Jesus Gift of God | Pastor Tyler Mock

Devotional

Day 1: Emmanuel: Joy begins with God’s nearness, not nostalgia

Christmas doesn’t begin with a feeling; it begins with a fact. God moved toward us—Emmanuel, God with us—taking up residence right here. He didn’t send advice or a philosophy; he moved into the neighborhood and tabernacled among us. That nearness redefines joy; joy is not nostalgia or vibes, but presence. Today, set aside the urge to recreate yesterday and welcome the One who is here now. [01:12]

John 1:14 — The eternal Word became human and made his home among us; he settled right here, and we saw the weight of his glory—overflowing with grace and truth.

Reflection: Where are you most tempted to chase Christmas nostalgia this week, and what would it look like to welcome Emmanuel into that exact space (home, car, or calendar) in a simple, concrete way?

Day 2: Slow down to receive joy in God’s presence

You cannot manufacture joy by decorating bigger or celebrating harder. Joy is something you receive when you slow down long enough to notice that God is with you in this very season. Because his presence fills ordinary moments, joy remains available even when life feels heavy or hurried. Grief and pressure may be real, but Emmanuel makes joy real too. Choose one pause today—a quiet walk, a deep breath prayer, five unhurried minutes—to attend to his nearness. [03:45]

Psalm 16:11 — You show me the path of real life; in your presence there is joy that is full, and beside you are lasting pleasures that do not fade.

Reflection: Choose a specific time and place today for a five- to ten-minute pause; where will it be, and how will you use that moment to notice God’s nearness?

Day 3: Tie your hope to the scarlet cord

In Scripture, hope is tikvah—a cord you cling to, not a mood you chase. Like Rahab, tie your hope to a visible promise, not to shifting circumstances. The scarlet cord points us to the cross, the costly sign that judgment has passed and rescue holds. You don’t need strong faith to be saved; you need anchored faith tied to Jesus when the walls shake. Let your hope fasten to him today with a concrete act—write the promise you’re holding and place it where you’ll see it. [05:27]

Joshua 2:18–21 — Hang this red cord in your window and gather your household inside; when the city falls, the home marked by this sign will be spared, because you showed faithfulness to us.

Reflection: Name one area of your life that feels like a crumbling wall; what tangible “scarlet cord” reminder will you put in place this week to tie your hope to Jesus (a note on the mirror, a bracelet, an alarm with a promise)?

Day 4: The Wonderful Counselor who truly understands you

Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor because he knows life from the inside. He has felt exhaustion, grief, misunderstanding, betrayal, and unanswered prayers, and he meets you from shared experience, not detachment. When you bring anxiety, loss, or weariness, you are not lectured—you are understood and helped. So come candidly and often; mercy and timely help are available in his presence. Tell him exactly where it hurts, and rest in the One who truly understands. [07:58]

Hebrews 4:15–16 — Our high priest isn’t far from our weakness; he has faced every kind of testing we face, yet without sin. So we can draw near with confidence to the throne of grace to receive mercy and help right when we need it most.

Reflection: What burden have you kept to yourself because it feels too ordinary or too heavy, and what exact words will you speak to Jesus about it today?

Day 5: Peace flows from presence; share the hope

Peace is not the absence of trouble; peace is the presence of God. Peace with God comes first, then peace within and around begins to grow. Through Jesus, you are welcomed into a settled relationship that outlasts December’s noise and tomorrow’s unknowns. Surrender the urge to control, receive the rest he gives, and then share that hope—see it, hold it, and offer it to someone near you. Let his presence guard your heart and your home today as you become a quiet bearer of peace. [09:30]

Romans 5:1 — Since we’ve been made right with God by trusting Jesus, we now live at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection: Who is one person you can quietly serve or encourage this week as a way of sharing the hope you hold, and what specific act will you do for them?

Sermon Summary

I love this season because it points us back to what actually happened and why it still changes everything. I talked about my Christmas Eve tradition—Charlie Brown and The Muppet Christmas Carol—not just because they’re fun, but because both stories make one thing clear: Christmas only makes sense when it’s centered on Emmanuel—God with us. The heart of this season isn’t a vibe, a soundtrack, or a memory from the 90s. It’s the incarnation. God didn’t send advice; He moved into the neighborhood. John says the Word became flesh and “tabernacled” among us—God took up residence in the middle of our mess so that joy, hope, and peace would no longer be fragile or far away.

Joy isn’t nostalgia; it’s nearness. You can’t manufacture it by decorating bigger or chasing a feeling. Joy is something you receive when you slow down long enough to notice that God is with you here and now. That’s why the angels brought “good news of great joy”—not because life was suddenly easier, but because God had come near.

Hope sustains joy. In Scripture, one Hebrew word for hope is tikvah—“a cord.” Hope isn’t wishful thinking; it’s something you tie yourself to. Rahab hung a scarlet cord from her window, and that tangible hope held when everything shook. In Jesus, the cross becomes our scarlet cord—visible, costly assurance that judgment has passed over us and that rescue is real. So even when the walls tremble, anchored hope holds.

Peace flows from presence. The angels announced peace the night Jesus was born even though Rome still ruled and Herod still raged. Peace is not the absence of trouble; it’s the presence of God. Peace with God comes before peace in life, and Jesus offers that rest to weary hearts.

Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor not because He theorizes about pain, but because He entered it. He knows misunderstanding, betrayal, grief, and exhaustion. He meets us not with detachment but with experience—and invites friendship, not servitude. The presence that would have crushed Moses now comes gentle as a baby, because Jesus came not to bring judgment, but to bear it, removing the barrier so we could draw near.

So this is the invitation: see the hope, hold the hope, and share the hope. Tie your life to Emmanuel. His presence is enough.

Key Takeaways

1. Joy is nearness, not nostalgia. You can’t recreate a season of life by recreating a vibe. Joy isn’t found by going backward but by recognizing God is here, now, with you. Slow down to receive the joy that rises from His nearness rather than chasing a feeling that fades. [06:22]
2. Hope is a cord you cling. Biblical hope is not an emotion; it’s a tether to God’s promise when everything shakes. Like Rahab’s scarlet cord, real hope is visible and costly, and it holds when walls fall. Tie your life to what God has said and to whom He has sent. [11:51]
3. Peace flows from God’s presence. The world didn’t calm down the night Jesus was born, yet heaven announced peace because God had come near. Peace with God comes first; then His presence steadies our hearts amid unresolved circumstances. Surrender invites the peace control can’t deliver. [26:32]
4. Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor, understands. He doesn’t offer distant sympathy; He shares our human experience—misunderstanding, grief, pressure, exhaustion. Because He suffered, He is able to help those who suffer, meeting us with wisdom and compassion. Bring Him the real story of your heart. [17:36]
5. See, hold, and share the hope. Fix your eyes on Emmanuel, not only your circumstances. Choose to cling to His promises when fear presses in, and become the kind of person who passes hope along—with presence, words, and practical care. Shared hope matures into joy and peace. [31:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:18] - Favorite Christmas movies tradition
[01:35] - What Christmas is all about
[03:10] - Emmanuel: God with us
[04:26] - Christmas is fact, not feeling
[06:22] - Joy is nearness, not nostalgia
[07:41] - Good news of great joy
[10:38] - Joy sustained by hope
[11:40] - Tikvah: hope as a cord
[12:54] - Rahab’s scarlet cord and rescue
[16:48] - Jesus shares our human experience
[22:19] - God comes near as a baby
[26:32] - Peace is the presence of God
[31:40] - See, hold, and share hope

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
- John 1:14
- Joshua 2:18-21
- Luke 2:10-14

Observation questions

In John 1:14, what happened to the Word, and what does the word “dwelt/tabernacled” tell us about where God chose to be?
In Joshua 2:18-21, what simple, visible act marked Rahab’s house for rescue, and who was included in that rescue?
In Luke 2:10-14, what did the angels call their message, and to whom did they say peace would come?
What specific difference was made between nostalgia and biblical joy, and how is joy received according to the message? [08:48]

Interpretation questions

If “the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us,” how does that shape a view of joy as nearness, not nostalgia—especially during a busy season? [06:22]
Rahab’s scarlet cord was hope you could see. What does that teach about biblical hope being a tether to God’s promise when walls shake? [12:54]
The angels announced peace while Rome still ruled and Herod still raged. What does that reveal about peace flowing from presence rather than the absence of trouble? [26:32]
Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor who understands misunderstanding, grief, and exhaustion. How should that change the way someone prays or brings their real story to Him? [17:36]

Application questions

“Joy is not nostalgia. Joy is nearness.” Where are you tempted to chase a Christmas vibe, and what simple way could you slow down this week to notice God-with-you here and now? [06:22]
What have you tied your hope to lately (circumstances, control, relationships, finances, nostalgia)? If that “cord” frays, what’s one step you can take to tie your hope to Jesus instead? [29:47]
Think about Rahab’s visible cord. What could be a visible, everyday reminder for you (a verse card, a cross on your desk, a phone lock screen) that points you back to anchored hope? [13:32]
Peace comes from presence, not from getting life under control. What is one anxious area you can surrender this week, and how will you practice that surrender in real time? [28:41]
“Slow down long enough to notice that God is with you right here, right now.” When and where will you carve out 10 quiet minutes daily to rest in God’s presence? Be concrete about time and place. [09:04]
Jesus understands human pressure, grief, and weariness. What honest prayer have you been avoiding, and what would it look like to bring it to Him today, without filters? [18:35]
See the hope, hold the hope, share the hope. Who is one person you can encourage this week—with your presence, a message, or practical help—and what exactly will you do? [32:59]

Sermon Clips

And that's why those Instagram reels, they hit us the way they do. They don't just show, you know, decorations. I think what happens is they show us like a distance from responsibility. And they don't just show Christmas, they show a season of life. And here's the hard truth about that. It's that you cannot recreate a season of life by recreating a vibe. Joy is not found by going backwards. Joy is found by recognizing that God is here now with us. Emmanuel. Emmanuel. Because biblical joy, it's never tied to circumstances being ideal. It's tied to God being near to us. [00:07:13] (50 seconds) #JoyBeyondVibes

Joy is available even when life is heavy. Even when grief is present. Even when things are not going the way that you hope they go. Because joy doesn't depend on what's happening around you. It depends on who is with you. Let me say that again. Joy doesn't depend on what's happening around you. Your circumstances. Joy depends on who is with you. And Emmanuel means that you are never without him. So maybe the invitation this Christmas is to not chase a feeling. Maybe it's to slow down and open our eyes and realize that the greatest joy has already arrived. [00:09:21] (48 seconds) #JoyInHisPresence

And that cord became the difference between life and death for her and her family. Between judgment and rescue. Between destruction and deliverance. And while the walls of Jericho fell, that cord stayed tied right there to that window. And the only part of that wall that was left standing was Rahab's house. And Rahab and her family were saved. Because hope has always been more than just a feeling. Hope's always been a person. [00:13:52] (33 seconds) #HopeIsAPerson

Because you don't need strong faith to be saved. You just need anchored faith. And like Rahab, we want to tie our hope to what God has said. Tie our hope to who God has sent. And Emmanuel means this. Your hope is not just wishful thinking. It's tied to a living Savior who is with you. Because here's the thing. God didn't just observe us, a humanity, from a distance. He experienced it from the inside. [00:16:18] (33 seconds) #AnchoredFaith

Because Jesus knows what it's like. He knows what it's like to be misunderstood. He knows what it's like to be betrayed. He knows what it's like to grieve. He knows what it's like to feel exhausted. And when we pray, we're not praying to some distant deity that knows nothing about what you and I are experiencing and what we're going through. You're speaking to someone who knows exactly what it costs to be human. [00:17:02] (31 seconds) #JesusUnderstands

So why did God come as a baby? Because God is not after subjects, he's not after servants, who just stand at a distance in fear. Because this time, he didn't come to bring judgment, he came to bear the judgment. He came to pay the penalty for our sins, to take away the barrier between humanity and God, so that we can be together. [00:24:19] (34 seconds) #GodCameToBeWithUs

``And that's important because the world didn't suddenly become peaceful that night. All right? Rome was still in power. Herod was going to try to kill him. And the people were still oppressed. But we still have heaven announcing peace on earth. Why? Because peace is not the absence of trouble. Peace is the presence of God. Peace is the presence of God. [00:26:14] (30 seconds) #PeaceIsPresence

Because here's the thing. Peace flows from presence. Peace flows from the presence of God. Yeah, I think a lot of times we tell ourselves, I'll have peace when everything around me calms down. I'll have peace when all the family leaves. I'll have peace when I don't have to buy so many gifts. Or I'll have peace when I don't have to cook for everybody. I'll have peace when everybody just leaves me alone. I'll have peace. But peace is not found in getting control of life. Peace is found in surrendering to God's presence. [00:28:12] (40 seconds) #PeaceThroughPresence

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