Possible ideas include volunteering time in a day care setting for older students, sharing what you have learned thus far in “thinking of you” type cards to shut ins and people in assisted living facilities, creating a puppet show to share with younger children about Jesus being the “first born of every creature,” etc.

Prayer: Lord, you were cradled in human arms and laid in a manger. How can I begin to understand a gift so unexpected? That someone so great would allow Himself to become so small? Help me to follow You, like a little child. Help me to love You, trust You, and lean on You today, and thank you for showing me the way into Your Kingdom.

The God of Wooden Plows

When we think of Jesus, we tend to focus on His birth or His last three years on this earth. But we should also remember "that Jesus spent most of His life engaged in manual labor. Back in Galilee in the second century, the Christian apologist Justin Martyr said that during his lifetime it was still common to see farmers using plows made by the carpenter Jesus of Nazareth.

In his book, titled The Call, theologian Os Guinness reminds us that even the humblest work is important if it is done for God. “How intriguing,” Guinness writes, “to think of Jesus’ plow rather than His Cross—to wonder what it was that made His plows and yokes last and stand out.” Clearly, they must have been very well made if they were still in use in the second century.

Today, Christians typically exalt spiritual work above manual work. After all, what’s making a plow compared with preaching to multitudes, feeding the five thousand, or raising someone from the dead? But the very fact that Jesus did make plows—and made them well—suggests that any work can be done to the glory of God. Any work can be a genuine calling. A calling, Guinness writes, is anything we do “as a response to God’s summons and service.” When God calls us to some task—even if it’s something the world sees as lowly—that task is invested with what Guinness calls “the splendor of the ordinary.”

“Drudgery done for ourselves or for other human audiences will always be drudgery,” he writes, but “drudgery done for God is lifted and changed.”
Accepting drudgery is one of the ways we practice discipleship—learning to offer it up sacrificially to God. “We look for the big things to do—[but] Jesus took a towel and washed the disciples’ feet,” Guinness writes. “We like to speak and act out of the rare moments of inspiration—[but] He requires our obedience in the routine, the unseen, and the thankless.” We, His followers, must be willing to take on the humble and thankless tasks as well—and not become impatient with changing diapers, doing homework, or taking out the trash.

If you are frustrated in your job or think the work you have to do is beneath you, just remember that for a season the One who turned water into wine and raised the dead to life . . . also made wooden plows."
-- Chuck Colson

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 5) - Prince of Peace

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 
-- Isaiah 9:6

Everyone longs for peace. However, the Hebrew word for peace, Shalom, means much more than the absence of conflict or the end of fighting. Shalom conveys not only a sense of tranquility but also of wholeness and completion. To enjoy Shalom is to enjoy health, satisfaction, success, safety well-being and prosperity.
Shortly after Jesus was born. we hear angels proclaiming: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests" Luke 2:14
Paul assured us in Ephesians 2:14 that "He, Himself is our peace." He is the source of all peace because though we were separated from God due to our sins, Jesus reconciled us, making peace through His blood.  The cross was our punishment, the payback for our sins. But Christ, loving us and being unwilling to let us suffer a punishment we could not survive, transformed an instrument of torture into one of victory. Through it He both upheld God's justice and healed our relationship with a holy God.
No matter how broken our world is, it is still right to call God loving, still right to hail Jesus as the Prince of Peace. During His life on earth He calmed the storm, walked on the water, healed the sick, and brought the dead to life. These are signs that He intends to restore God's plan for creation, to bring it to completion by inaugurating and establishing the new creation. One day Jesus Christ will enable the lion and the lamb to lie down together, making the world what it should be. A place where there is no more death, no more decay,  no more illness or suffering or sorrow. A place where sin cannot be found and peace will reign from sea to sea.
Until then we must help those who suffer and console those who grieve. We must pray for peace and work for peace and refuse to accept a world that is less than it should be and less than it will be. And as we pray, let us remember that Jesus not only brings us peace, He is our peace.
Peace with God produces peace with others and peace within ourselves. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace." John 20:26-27 and Isaiah 26:3 promises that God "will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in (God)." 
When you pray to Jesus, the Prince of Peace, you are praying to the One who is the source of all peace. To live in peace is to live in His presence.

Songs: Angels We Have Heard on High, Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant

Discussion: Discuss the name and its application to Christ. What does it mean to have peace in our lives? Does it mean "no war?" What is the work of the Prince of Peace? (Enables us to have Peace with God, Peace within ourselves, peace with others.) What does it mean to be a "peacemaker?"

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Craft: What are some symbols of peace? Draw pictures of them

Service Project Idea: Challenge: Commit to sharing the gospel of peace with someone this week.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, thank you so much for the peace you offer.  In You we can find tranquillity and understanding.  With You we can find reconciliation.  You are truly sovereign and worthy of worship.  Teach us to become peacemakers - loving justice, doing right, and leading others along the path of peace. Amen.

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 4) - Everlasting Father

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
-- Isaiah 9:6

From the time of creation until about 2,000 years ago, no one had ever seen God. This all changed that Christmas night when Jesus was born to this earth. John 1:18 tells us "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made Him known."

God wanted the people He created to actually be able to see Him and know Him on this earth. What an amazing concept! He loves us so very much and He desires that we would love Him. He knew that it is easier to love someone that you have seen. When Jesus walked on this earth, He showed people what God is like; that He is our everlasting Father.

Why a Father? Caring, loving, protective, one who provides for and takes care of his family, giver of counsel and wisdom...these are all attributes of a good father. They are all attributes of our Heavenly Father. They are all attributes of Jesus. Jesus said: "I and the Father are one." John 10:30 and also that "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." John 14:9 He modeled the attributes of a perfect Father while here on earth as He pointed the way to Heaven where one day, all those who believe in Him, will be able to spend eternity with their Everlasting Father.

Songs: Sweet Little Jesus Boy by Casting Crowns, O Come All Ye Faithful

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

For Discussion: The name and it's meaning. How it applies to Christ. What makes a good father? How is Jesus like this? you may also wish to discuss the importance of having a father-figure in a person’s life and whether or not another male figure can substitute for a biological father’s absence.

Craft: Make an evergreen wreath. The wreath is "eternal." It is circular having no beginning and no end. Evergreens symbolize eternal life. Hang a wreath in your home for Christmas

Service Project Idea:  A couple of things spring to mind here.  You could either focus on the actual fathers in your own family and create a special card or gift for them; or, you might have an older child research organizations such as “Big Brothers” that tries to meet the needs of children who do not have a father figure in their lives.  At that point you may also wish to discuss the importance of having a father-figure in a person’s life and whether or not another male figure can substitute for a biological father’s absence.

Prayer:  This may be a perfect time to introduce or re-introduce memorization of the Lord’s Prayer, paying particular attention to the term “Our Father.”

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 3) - Mighty God

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
-- Isaiah 9:6

Why is Jesus called our Mighty God? A brief look at His life helps us answer this. From the moment of His birth, He was attacked by Satan, our enemy. Herod tried to kill him as a baby. For 33 years He resisted all temptations to sin that we face.  Hebrews 4:15 says:  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Satan tempted Him in the wilderness, the religious leaders constantly tried to trip Him up and even His own family and disciples doubted Him. Yet through all this Jesus remained sinless. That is a Mighty God!
An even greater test awaited Jesus on the cross when He actually became sin for us. He took all the guilt and punishment for every sin ever committed. He became sin. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 God, the Father, turned His back on Jesus. He paid the price so we can be free from our sins and able to enter Heaven forever. That is a Mighty God!
Then, three days later, Jesus conquered death! He walked out of the tomb fully alive, fully healed, still fully God and fully man. That is a Mighty God!

For Discussion: The name and it's meaning(s) .  You may also wish to point out that because of Jesus’s exceptional strength He is not overwhelmed by our problems, in fact He is always powerful enough to overcome them.

Carols: God is With Us by Casting Crowns, Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Service Project Idea:  Check your community for charities that specialize in home repair or home building.  Become involved in this charity and use your strength to help “build” a better future for someone else.

Prayer:  Thank you Jesus, Mighty God, for being so strong that no matter what my problems are, I can come to You and You are strong enough to conquer them.  Help me to remember to always lean on You for my support. In Your name I pray, Amen.