Theme of the Day: God Gives Both Substitute and Sacrifice
The Son of God took on flesh for two reasons: to be our substitute and our sacrifice. When God created mankind in his image, his desire was that we would live holy lives, full of love for him and our fellow man. When mankind fell into sin, that became impossible. So, the heavenly Father sent Jesus. He is the only human being to keep all of God’s law perfectly. He did that as our substitute. Through faith, we claim his perfection as our own. But we needed another gift—one who could pay for the sin we had committed. And so, the Son of God became human for another reason—so that he might die as the sacrifice for our sins, removing that barrier between us and a holy God.
Understanding we needed both—substitute and sacrifice—helps us better understand Jesus’ saving work. That work includes more than Jesus’ death on the cross. Jesus saving work began the moment he was born under the law and obeyed it. This week, we thank God that Jesus served us in both these much-needed ways!
Luke 2:41-52
Isaiah 50:4-9
Hebrews 2:10-18
Psalm 84A
330 – Peace Came to Earth
355 – Let All Together Praise Our God
331 – From Heaven Above to Earth I Come
329 – All My Heart Again Rejoices
Prayer of the Day: Almighty God, in mercy you sent your one and only Son to take upon himself our human nature. By his gracious coming, deliver us from the corruption of our sin, and transform us into the likeness of his glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations. Alleluia.