December 28, 2025 | Speaker: Jason Coker | Scripture: Isaiah 63:7–9

Episode Summary In this final sermon of the Christmas season, Jason explores the profound difference between seeking God's power and resting in God's presence. Drawing from a lament in Isaiah 63, he challenges us to look beyond the "fantastical" and "miraculous" to find salvation in the quiet, empathetic nearness of God. By examining the subtle but powerful differences in ancient Hebrew translations, we discover a God who doesn't just watch our suffering but is afflicted with us—offering a model of justice rooted in deep empathy. As we close out a difficult year, we are invited to cultivate a "practice of the presence" that sustains us for the future.

Key Takeaways

• 
  

  The Twelve Days of Christmas: Christmas isn't just a single day of overwhelming consumption; it is a season ("Christmastide") that stretches out the experience of grace, teaching us that God's goodness often fills the space rather than arriving in a single flash.

  
  


• 
  

  Presence Over Power: While we often desire God to show up with miraculous power to fix our problems, Isaiah reminds us that it is God's presence—not merely angels or messengers—that truly saves us.

  
  


• 
  

  The God Who Suffers With Us: A closer look at the Masoretic text of Isaiah 63:9 reveals a God who is "afflicted in our affliction." This empathy transforms our understanding of justice: God acts on our behalf because God feels our pain.

  
  


• 
  

  Practicing the Presence: In a world filled with struggle (and looking back on a "rough" 2025), cultivating a daily awareness of God's presence is a vital survival mechanism that connects us to the ultimate source of compassion and resilience.

  
  

Memorable Quotes

"The goodness of God, the grace of God, the majesty of God doesn't come in a flash... Instead, it stretches out. It fills the space."

"It was no messenger or angel, but his presence that saved them."

"If God's presence is made possible by God's empathy... That changes everything."

"We cultivate an awareness of God's presence... to connect us with the source of empathy and compassion and justice."

Resources

• 
  

  Oceanside Sanctuary Website

  
  


• 
  

  Plan a Visit

  
  


• 
  

  Give Online

  
  

Chapters

• (00:00:00 ) - Common Table
• (00:01:53 ) - Reading of Isaiah, Chapter 63
• (00:03:54 ) - Why Should We Put Up the Christmas Tree Until Christmas Eve?
• (00:09:39 ) - God's Presence in the Christian Church
• (00:16:46 ) - Do We Really Want God's Presence?
• (00:28:18 ) - I Want to Know God More
• (00:29:08 ) - Crucified Word