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.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

... there will be no more gloom for those who who were in distress... the people walking in darkness... 

Big Idea: Christmas is about how God shows up in the middle of the "hard stuff" that makes up real life.

God's goodness shines through those who are faithful to him.

Mighty God

El = Elohim

Gibbor = Strong or mighty

We need the hero who is strong enough to carry out the promises of healing and restoration that we simply cannot provide on our own.

Luke 1:26-33 CEB - When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favoured one! The Lord is with you!” She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.”

"Rejoice, favoured one! The Lord is with you!"

"I am the Lord's servant..."

Lord, how are you with me in the middle of this?

Hebrews 1:3a NIV - The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

May we realize that our "Yes" to God - even if it is whispered through tears - is enough. Because Christmas means that the Hero has arrived, the Glory has moved into the neighborhood, and the God of the universe is not just above us or ahead of us. He is with us.