9 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
News of a new baby can be so exciting! At the beginning of December, as we look forward to Christmas and celebrating the birth of Jesus the Messiah, it is still exciting!
They do not stay babies very long though, and in Isaiah 9: 6 the writer does not linger long with the baby before moving on to the Son and then the Man on whose shoulders the government of all things will rest.
Isaiah then presents names for this ruler which proclaim how He will rule.
He will be called…
Wonderful Counsellor: A Counsellor in the sense of giving counsel, advice, and guidance. The Messiah is no normal Counsellor though; He is a Wonderful, extraordinary, marvellous, astonishing Counsellor with a wonderful plan which all the world will marvel at.
Mighty God: He is a powerful warrior who is capable of carrying out his plan.
Everlasting Father: He is an enduring, compassionate, provider who rules with love.
Prince of Peace: His rule will bring wholeness and peace to individuals and society at large.
All of these names of the Child, all these aspects of the Messiah, were fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth.
Whether we want to know the reality of His rule in our life, of course, is entirely up to us.
Pete and Sandra C
2 December - A Little Context Perhaps?
2nd December 2018
Isaiah 11: 1-16
The Righteous Reign of the Branch
11 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;
and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze;
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,
and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. 9 They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.
11 In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.
12 He will raise a signal for the nations
and will assemble the banished of Israel,
and gather the dispersed of Judah
from the four corners of the earth. 13 The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart,
and those who harass Judah shall be cut off;
Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah,
and Judah shall not harass Ephraim. 14 But they shall swoop down on the shoulder of the Philistines in the west,
and together they shall plunder the people of the east.
They shall put out their hand against Edom and Moab,
and the Ammonites shall obey them. 15 And the Lord will utterly destroy
the tongue of the Sea of Egypt,
and will wave his hand over the River
with his scorching breath,
and strike it into seven channels,
and he will lead people across in sandals. 16 And there will be a highway from Assyria
for the remnant that remains of his people,
as there was for Israel
when they came up from the land of Egypt.
In the beginning, God creates everything ‘good’, ‘The Fall’ ruins everything. God makes plans. Fast forward a little and God initiates a Covenant with Abraham to make him a great nation and bless all peoples through him. Abraham and Sarah have Isaac; Isaac and Rebekah have Jacob and Esau. Jacob and Rachel have Joseph. Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers and ends up in Egypt, somewhat of a Governor. Joseph reconciles with his brothers who all relocate with their families to Egypt. Joseph dies, the Israelites are severely oppressed by new leadership, and cry out to God. God remembers His promise to Abraham, sends Moses and the Israelites escape. They wander in the desert a while then enter the Promised Land, with all sorts of instructions on how to worship and honour God. After a succession of judges and kings they fail to be the community that God set them apart to be. God scatters them in judgement, and they attempt to live out their faith, not as a great nation, but as an ethnic minority in the different lands they find themselves in.
In the middle of our passage today we find the verse:
11 In that day the Lord will extend His hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of His people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.
As we begin Advent, remember we find ourselves not at the start of a brand-new story, but right in the middle of God’s big story. In Jesus God restores all things damaged by the Fall, and fulfils His promise to Abraham to bless all peoples, by extending the invitation of His grace from one scattered nation, to the whole world.
Annemarie D
3 December - Promises, Promises
3rd December 2018
Isaiah 42: 1-9
The Lord's Chosen Servant
42 Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged[a]
till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law.
5 Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
and spirit to those who walk in it: 6 “I am the Lord; I have called you[b] in righteousness;
I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
a light for the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8 I am the Lord; that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to carved idols. 9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth
I tell you of them.”
How many times have we said, or heard, the phrase ‘I promise’, only for nothing to happen. In today’s world it has become a throwaway phrase, trite words that often mean nothing to the person saying them.
God, however, is different. When He promises something, that promise is ALWAYS kept. These verses from the prophet Isaiah are a promise from God about the future coming of Jesus to earth where He will be, as Eugene Peterson puts it in The Message: a Man who will not call attention to what He does with loud speeches or gaudy parades. He will not brush aside the bruised and the hurt, and He will not disregard the small and insignificant, but He will steadily and firmly set things right.
In this Advent season, we celebrate the coming to earth of God’s only Son Jesus, a promise fulfilled. As Jesus walked this earth, He showed us the way to God in everything He did and everything He said.
God told us Jesus would be the Light of the World, stepping down into the darkness of our hearts and setting us free. All we have to do is let Him in.
Steven and Kit L
4 December - O Little Town of Bethlehem
4th December 2018
Micah 5: 1-5a
The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem
5 Now muster your troops, O daughter[b] of troops;
siege is laid against us;
with a rod they strike the judge of Israel
on the cheek. 2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of theLord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their peace.
When the Assyrian comes into our land
and treads in our palaces,
then we will raise against him seven shepherds
and eight princes of men;
One of my favourite comedy sketches is from Father Ted when he tries to explain ‘perspective’ to Dougal. He puts his fingers close together and says “this is small”, and then points to something in the distance and says “and that’s far away”. Dougal does not get it at all.
The full name ‘Bethlehem Ephrathah’ was probably used to distinguish it from another town of the same name in Zebulun. All names in Hebrew have meaning, so Bethlehem means “house of bread” and Ephrathah means “fruitfulness”. As a town, in size terms, Bethlehem was totally insignificant with likely only a thousand inhabitants.
However, Bethlehem was where Israel’s great King David was born, and Micah identifies it as the place where the Messiah would also be born, the ruler who would come from David’s descendants but whose origin was before David.
In God’s kingdom, He often chooses what (or who) seems small and unimportant and uses it (or them) to demonstrate His power and His glory. A baby in a manger in a town that barely made it onto the map is just about as small and insignificant as you could possibly get in human terms. However, we know that it was one of the most significant events in human history and was part of God’s plan for the salvation of the world.
What is our perspective this Christmas? Is our God small? Or perhaps not small but far away? Or, is He Immanuel, God with us, the One who is intimately close, glorious and majestic, and whose greatness reaches the ends of the earth?
John M
5 December - Everlasting Certainty
5th December 2018
Luke 1: 1-4
Dedication to Theophilus
1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
We must have all found ourselves in a situation where we have had doubts or not been sure about something, and wanted to have a greater understanding about a topic. Increasingly, I expect many of us turn to technology for answers. Apparently, there are billions of google searches every day! This can give many options to choose from, with potentially different and even conflicting answers.
What a contrast in the opening verses of Luke! A doctor with an interest in detail, Luke explains he has ‘carefully investigated’ all that he has learned, and then comprehensively written about his findings. Why has he done this? As it says in verse 4, so that Theophilus ‘may know the certainty of the things you have been taught’. Luke’s writings give much detail about what this certainty relates to - the birth of baby Jesus, His death to take away our sin, His resurrection, and through believing in Jesus as our Saviour, our certain hope of eternal life.
As we celebrate another Christmas season, people will generally be aware of what Luke writes about Jesus as a baby in a manger; although this may well be as an afterthought in the commercialism of 21st century Christmas. But how much more we can celebrate! The amazing fact that some 2,000 years after Luke wrote his gospel we can read from the same source as Theophilus. To learn not only about baby Jesus, but also of the certainty His coming gives for our eternal future.
Fiona M
6 December - God Keeps His Promises
6th December 2018
Luke 1: 5-25
Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,[a] of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute.23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
Isaiah recorded the arrival of John the Baptist 700 years beforehand, and it is also noted in Malachi. Luke 1 is the link between the old economy and the new.
God has spoken with man in the garden, through men in the prophets, as Man in the gospels and now speaks in man.
Zechariah, an aged priest is ministering in the temple. There would possibly be 20,000 active priests in Israel, lots would be cast, and Zechariah was chosen to trim the wicks on the lampstands and burn incense on the altar, likely to be the only opportunity in his lifetime.
He was interrupted by the appearance of the Angel Gabriel, bringing news that his elderly wife Elizabeth will bear him a son. So astonished is Zechariah that he cannot believe the good news, so asks for a sign, and is struck dumb until John's birth.
We sometimes say - "if it is too good to be true, it is too good to be true" - but this does not apply to God's promises. Unbelief robbed Zachariah of the pleasure in anticipation. Let's not fall into that trap. God's promises will always come to pass.
Hebrews 10:23: "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful."
John and Ann S
7 December - Simply Trust Him
7th December 2018
Luke 1: 26-38
Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her
Mary was an ordinary young woman, no doubt looking forward to getting married and all that life had in store for her. What was extraordinary about Mary was that she trusted God implicitly.
Although "greatly troubled" by what the angel told her, she did not make excuses or ask for proof. Mary trusted God so much, she surrendered herself completely to His will. She risked losing everything - her family, her fiancé, respect from her community - to play the part God had chosen for her in His wonderful plan of salvation. She only asked "How can this be", a perfectly reasonable question in the circumstances. Humbly accepting the answer "nothing is impossible with God", she made herself available.
How often do we - like many children at this time of year - go to God with our "list" of needs or our own ideas of what we want to happen?
Perhaps we should be like Mary and wholeheartedly trust in our all-powerful God, who cares for us like no other. He knows what's best and although we may endure turbulent times, as Mary did, supports and cares for us until He brings us through in His will.
All we have to do is trust Him.
Violet and Arthur W
8 December - The Holy Spirit
8th December 2018
Luke 1: 39-45
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be[a] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
In Galatians 5, Paul tells us what happens if a Christian walks in the Spirit. We will increase in love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Normally we will study these fruits of the Spirit in a reader for Pentecost. However, Luke tells us that all the events in preparation before the birth of Jesus are orchestrated by the Holy Ghost.
It is the Holy Spirit that made Mary pregnant (verse 35). It is the Holy Spirit who filled John before his birth (verse 15). It is by the Holy Spirit Elizabeth knew Mary was pregnant[1] (verse 41), and it is the Holy Spirit who stirred Zacharias to praise God and to tell about the salvation that was soon coming (verse 67).
As we see that the Holy Spirit fills these people, we will also see the fruits that these people bear. In Luke 1 there is one fruit of the Spirit that stands out, namely joy. The unborn John was filled with joy (verse 44) when the sound of the voice of Mary entered his mother’s ears. Later we will read the songs of Mary and Zacharias and I encourage you to taste the joy, gratitude and admiration in these texts.
To have the best Christmas ever, I conclude with Paul: ”Walk in the Spirit”, because if we walk in His Spirit, we will get the fruits of the Spirit and one of them is divine joy.
Andries S
[1] Notice that Mary meets Elizabeth before any signs of pregnancy were visible and any rumours could have been spread (verse 39). Also, Elizabeth blesses Mary with her pregnancy before Mary could even tell her about it (verse 41 - 42). Hence there is no natural way she could have known it and that is what she confirms in verse 44.
9 December - Luke 1: 46-56
9th December 2018
Luke 1: 46-56
Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
“And His mercy is on them that reverence Him from generation to generation.” (Verse 50)
I would like to expand on Luke 1:50 (KJV): “…on them…” That means us! The Bible writer did not say “from generation to the next generation – that’s it”, or “for 2-3 generations”. It was open ended – His mercy will stop at no generation until Jesus comes to claim His own. And, in His great mercy, He took on flesh and was born into this world, not from it. Jesus Christ is not the best human being the human race can boast of – He is a Being for whom the human race can take no credit at all, but is God Incarnate. Our Lord’s birth is an advent – the appearance of God in human form. In His great mercy, He became flesh to make a way for us to come home, to heaven. Redemption!
Just as our Lord came into human history from outside it, He must also come into me from outside. Have I allowed my personal human life to become a “Bethlehem” for the Son of God? I cannot enter the realm of the kingdom of God, heaven, unless I am born again from above. (John 3:7) “You must be born again”. And once Christ is formed in me, His nature immediately begins to work through me. The gift of His mercy is freely given to me, and reverence for Him will flow out of me like living waters!
Jim and Carol J
10 December - "And this is how it came about..."
10th December 2018
Matthew 1: 18-25
The Birth of Jesus Christ
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
The wondrous incarnation, the history-defining arrival of God on earth is announced, in a very matter-of-fact way. But each detail gives us pause to think.
The account makes it very clear that the Child is by the Holy Spirit, not by Joseph. We have to go to Luke to see how Mary responds to her pregnancy, but we see in Joseph's response why he is chosen as stepfather. He is a good man who would have quietly divorced Mary without public shame, but who obeys God when He tells him to take Mary as his wife. We hear that Joseph is the son of David, so Jesus is also considered to be of that line (see Romans 1:3), fulfilling promises made to David long ago. The prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 is quoted, reminding us this event has been foretold for centuries. Finally, the Child is named: Jesus, meaning “the Lord saves” and Immanuel, “God is with us”. Jesus grows up to embody these names, being God among us, sinful human beings, but also our Saviour from these sins.
We are so familiar with the Christmas story, that it is easy to be matter-of-fact ourselves. Instead, let us pray that we will marvel at how God was at work through time, and in individual lives, to enter our world for our salvation and His glory.
Fiona R
Day 11 - "The Lord has been gracious, let's praise Him."
11th December 2018
Luke 1:57-66 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
As Gabriel promised, Zacharias begot a son who was mostly unexpected, even by himself at the beginning, for he doubted the words of God. Knowing God has always been powerful and faithful from the scriptures, he still doubted: How shall I know this? Or we might ask sometimes in our life: How could it be? We just cannot help doubting, more or less, in our minds no matter how well we know God. Nevertheless, we also know deeply in our hearts that He is gracious, He understands us, as well as He understood Zacharias, and still had mercy on him.
The name of John means: “The Lord has been gracious”, which is probably the best knowledge we could ever possess. But having that knowledge is not enough, what else shall we do to respond? Well, we trust in Him, obey His words, and praise His grace! All of these are what Zacharias and Elizabeth did. They called the boy John as God commanded, even though they were facing the misunderstanding of their relatives. The first thing Zacharias did after recovering from dumbness was bless God. Is the dumbness that makes him introspect necessarily a punishment? From another perspective, it might as well be a blessing.
Joe Y
Day 12 - God had a plan and God has a plan
12th December 2018
Luke 1:67-80 English Standard Version (ESV)
Zechariah's Prophecy
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
From the passage we see:
Zechariah lost his voice…….God had a plan.
Salvation from enemies…...God had a plan.
Remember His Holy covenant…...God had a plan.
Give the people the knowledge of salvation…...God has a plan.
Shine on those living in darkness…...God has a plan.
Guide our feet into the path of peace…...God has a plan.
Like John, we too are part of God’s plan - do we see ourselves in it? Jesus has now been to earth and we need to tell people about God’s ‘tender mercy’, His ‘forgiveness’ and ‘salvation’ by ‘shining on those living in darkness’ and ‘guiding their feet into the path of peace’ through a life in Christ.
We do not know why God took away Zechariah’s voice, but we do know that He did what He said He was going to do - return his voice at John’s birth. This is a powerful truth, that we trust that God will do what He says He will do, even when we don’t know the reason why something has happened or is happening.
“Salvation belongs to our God
Who sits on the throne
And unto the Lamb
Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks
honour and power and strength
Be to our God, for ever and ever, Amen
And we the redeemed shall be strong, in purpose and unity.”
Adrian Howard and Pat Turner
Salvation is in God’s plan and we get to be part of it - hallelujah!
Diane Davidson
God had a plan and God has a plan
12th December 2018
Luke 1:67-80 English Standard Version (ESV)
Zechariah's Prophecy
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
From the passage we see:
Zechariah lost his voice…….God had a plan.
Salvation from enemies…...God had a plan.
Remember His Holy covenant…...God had a plan.
Give the people the knowledge of salvation…...God has a plan.
Shine on those living in darkness…...God has a plan.
Guide our feet into the path of peace…...God has a plan.
Like John, we too are part of God’s plan - do we see ourselves in it? Jesus has now been to earth and we need to tell people about God’s ‘tender mercy’, His ‘forgiveness’ and ‘salvation’ by ‘shining on those living in darkness’ and ‘guiding their feet into the path of peace’ through a life in Christ.
We do not know why God took away Zechariah’s voice, but we do know that He did what He said He was going to do - return his voice at John’s birth. This is a powerful truth, that we trust that God will do what He says He will do, even when we don’t know the reason why something has happened or is happening.
“Salvation belongs to our God
Who sits on the throne
And unto the Lamb
Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks
honour and power and strength
Be to our God, for ever and ever, Amen
And we the redeemed shall be strong, in purpose and unity.”
Adrian Howard and Pat Turner
Salvation is in God’s plan and we get to be part of it - hallelujah!
Diane D
Day 13 - Jesus is Born
13th December 2018
Luke 2:1-7 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Birth of Jesus Christ
2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
This story is about the birth of Jesus.
I wondered why Emperor Augustus made everyone register in their birth town. I looked this up and found out it was so the Emperor could work out who had to pay taxes.
Emperor Augustus and Quirinius were real people who existed (I found them on Wikipedia!) They were real people, who really existed, in the real world. Historical records show that Quirinius took a census when he was governor in AD 6 or 7, though the one Luke mentions would have been earlier than this. Luke’s story of the birth of Jesus is full of details like this showing that what Luke writes, and what we believe as Christians, is really true.
Jesus was Mary’s firstborn son. The firstborn of the Israelites always belonged to the Lord. It’s quite funny that Jesus is the Son of God, but because He is a firstborn son of Mary, He belongs to the Lord!
What was so special about Bethlehem? It was the home town of King David and because Joseph was a descendant of David, it was also his hometown, so Joseph went to Bethlehem to register. I think it is amazing that King David is a really famous person in the Bible and that Jesus is a really famous person in the Bible too – it runs in the family!
When Jesus was born, Mary placed Him in a manger. A manger is a trough for feeding animals. This was very different from the cot I was put into when I was born! When Prince George was born he was really famous and got to stay in a palace. You don’t expect to find kings in a stable but that’s what Jesus is!
Alasdair A
Day 14 - The Amazing Incarnation
14th December 2018
Luke 2:8-21 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Such a familiar passage - the shepherds on the hillside tending their flocks by night. How prophetic that God should send His Heavenly messenger to these humble men. When His Son, our Lord Jesus, began His ministry on earth it was to such as these that He was drawn.
What does it say about these men? Their reaction is revealing. God speaks to those who are listening. They could be in no doubt where this angelic being had come from. God’s glorious presence surrounded them. The Heavenly messenger reassures them and further confirmation comes in the message itself. God had promised through His prophets to send His Anointed One from the line of King David and it is pointed out to these shepherds that the promise was now being fulfilled and the Messiah, the Saviour, had been born in David’s town.
It is as if the gates of heaven burst open with the wonder of this event and out spills a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God. Accepting at once without doubt this message from God, the shepherds set off to the town. Having seen the baby they become the very first to “spread the word”, God’s Word, about the Saviour, and “and all who heard it were amazed”.
May we also never lose the wonder of this event and may it continue to “amaze” us.
Agnes G
Day 15 - Following, Travelling, Giving
15th December 2018
Matthew 2:1-12 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Visit of the Wise Men
2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[a] from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose[b] and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
We ‘follow’ people on Instagram or Facebook or ‘follow’ the news because we think it has some value to our lives. Over 2000 years ago, the Magi saw something they thought worth following wholeheartedly. They gave of all of themselves to follow the sign they thought led to a new King. The wise men make me face the question of who, or what, I’m following at the the moment. Am I following Jesus wholeheartedly in all areas of my life?
The Magi remind us that Christmas is a time of travel for people all around the world. Here in Uganda, people travel back to their home villages to be with extended family. Like the Magi, am I travelling towards Jesus in my life or am I moving further away from Him?
In the passage we read that the star is a signpost to Jesus. It literally directs the Magi to meet and worship the new-born King. The star shone in the dark, pointing to the One who would bring joy and hope. Like the God-given star, are we a shining beacon in the dark, directing others to the Saviour?
The wise men were experts in astrology and used this unique ability to discover Jesus. Like the wise men, we are all endowed with God-given gifts, training and experience. How are we using our unique attributes to seek out truth and goodness?
David and Emma C
Day 16 - Marvel
16th December 2018
Luke 2:22-40 English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus Presented at the Temple
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
As was the custom, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple to be consecrated to the Lord. I am sure they had attended many of these celebrations before but not for their own son. As they brought Jesus forward we are told that they met Simeon who was ‘righteous and devout’. Simeon on seeing Jesus began to praise God, we are told he was filled with the Spirit and recognised Jesus as the Messiah.
The text goes on to say how Mary and Joseph ‘marvelled’ about what Simeon had said about Jesus. As Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph knew Jesus better than anyone else, yet they still marvelled at what Simeon had said about Him. If they as His parents marvelled at this, how much more should we marvel at Jesus, who He is and what He has done for us.
As we think of all the festivities around us, let us take a moment to think about the true meaning of Christmas and to marvel at Jesus, the Son of God.
Take time today to spend with God, ask the Holy Spirit to give you God’s revelation today.
Jennie C
Day 17 - Do Not Fear
17th December 2018
Matthew 2:13-18 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Flight to Egypt
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Herod Kills the Children
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Joseph's dreams, given by God, saved the baby Jesus, and are the announcement of a personal, loving and caring ‘God-with-us’.
As Christians, we do not worship a God who simply fixes problems. We worship the God who comforts those who suffer.
Even in the face of extreme wickedness and in a world that is too often cruel and violent, Jesus is always victorious, and in Him we are always victorious.
Tom R
Day 18 - The Return to Nazareth
18th December 2018
Matthew 2:19-23 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Return to Nazareth
19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
The events described in this passage take place around two years after the birth of the Lord Jesus. Under divine guidance and protection, the little family flees from Bethlehem to Egypt to escape the murderous intent of Herod. The immediate threat appears to lift briefly following Herod’s death (v19), but his successor, Archelaus proves to be no less hostile, so Joseph takes Jesus and Mary back to the relative safety of Nazareth.
Nazareth was not a fashionable town (John 1: 46), yet it was here, in obscurity, that Jesus spent His childhood and much of His adult life. Isaiah 53: 2 tells us that “He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground”, and Luke 2: 40 records that “the child grew and became strong; He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him”. The curtain then falls on our Lord’s early life and our next glimpse of Him will be found in Luke 2: 41-52 when as a boy of twelve He is seen in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers of the law, both hearing and answering questions.
We are often encouraged to leave our comfort zones, and at times this can be good advice for us to receive. However, we should also remember that quiet, stable and consistent lives are no less pleasing to God. Paul reminds Timothy that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6: 6), and the One who was “called a Nazarene” is the same Jesus who says to us all at the threshold of another year, “Come, follow Me”.
“O use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where,
Until Thy blessed face I see,
Thy rest, Thy joy,Thy glory share.”
Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-79)
John S
Day 19
19th December 2018
Luke 2:41-52 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.48 And when his parents[a] saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature[c] and in favor with God and man.
“Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Verse 49)
With great anxiety Mary and Joseph search for Him. Three days later the One who was lost has been found. Mary’s first words are, “Child, why have you treated us like this?” We are rightfully concerned for our children. Growing up means establishing our identity and figuring out our place in this world. It involves creating relationships, setting priorities, and making decisions. Ultimately, growing up means moving out and finding a new home.
This is a story about growing up, but not Jesus’ growing up - about Mary and Joseph growing up, you and me growing up. It is not about age but about moving into deeper and more authentic relationships with God, each other, and ourselves. Jesus is the One who grows us up. It is as if Jesus is saying to Mary
“Remember,
the angel told you I would be the Son of God
that night in Bethlehem - Angels praising God, shepherds glorifying God.
Three men from the East, their gifts, and adoration.
Joseph’s dreams that guided us to Egypt and back.
Where else could I be but here?”
Jesus has moved from their home to His Father’s home. This is what Jesus would ask of Simon and Andrew, James and John. “Follow me” would be the invitation for them to leave their homes, their nets, their fathers and move to a different place, live a different life, see with different eyes. It is today what he asks of you and me.
Matt and Rose G
Day 20 - Submission
20th December 2018
Luke 2:39-52 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Return to Nazareth
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Jesus was no ordinary child. Before the start of His public ministry, Jesus showed such spiritual wisdom that He left people and teachers at the temple amazed. Yet when called by his earthly parents to return to Nazareth, He obeyed as it was God’s plan for Him at that time. In our daily lives, there are challenging situations when we are called to submit to people that we find it difficult to submit to. This is a part of discipleship. Just as Jesus needed time to grow and learn, it is in these times that we allow God to work on things in our lives. Have faith in God’s plan and reflect on what lessons are learnt. Let us pray that we continue to hunger for God and grow in His spiritual feed. May we follow His call, and may He give us wisdom and guidance to live our lives with integrity.
Michael & Azin P
Day 21: I Am
21st December 2018
John 14:6 English Standard Version (ESV)
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
In Mark 8:29 Jesus questions His disciples: - “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?”.
In contemporary society that is arguably the only important question. A radio discussion between artists – “People ask me what the work’s about; I say ‘whatever you want it to be about.’” Interviewer: “Response to art is solely about your truth after all as it should be.”
For atheists, who believe that God comes from man’s imagination, truths about the gods can only be a matter of private opinion and personal preference.
Many still provide their own answers to the question. In the lyrics of a David Phelps song:
“Was he a poet, turned
Radical politician
Trying to start a revolution
A preacher on a mission
Talkin’ ‘bout fishing
In a new kind of kingdom
Or a small-town wannabe
Tired of carpentry
Carving out a little fame
John or Elijah, teacher,
Messiah
Or just someone trying to
Make a name.”
But in John 14:6 Jesus closes down the options: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.”
It’s as though Jesus is saying “Enough of ‘Who do you think I am?’ I’ll tell you who I am. Forget the idea that there are many roads to heaven and that Christianity is just one of them.”
Andrew F
Day 22 - The Call of the Last Prophet
22nd December 2018
Luke 3:1-20 English Standard Version (ESV)
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall become straight,
and the rough places shall become level ways, 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics[b] is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.”14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.
John’s message is a prophetic message, the last in a long line of God’s warning to people: life cannot go on the way it has and is, something has to change and it needs to start with you.
Many people heard and came to be baptised, that peculiar Jewish way of saying to someone “you’re not good enough as you are, be washed, so you are clean, clean enough to join in with us”. Our prophet gives this new significance: this is an all mankind need. Incredibly Jews need to be washed too. The ceremony reserved for Gentiles covers all because Jews also need to repent. Clinging to their old-world dependence on law keeping will not suffice.
There is a new way dawning, the way of the Lord, a way that will alter the landscape of life for good, straightening out what is bent out of shape and bring into view God’s Salvation.
So our last in the line prophet, issues the timeless call to repentance, not woolly words of feigned sorrow and a hope that things can improve if I try harder, but a prophetic shout, dramatic and definitive: change your life, turn around and do it now.
We too must hear the Prophet’s cry that day in our day; one of challenge to repent, and demonstrate it by bearing fruit.
David K
Day 23 - Love, Joy, Peace
23rd December 2018
Colossians 3:12-17 English Standard Version (ESV)
12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
As I read these verses several things jump out at me. Firstly, we are reminded that we are chosen. That is awesome! God has looked on us and has called us by name, we are His! But that requires a response from us. We are called to be holy, to be set apart, and we are to look radically different from those around us. We are to ‘clothe ourselves’, literally put on, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. These things should be evident in our lives. We are to be forgiving and loving. And whose example are we following? Jesus. Our forgiveness is to be as His was – sacrificial and complete. Our love is to be as His was – selfless and perfect.
This might seem hard, unachievable, but we are not expected to do this alone. We are given the Holy Spirit and as we allow Him to dwell in our hearts we will find peace and joy and we are to do this in community. We are all part of one body and as we allow Christ to dwell in us He unites us. The words love, joy and peace take centre stage in our Christmas cards and our Carols. Will we allow them to take centre stage in our lives this Christmas?
Jocelyn C
Day 24 - Mahood and Deity
24th December 2018
Luke 3:21-38 English Standard Version (ESV)
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
The Genealogy of Jesus Christ
23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel,[c]the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
In these verses, we have recorded Jesus’ baptism and then a long list of members of His family tree. His baptism was of course significant in that He was identifying with the sinners that He came to save. It was also the official start of His ministry. But perhaps most significant was what happened next – v 22 ..’the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from Heaven, “You are my Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased.”
Here we see the three members of the Trinity coming together effectively commissioning Jesus for His service. This was the Son of God – Manhood and Deity. But notice that this is not the only place that this title stated in this section. The phrase ‘the Son of God’ is also recorded at the end of verse 38 – ‘the Son of Adam, the Son of God’.
Through the recorded generations, we see the first Adam, God’s perfect creation, yet one through whom sin entered the world. We trace through the generations – Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, and Zerubbabel and find all the boxes ticked in terms of Jesus’ qualifications to be the Messiah and critically, to be our Saviour. He was the Son of God, but he was also the Son of Man. The Christmas hymn captures these truths well;
Meekness and majesty, Manhood and Deity
In perfect harmony, the Man who is God
Lord of eternity, dwells in humanity
Kneels in humility and washes our feet
CHORUS:
O what a mystery
Meekness and majesty
Bow down and worship
For this is your God
This is your God
Alan P
Day 25 - Let's Pray
25th December 2018
Father God,
As we rise this Christmas morning may our first prayer be of thanksgiving for your gift to us, that of your Son Jesus Christ.
And as each moment of this day passes may we more fully comprehend the fulness of your gift of salvation to us and to the world.
May our rejoicing at this day not be a private and internal celebration, but let us proclaim it as we exchange gifts and share fellowship together.
May those at our table who do not know you, learn something of you this day, and start a journey towards you.
Thank you that you have revealed yourself to us in the person of Jesus Christ, and reconciled us to yourself by the shedding of His blood.
Help us to remember that there is no greater gift that we could receive, and no greater gift that we could give than to impart this saving knowledge to those around us.
We pray this in Jesus Name,
Amen
Day 26
26th December 2018
John 8:12
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’”
It is thought that Jesus spoke these words during the Festival of Tabernacles. During this harvest festival, God’s people made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and there remembered God’s provision during their 40 years in the wilderness, by living in tents. Each night, they would light menorahs. Over the 8 days of the festival, more and more lights would be lit, until on the last night a river of light spread through the autumnal darkness, from the temple – where God met with His people – throughout the entire city of Jerusalem.
Jesus uses this moment to point to Himself as the source of light and life, from whom light and life will flow, not just to Jerusalem, but to the whole world.
John, who uses the word light more than any other Biblical writer, has no nativity story in his gospel. Instead, his opening chapter deliberately echoes the creation: Jesus is the Word through whom all things were made, and the light which brings life. John’s great declaration is that this Word, this light came into the world (John 1:9). John speaks of the impact of the incarnation, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
For the Christian, the presence of God in our lives is a light in the darkness. Following Jesus, we are never alone in the dark. No matter how deep the darkness we face today, we know with certainty that, in the end, it is light and not darkness that will triumph.
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by:
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years, are met in thee tonight
Phillips Brooks
Adrian A
Day 27 - Grand Designs
27th December 2018
Hebrews 1:1-3 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Supremacy of God's Son
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
These three little verses sum up the Gospel. God created the world. We broke it. God sent His Son to earth. The Son was sacrificed for our sins.
In my day job I’m an illustrator, which is really a visual communicator. To illustrate means to cast light upon or illuminate. Therefore, I completely understand that different audiences need things to be communicated in different ways. God does this throughout the Old Testament and now He uses Christ, an exact representation of Himself in a human body.
How we communicate online says a lot. This expression of God made me think about the digital manifestations of ourselves that we put online, and in the way that we can present a version of ourselves, or even a brand for different circumstances. It isn’t just celebrities that do this, we all do it to some extent.
These verses highlight the creative power of God and the saving power. Great design is transformative, and God is the greatest designer. To be a designer means to be a problem solver. This is where Christ comes in – His sacrifice is the solution to the problem, no temporary fix, a permanent one.
Then Christ sat down – this means His work was complete, the sacrifice was final. I often feel that my work is never done, particularly during Advent. But this is an earthly view. The cover illustration is a series of festive images with Christ at the centre. The important bit though is the big picture, a star pointing us to the birth of Christ. God spoke.
Pete & Lucy C
Day 28 - A different kind of Shepherd...
28th December 2018
John 10:11-18 English Standard Version (ESV)
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
At this time of year when you hear the word “shepherd” you probably think of the shepherds we read of in Luke’s Gospel (to whom the angelic choir appear to) or of young children, complete with tea towel headdresses, performing in a nativity play. Or perhaps, if like me you enjoy belting out carols, you think of “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night”.
Shepherds are a common Christmas theme but our passage today is not a typical Christmas passage. In this passage we read the words of the One that our familiar shepherds visited as a baby, now some 30 years later, telling us why He came.
We hear in the Lord’s own words: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
The baby whom we celebrate at Christmas, becomes the Good Shepherd. The one that willingly gave up His own life for His sheep. He knows us intimately, He is not some hired hand who will abandon us as we read here, but He loves and cares for us so much that He would lay down His life for us.
All this He has done willingly, He has the authority to lay down his life and He has the authority to take it up again.
Praise God that Jesus came, that He died for us, and that He rose again – and aLl this to save us, His sheep.
Kenneth D
Day 29 - The Best is Yet to Come
29th December 2018
John 11:24-26 English Standard Version (ESV)
24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
The events surrounding the birth of the Lord Jesus are certainly dramatic: angelic visitations, a star to follow, prophecies fulfilled and of course the virgin birth itself. And yet, as wonderful as these events are, they are just the start of a bigger, longer story.
These verses take us to the other end of the Lord’s life, just days before His crucifixion. We arrive in the middle of the story of the resurrection of Lazarus and Jesus is in conversation with Martha. She shows amazing insight as she understands that there will come a day when her brother will be raised from the dead. Jesus then makes one of His great “I am”statements: “I am the resurrection and the life”.
If our picture of Jesus is limited to a baby in a manger (as wonderful as the incarnation of the Son of God is) then we will miss out on the big story. Jesus did not come to show us what a good life looks like or to give wise teaching (although He of course did those things). His purpose was much, much bigger than that. The Bible tells us that our last enemy is death; it is the devil’s ultimate weapon in keeping us far from God. Jesus dies on the cross…but is raised to life. God prevails over sin, death and the devil and because Jesus was raised we have assurance that when the day of His return comes, we too will be raised.
So as we celebrate the first coming of Jesus, we look forward to his second. Maranatha!
Come Lord Jesus!
George C
Day 30
30th December 2018
Isaiah 53 English Standard Version (ESV)
53 Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.
“He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.”
The Suffering Servant did not rely on looks to win people to Himself. As we proclaim the good news individually or corporately, we should be careful we are not tempted into believing that clever words or a slick presentation can in some way make Jesus attractive to the unbeliever. This is a task solely reserved for the Holy Spirit!
That is not to say that we should be satisfied to swim in the shallows of our gospel understanding – indeed there is always more to be learned at the foot of the cross; nor that we should content ourselves with poor quality or miserly evangelism - our Lord poured out His soul for us – our love for the lost should be equally lavish!
But take heart reader, you need not worry about attractive presentation as you give a reason for the hope that is in you. Whether you do so eloquently or in fumbling, tongue twisted utterances, once you have pointed to the cross, it is the Holy Spirit who reveals the beauty of the Saviour to those who would otherwise esteem Him not.
Ken K
Day 31 - Who is Jesus to you?
31st December 2018
John 1:1-18 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
In this first section of John’s gospel account, he records the astounding truth that God came into the world as a man – Jesus Christ - and lived alongside us….
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” v14
The question of the identity of Jesus is hugely important. Many consider Him to be a good man or a prophet - perhaps a bit better than most of us, but deny that God would ever take on a human body and humble Himself to a simple life as a carpenter from Nazareth. The sacrificial life and death of Jesus does not fit with what many expect from their god.
At this point I am reflecting on how and when I concluded that Jesus is God. I am thanking God that He planted this truth into my life from an early age and, as life goes on, all I know of Jesus strengthens my conviction that He is the Word and was with God in the beginning.
Who is Jesus to you?
Jesus came to minister “grace and truth” (v17) into the world – into the lives of individuals and He came to make visible the invisible God…” No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is in the closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” v18
Jesus Christ is totally unique – His life, death and resurrection satisfy all of God’s requirements for us to be saved. Our part is to acknowledge and accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Receive Him into your life today!
“..to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” v12
Advent
For to Us a Child Is Born
9 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
News of a new baby can be so exciting! At the beginning of December, as we look forward to Christmas and celebrating the birth of Jesus the Messiah, it is still exciting!
They do not stay babies very long though, and in Isaiah 9: 6 the writer does not linger long with the baby before moving on to the Son and then the Man on whose shoulders the government of all things will rest.
Isaiah then presents names for this ruler which proclaim how He will rule.
He will be called…
Wonderful Counsellor: A Counsellor in the sense of giving counsel, advice, and guidance. The Messiah is no normal Counsellor though; He is a Wonderful, extraordinary, marvellous, astonishing Counsellor with a wonderful plan which all the world will marvel at.
Mighty God: He is a powerful warrior who is capable of carrying out his plan.
Everlasting Father: He is an enduring, compassionate, provider who rules with love.
Prince of Peace: His rule will bring wholeness and peace to individuals and society at large.
All of these names of the Child, all these aspects of the Messiah, were fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth.
Whether we want to know the reality of His rule in our life, of course, is entirely up to us.
Pete and Sandra C
The Righteous Reign of the Branch
11 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;
and a little child shall lead them.
7 The cow and the bear shall graze;
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,
and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.
9 They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.
11 In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.
12 He will raise a signal for the nations
and will assemble the banished of Israel,
and gather the dispersed of Judah
from the four corners of the earth.
13 The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart,
and those who harass Judah shall be cut off;
Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah,
and Judah shall not harass Ephraim.
14 But they shall swoop down on the shoulder of the Philistines in the west,
and together they shall plunder the people of the east.
They shall put out their hand against Edom and Moab,
and the Ammonites shall obey them.
15 And the Lord will utterly destroy
the tongue of the Sea of Egypt,
and will wave his hand over the River
with his scorching breath,
and strike it into seven channels,
and he will lead people across in sandals.
16 And there will be a highway from Assyria
for the remnant that remains of his people,
as there was for Israel
when they came up from the land of Egypt.
In the beginning, God creates everything ‘good’, ‘The Fall’ ruins everything. God makes plans. Fast forward a little and God initiates a Covenant with Abraham to make him a great nation and bless all peoples through him. Abraham and Sarah have Isaac; Isaac and Rebekah have Jacob and Esau. Jacob and Rachel have Joseph. Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers and ends up in Egypt, somewhat of a Governor. Joseph reconciles with his brothers who all relocate with their families to Egypt. Joseph dies, the Israelites are severely oppressed by new leadership, and cry out to God. God remembers His promise to Abraham, sends Moses and the Israelites escape. They wander in the desert a while then enter the Promised Land, with all sorts of instructions on how to worship and honour God. After a succession of judges and kings they fail to be the community that God set them apart to be. God scatters them in judgement, and they attempt to live out their faith, not as a great nation, but as an ethnic minority in the different lands they find themselves in.
In the middle of our passage today we find the verse:
11 In that day the Lord will extend His hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of His people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.
As we begin Advent, remember we find ourselves not at the start of a brand-new story, but right in the middle of God’s big story. In Jesus God restores all things damaged by the Fall, and fulfils His promise to Abraham to bless all peoples, by extending the invitation of His grace from one scattered nation, to the whole world.
Annemarie D
The Lord's Chosen Servant
42 Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged[a]
till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law.
5 Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
6 “I am the Lord; I have called you[b] in righteousness;
I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
a light for the nations,
7 to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
8 I am the Lord; that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to carved idols.
9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth
I tell you of them.”
How many times have we said, or heard, the phrase ‘I promise’, only for nothing to happen. In today’s world it has become a throwaway phrase, trite words that often mean nothing to the person saying them.
God, however, is different. When He promises something, that promise is ALWAYS kept. These verses from the prophet Isaiah are a promise from God about the future coming of Jesus to earth where He will be, as Eugene Peterson puts it in The Message: a Man who will not call attention to what He does with loud speeches or gaudy parades. He will not brush aside the bruised and the hurt, and He will not disregard the small and insignificant, but He will steadily and firmly set things right.
In this Advent season, we celebrate the coming to earth of God’s only Son Jesus, a promise fulfilled. As Jesus walked this earth, He showed us the way to God in everything He did and everything He said.
God told us Jesus would be the Light of the World, stepping down into the darkness of our hearts and setting us free. All we have to do is let Him in.
Steven and Kit L
The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem
5 Now muster your troops, O daughter[b] of troops;
siege is laid against us;
with a rod they strike the judge of Israel
on the cheek.
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of theLord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth.
5 And he shall be their peace.
When the Assyrian comes into our land
and treads in our palaces,
then we will raise against him seven shepherds
and eight princes of men;
One of my favourite comedy sketches is from Father Ted when he tries to explain ‘perspective’ to Dougal. He puts his fingers close together and says “this is small”, and then points to something in the distance and says “and that’s far away”. Dougal does not get it at all.
The full name ‘Bethlehem Ephrathah’ was probably used to distinguish it from another town of the same name in Zebulun. All names in Hebrew have meaning, so Bethlehem means “house of bread” and Ephrathah means “fruitfulness”. As a town, in size terms, Bethlehem was totally insignificant with likely only a thousand inhabitants.
However, Bethlehem was where Israel’s great King David was born, and Micah identifies it as the place where the Messiah would also be born, the ruler who would come from David’s descendants but whose origin was before David.
In God’s kingdom, He often chooses what (or who) seems small and unimportant and uses it (or them) to demonstrate His power and His glory. A baby in a manger in a town that barely made it onto the map is just about as small and insignificant as you could possibly get in human terms. However, we know that it was one of the most significant events in human history and was part of God’s plan for the salvation of the world.
What is our perspective this Christmas? Is our God small? Or perhaps not small but far away? Or, is He Immanuel, God with us, the One who is intimately close, glorious and majestic, and whose greatness reaches the ends of the earth?
John M
Dedication to Theophilus
1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
We must have all found ourselves in a situation where we have had doubts or not been sure about something, and wanted to have a greater understanding about a topic. Increasingly, I expect many of us turn to technology for answers. Apparently, there are billions of google searches every day! This can give many options to choose from, with potentially different and even conflicting answers.
What a contrast in the opening verses of Luke! A doctor with an interest in detail, Luke explains he has ‘carefully investigated’ all that he has learned, and then comprehensively written about his findings. Why has he done this? As it says in verse 4, so that Theophilus ‘may know the certainty of the things you have been taught’. Luke’s writings give much detail about what this certainty relates to - the birth of baby Jesus, His death to take away our sin, His resurrection, and through believing in Jesus as our Saviour, our certain hope of eternal life.
As we celebrate another Christmas season, people will generally be aware of what Luke writes about Jesus as a baby in a manger; although this may well be as an afterthought in the commercialism of 21st century Christmas. But how much more we can celebrate! The amazing fact that some 2,000 years after Luke wrote his gospel we can read from the same source as Theophilus. To learn not only about baby Jesus, but also of the certainty His coming gives for our eternal future.
Fiona M
Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,[a] of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute.23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
Isaiah recorded the arrival of John the Baptist 700 years beforehand, and it is also noted in Malachi. Luke 1 is the link between the old economy and the new.
God has spoken with man in the garden, through men in the prophets, as Man in the gospels and now speaks in man.
Zechariah, an aged priest is ministering in the temple. There would possibly be 20,000 active priests in Israel, lots would be cast, and Zechariah was chosen to trim the wicks on the lampstands and burn incense on the altar, likely to be the only opportunity in his lifetime.
He was interrupted by the appearance of the Angel Gabriel, bringing news that his elderly wife Elizabeth will bear him a son. So astonished is Zechariah that he cannot believe the good news, so asks for a sign, and is struck dumb until John's birth.
We sometimes say - "if it is too good to be true, it is too good to be true" - but this does not apply to God's promises. Unbelief robbed Zachariah of the pleasure in anticipation. Let's not fall into that trap. God's promises will always come to pass.
Hebrews 10:23: "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful."
John and Ann S
Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her
Mary was an ordinary young woman, no doubt looking forward to getting married and all that life had in store for her. What was extraordinary about Mary was that she trusted God implicitly.
Although "greatly troubled" by what the angel told her, she did not make excuses or ask for proof. Mary trusted God so much, she surrendered herself completely to His will. She risked losing everything - her family, her fiancé, respect from her community - to play the part God had chosen for her in His wonderful plan of salvation. She only asked "How can this be", a perfectly reasonable question in the circumstances. Humbly accepting the answer "nothing is impossible with God", she made herself available.
How often do we - like many children at this time of year - go to God with our "list" of needs or our own ideas of what we want to happen?
Perhaps we should be like Mary and wholeheartedly trust in our all-powerful God, who cares for us like no other. He knows what's best and although we may endure turbulent times, as Mary did, supports and cares for us until He brings us through in His will.
All we have to do is trust Him.
Violet and Arthur W
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be[a] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
In Galatians 5, Paul tells us what happens if a Christian walks in the Spirit. We will increase in love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Normally we will study these fruits of the Spirit in a reader for Pentecost. However, Luke tells us that all the events in preparation before the birth of Jesus are orchestrated by the Holy Ghost.
It is the Holy Spirit that made Mary pregnant (verse 35). It is the Holy Spirit who filled John before his birth (verse 15). It is by the Holy Spirit Elizabeth knew Mary was pregnant[1] (verse 41), and it is the Holy Spirit who stirred Zacharias to praise God and to tell about the salvation that was soon coming (verse 67).
As we see that the Holy Spirit fills these people, we will also see the fruits that these people bear. In Luke 1 there is one fruit of the Spirit that stands out, namely joy. The unborn John was filled with joy (verse 44) when the sound of the voice of Mary entered his mother’s ears. Later we will read the songs of Mary and Zacharias and I encourage you to taste the joy, gratitude and admiration in these texts.
To have the best Christmas ever, I conclude with Paul: ”Walk in the Spirit”, because if we walk in His Spirit, we will get the fruits of the Spirit and one of them is divine joy.
Andries S
[1] Notice that Mary meets Elizabeth before any signs of pregnancy were visible and any rumours could have been spread (verse 39). Also, Elizabeth blesses Mary with her pregnancy before Mary could even tell her about it (verse 41 - 42). Hence there is no natural way she could have known it and that is what she confirms in verse 44.
Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
“And His mercy is on them that reverence Him from generation to generation.” (Verse 50)
I would like to expand on Luke 1:50 (KJV): “…on them…” That means us! The Bible writer did not say “from generation to the next generation – that’s it”, or “for 2-3 generations”. It was open ended – His mercy will stop at no generation until Jesus comes to claim His own. And, in His great mercy, He took on flesh and was born into this world, not from it. Jesus Christ is not the best human being the human race can boast of – He is a Being for whom the human race can take no credit at all, but is God Incarnate. Our Lord’s birth is an advent – the appearance of God in human form. In His great mercy, He became flesh to make a way for us to come home, to heaven. Redemption!
Just as our Lord came into human history from outside it, He must also come into me from outside. Have I allowed my personal human life to become a “Bethlehem” for the Son of God? I cannot enter the realm of the kingdom of God, heaven, unless I am born again from above. (John 3:7) “You must be born again”. And once Christ is formed in me, His nature immediately begins to work through me. The gift of His mercy is freely given to me, and reverence for Him will flow out of me like living waters!
Jim and Carol J
The Birth of Jesus Christ
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
The wondrous incarnation, the history-defining arrival of God on earth is announced, in a very matter-of-fact way. But each detail gives us pause to think.
The account makes it very clear that the Child is by the Holy Spirit, not by Joseph. We have to go to Luke to see how Mary responds to her pregnancy, but we see in Joseph's response why he is chosen as stepfather. He is a good man who would have quietly divorced Mary without public shame, but who obeys God when He tells him to take Mary as his wife. We hear that Joseph is the son of David, so Jesus is also considered to be of that line (see Romans 1:3), fulfilling promises made to David long ago. The prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 is quoted, reminding us this event has been foretold for centuries. Finally, the Child is named: Jesus, meaning “the Lord saves” and Immanuel, “God is with us”. Jesus grows up to embody these names, being God among us, sinful human beings, but also our Saviour from these sins.
We are so familiar with the Christmas story, that it is easy to be matter-of-fact ourselves. Instead, let us pray that we will marvel at how God was at work through time, and in individual lives, to enter our world for our salvation and His glory.
Fiona R
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
As Gabriel promised, Zacharias begot a son who was mostly unexpected, even by himself at the beginning, for he doubted the words of God. Knowing God has always been powerful and faithful from the scriptures, he still doubted: How shall I know this? Or we might ask sometimes in our life: How could it be? We just cannot help doubting, more or less, in our minds no matter how well we know God. Nevertheless, we also know deeply in our hearts that He is gracious, He understands us, as well as He understood Zacharias, and still had mercy on him.
The name of John means: “The Lord has been gracious”, which is probably the best knowledge we could ever possess. But having that knowledge is not enough, what else shall we do to respond? Well, we trust in Him, obey His words, and praise His grace! All of these are what Zacharias and Elizabeth did. They called the boy John as God commanded, even though they were facing the misunderstanding of their relatives. The first thing Zacharias did after recovering from dumbness was bless God. Is the dumbness that makes him introspect necessarily a punishment? From another perspective, it might as well be a blessing.
Joe Y
Zechariah's Prophecy
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
From the passage we see:
Zechariah lost his voice…….God had a plan.
Salvation from enemies…...God had a plan.
Remember His Holy covenant…...God had a plan.
Give the people the knowledge of salvation…...God has a plan.
Shine on those living in darkness…...God has a plan.
Guide our feet into the path of peace…...God has a plan.
Like John, we too are part of God’s plan - do we see ourselves in it? Jesus has now been to earth and we need to tell people about God’s ‘tender mercy’, His ‘forgiveness’ and ‘salvation’ by ‘shining on those living in darkness’ and ‘guiding their feet into the path of peace’ through a life in Christ.
We do not know why God took away Zechariah’s voice, but we do know that He did what He said He was going to do - return his voice at John’s birth. This is a powerful truth, that we trust that God will do what He says He will do, even when we don’t know the reason why something has happened or is happening.
“Salvation belongs to our God
Who sits on the throne
And unto the Lamb
Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks
honour and power and strength
Be to our God, for ever and ever, Amen
And we the redeemed shall be strong, in purpose and unity.”
Adrian Howard and Pat Turner
Salvation is in God’s plan and we get to be part of it - hallelujah!
Diane Davidson
Zechariah's Prophecy
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
From the passage we see:
Zechariah lost his voice…….God had a plan.
Salvation from enemies…...God had a plan.
Remember His Holy covenant…...God had a plan.
Give the people the knowledge of salvation…...God has a plan.
Shine on those living in darkness…...God has a plan.
Guide our feet into the path of peace…...God has a plan.
Like John, we too are part of God’s plan - do we see ourselves in it? Jesus has now been to earth and we need to tell people about God’s ‘tender mercy’, His ‘forgiveness’ and ‘salvation’ by ‘shining on those living in darkness’ and ‘guiding their feet into the path of peace’ through a life in Christ.
We do not know why God took away Zechariah’s voice, but we do know that He did what He said He was going to do - return his voice at John’s birth. This is a powerful truth, that we trust that God will do what He says He will do, even when we don’t know the reason why something has happened or is happening.
“Salvation belongs to our God
Who sits on the throne
And unto the Lamb
Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks
honour and power and strength
Be to our God, for ever and ever, Amen
And we the redeemed shall be strong, in purpose and unity.”
Adrian Howard and Pat Turner
Salvation is in God’s plan and we get to be part of it - hallelujah!
Diane D
The Birth of Jesus Christ
2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
This story is about the birth of Jesus.
I wondered why Emperor Augustus made everyone register in their birth town. I looked this up and found out it was so the Emperor could work out who had to pay taxes.
Emperor Augustus and Quirinius were real people who existed (I found them on Wikipedia!) They were real people, who really existed, in the real world. Historical records show that Quirinius took a census when he was governor in AD 6 or 7, though the one Luke mentions would have been earlier than this. Luke’s story of the birth of Jesus is full of details like this showing that what Luke writes, and what we believe as Christians, is really true.
Jesus was Mary’s firstborn son. The firstborn of the Israelites always belonged to the Lord. It’s quite funny that Jesus is the Son of God, but because He is a firstborn son of Mary, He belongs to the Lord!
What was so special about Bethlehem? It was the home town of King David and because Joseph was a descendant of David, it was also his hometown, so Joseph went to Bethlehem to register. I think it is amazing that King David is a really famous person in the Bible and that Jesus is a really famous person in the Bible too – it runs in the family!
When Jesus was born, Mary placed Him in a manger. A manger is a trough for feeding animals. This was very different from the cot I was put into when I was born! When Prince George was born he was really famous and got to stay in a palace. You don’t expect to find kings in a stable but that’s what Jesus is!
Alasdair A
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Such a familiar passage - the shepherds on the hillside tending their flocks by night. How prophetic that God should send His Heavenly messenger to these humble men. When His Son, our Lord Jesus, began His ministry on earth it was to such as these that He was drawn.
What does it say about these men? Their reaction is revealing. God speaks to those who are listening. They could be in no doubt where this angelic being had come from. God’s glorious presence surrounded them. The Heavenly messenger reassures them and further confirmation comes in the message itself. God had promised through His prophets to send His Anointed One from the line of King David and it is pointed out to these shepherds that the promise was now being fulfilled and the Messiah, the Saviour, had been born in David’s town.
It is as if the gates of heaven burst open with the wonder of this event and out spills a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God. Accepting at once without doubt this message from God, the shepherds set off to the town. Having seen the baby they become the very first to “spread the word”, God’s Word, about the Saviour, and “and all who heard it were amazed”.
May we also never lose the wonder of this event and may it continue to “amaze” us.
Agnes G
The Visit of the Wise Men
2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[a] from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose[b] and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
We ‘follow’ people on Instagram or Facebook or ‘follow’ the news because we think it has some value to our lives. Over 2000 years ago, the Magi saw something they thought worth following wholeheartedly. They gave of all of themselves to follow the sign they thought led to a new King. The wise men make me face the question of who, or what, I’m following at the the moment. Am I following Jesus wholeheartedly in all areas of my life?
The Magi remind us that Christmas is a time of travel for people all around the world. Here in Uganda, people travel back to their home villages to be with extended family. Like the Magi, am I travelling towards Jesus in my life or am I moving further away from Him?
In the passage we read that the star is a signpost to Jesus. It literally directs the Magi to meet and worship the new-born King. The star shone in the dark, pointing to the One who would bring joy and hope. Like the God-given star, are we a shining beacon in the dark, directing others to the Saviour?
The wise men were experts in astrology and used this unique ability to discover Jesus. Like the wise men, we are all endowed with God-given gifts, training and experience. How are we using our unique attributes to seek out truth and goodness?
David and Emma C
Jesus Presented at the Temple
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
As was the custom, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple to be consecrated to the Lord. I am sure they had attended many of these celebrations before but not for their own son. As they brought Jesus forward we are told that they met Simeon who was ‘righteous and devout’. Simeon on seeing Jesus began to praise God, we are told he was filled with the Spirit and recognised Jesus as the Messiah.
The text goes on to say how Mary and Joseph ‘marvelled’ about what Simeon had said about Jesus. As Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph knew Jesus better than anyone else, yet they still marvelled at what Simeon had said about Him. If they as His parents marvelled at this, how much more should we marvel at Jesus, who He is and what He has done for us.
As we think of all the festivities around us, let us take a moment to think about the true meaning of Christmas and to marvel at Jesus, the Son of God.
Take time today to spend with God, ask the Holy Spirit to give you God’s revelation today.
Jennie C
The Flight to Egypt
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Herod Kills the Children
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Joseph's dreams, given by God, saved the baby Jesus, and are the announcement of a personal, loving and caring ‘God-with-us’.
As Christians, we do not worship a God who simply fixes problems. We worship the God who comforts those who suffer.
Even in the face of extreme wickedness and in a world that is too often cruel and violent, Jesus is always victorious, and in Him we are always victorious.
Tom R
The Return to Nazareth
19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
The events described in this passage take place around two years after the birth of the Lord Jesus. Under divine guidance and protection, the little family flees from Bethlehem to Egypt to escape the murderous intent of Herod. The immediate threat appears to lift briefly following Herod’s death (v19), but his successor, Archelaus proves to be no less hostile, so Joseph takes Jesus and Mary back to the relative safety of Nazareth.
Nazareth was not a fashionable town (John 1: 46), yet it was here, in obscurity, that Jesus spent His childhood and much of His adult life. Isaiah 53: 2 tells us that “He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground”, and Luke 2: 40 records that “the child grew and became strong; He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him”. The curtain then falls on our Lord’s early life and our next glimpse of Him will be found in Luke 2: 41-52 when as a boy of twelve He is seen in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers of the law, both hearing and answering questions.
We are often encouraged to leave our comfort zones, and at times this can be good advice for us to receive. However, we should also remember that quiet, stable and consistent lives are no less pleasing to God. Paul reminds Timothy that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6: 6), and the One who was “called a Nazarene” is the same Jesus who says to us all at the threshold of another year, “Come, follow Me”.
“O use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where,
Until Thy blessed face I see,
Thy rest, Thy joy,Thy glory share.”
Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-79)
John S
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.48 And when his parents[a] saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature[c] and in favor with God and man.
“Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Verse 49)
With great anxiety Mary and Joseph search for Him. Three days later the One who was lost has been found. Mary’s first words are, “Child, why have you treated us like this?” We are rightfully concerned for our children. Growing up means establishing our identity and figuring out our place in this world. It involves creating relationships, setting priorities, and making decisions. Ultimately, growing up means moving out and finding a new home.
This is a story about growing up, but not Jesus’ growing up - about Mary and Joseph growing up, you and me growing up. It is not about age but about moving into deeper and more authentic relationships with God, each other, and ourselves. Jesus is the One who grows us up. It is as if Jesus is saying to Mary
“Remember,
the angel told you I would be the Son of God
that night in Bethlehem - Angels praising God, shepherds glorifying God.
Three men from the East, their gifts, and adoration.
Joseph’s dreams that guided us to Egypt and back.
Where else could I be but here?”
Jesus has moved from their home to His Father’s home. This is what Jesus would ask of Simon and Andrew, James and John. “Follow me” would be the invitation for them to leave their homes, their nets, their fathers and move to a different place, live a different life, see with different eyes. It is today what he asks of you and me.
Matt and Rose G
The Return to Nazareth
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Jesus was no ordinary child. Before the start of His public ministry, Jesus showed such spiritual wisdom that He left people and teachers at the temple amazed. Yet when called by his earthly parents to return to Nazareth, He obeyed as it was God’s plan for Him at that time. In our daily lives, there are challenging situations when we are called to submit to people that we find it difficult to submit to. This is a part of discipleship. Just as Jesus needed time to grow and learn, it is in these times that we allow God to work on things in our lives. Have faith in God’s plan and reflect on what lessons are learnt. Let us pray that we continue to hunger for God and grow in His spiritual feed. May we follow His call, and may He give us wisdom and guidance to live our lives with integrity.
Michael & Azin P
John 14:6 English Standard Version (ESV)
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
In Mark 8:29 Jesus questions His disciples: - “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?”.
In contemporary society that is arguably the only important question. A radio discussion between artists – “People ask me what the work’s about; I say ‘whatever you want it to be about.’” Interviewer: “Response to art is solely about your truth after all as it should be.”
For atheists, who believe that God comes from man’s imagination, truths about the gods can only be a matter of private opinion and personal preference.
Many still provide their own answers to the question. In the lyrics of a David Phelps song:
“Was he a poet, turned
Radical politician
Trying to start a revolution
A preacher on a mission
Talkin’ ‘bout fishing
In a new kind of kingdom
Or a small-town wannabe
Tired of carpentry
Carving out a little fame
John or Elijah, teacher,
Messiah
Or just someone trying to
Make a name.”
But in John 14:6 Jesus closes down the options: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.”
It’s as though Jesus is saying “Enough of ‘Who do you think I am?’ I’ll tell you who I am. Forget the idea that there are many roads to heaven and that Christianity is just one of them.”
Andrew F
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall become straight,
and the rough places shall become level ways,
6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics[b] is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.”14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.
John’s message is a prophetic message, the last in a long line of God’s warning to people: life cannot go on the way it has and is, something has to change and it needs to start with you.
Many people heard and came to be baptised, that peculiar Jewish way of saying to someone “you’re not good enough as you are, be washed, so you are clean, clean enough to join in with us”. Our prophet gives this new significance: this is an all mankind need. Incredibly Jews need to be washed too. The ceremony reserved for Gentiles covers all because Jews also need to repent. Clinging to their old-world dependence on law keeping will not suffice.
There is a new way dawning, the way of the Lord, a way that will alter the landscape of life for good, straightening out what is bent out of shape and bring into view God’s Salvation.
So our last in the line prophet, issues the timeless call to repentance, not woolly words of feigned sorrow and a hope that things can improve if I try harder, but a prophetic shout, dramatic and definitive: change your life, turn around and do it now.
We too must hear the Prophet’s cry that day in our day; one of challenge to repent, and demonstrate it by bearing fruit.
David K
12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
As I read these verses several things jump out at me. Firstly, we are reminded that we are chosen. That is awesome! God has looked on us and has called us by name, we are His! But that requires a response from us. We are called to be holy, to be set apart, and we are to look radically different from those around us. We are to ‘clothe ourselves’, literally put on, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. These things should be evident in our lives. We are to be forgiving and loving. And whose example are we following? Jesus. Our forgiveness is to be as His was – sacrificial and complete. Our love is to be as His was – selfless and perfect.
This might seem hard, unachievable, but we are not expected to do this alone. We are given the Holy Spirit and as we allow Him to dwell in our hearts we will find peace and joy and we are to do this in community. We are all part of one body and as we allow Christ to dwell in us He unites us. The words love, joy and peace take centre stage in our Christmas cards and our Carols. Will we allow them to take centre stage in our lives this Christmas?
Jocelyn C
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
The Genealogy of Jesus Christ
23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel,[c]the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
In these verses, we have recorded Jesus’ baptism and then a long list of members of His family tree. His baptism was of course significant in that He was identifying with the sinners that He came to save. It was also the official start of His ministry. But perhaps most significant was what happened next – v 22 ..’the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from Heaven, “You are my Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased.”
Here we see the three members of the Trinity coming together effectively commissioning Jesus for His service. This was the Son of God – Manhood and Deity. But notice that this is not the only place that this title stated in this section. The phrase ‘the Son of God’ is also recorded at the end of verse 38 – ‘the Son of Adam, the Son of God’.
Through the recorded generations, we see the first Adam, God’s perfect creation, yet one through whom sin entered the world. We trace through the generations – Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, and Zerubbabel and find all the boxes ticked in terms of Jesus’ qualifications to be the Messiah and critically, to be our Saviour. He was the Son of God, but he was also the Son of Man. The Christmas hymn captures these truths well;
Meekness and majesty, Manhood and Deity
In perfect harmony, the Man who is God
Lord of eternity, dwells in humanity
Kneels in humility and washes our feet
CHORUS:
O what a mystery
Meekness and majesty
Bow down and worship
For this is your God
This is your God
Alan P
Father God,
As we rise this Christmas morning may our first prayer be of thanksgiving for your gift to us, that of your Son Jesus Christ.
And as each moment of this day passes may we more fully comprehend the fulness of your gift of salvation to us and to the world.
May our rejoicing at this day not be a private and internal celebration, but let us proclaim it as we exchange gifts and share fellowship together.
May those at our table who do not know you, learn something of you this day, and start a journey towards you.
Thank you that you have revealed yourself to us in the person of Jesus Christ, and reconciled us to yourself by the shedding of His blood.
Help us to remember that there is no greater gift that we could receive, and no greater gift that we could give than to impart this saving knowledge to those around us.
We pray this in Jesus Name,
Amen
John 8:12
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’”
It is thought that Jesus spoke these words during the Festival of Tabernacles. During this harvest festival, God’s people made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and there remembered God’s provision during their 40 years in the wilderness, by living in tents. Each night, they would light menorahs. Over the 8 days of the festival, more and more lights would be lit, until on the last night a river of light spread through the autumnal darkness, from the temple – where God met with His people – throughout the entire city of Jerusalem.
Jesus uses this moment to point to Himself as the source of light and life, from whom light and life will flow, not just to Jerusalem, but to the whole world.
John, who uses the word light more than any other Biblical writer, has no nativity story in his gospel. Instead, his opening chapter deliberately echoes the creation: Jesus is the Word through whom all things were made, and the light which brings life. John’s great declaration is that this Word, this light came into the world (John 1:9). John speaks of the impact of the incarnation, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
For the Christian, the presence of God in our lives is a light in the darkness. Following Jesus, we are never alone in the dark. No matter how deep the darkness we face today, we know with certainty that, in the end, it is light and not darkness that will triumph.
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by:
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years, are met in thee tonight
Phillips Brooks
Adrian A
The Supremacy of God's Son
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
These three little verses sum up the Gospel. God created the world. We broke it. God sent His Son to earth. The Son was sacrificed for our sins.
In my day job I’m an illustrator, which is really a visual communicator. To illustrate means to cast light upon or illuminate. Therefore, I completely understand that different audiences need things to be communicated in different ways. God does this throughout the Old Testament and now He uses Christ, an exact representation of Himself in a human body.
How we communicate online says a lot. This expression of God made me think about the digital manifestations of ourselves that we put online, and in the way that we can present a version of ourselves, or even a brand for different circumstances. It isn’t just celebrities that do this, we all do it to some extent.
These verses highlight the creative power of God and the saving power. Great design is transformative, and God is the greatest designer. To be a designer means to be a problem solver. This is where Christ comes in – His sacrifice is the solution to the problem, no temporary fix, a permanent one.
Then Christ sat down – this means His work was complete, the sacrifice was final. I often feel that my work is never done, particularly during Advent. But this is an earthly view. The cover illustration is a series of festive images with Christ at the centre. The important bit though is the big picture, a star pointing us to the birth of Christ. God spoke.
Pete & Lucy C
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
At this time of year when you hear the word “shepherd” you probably think of the shepherds we read of in Luke’s Gospel (to whom the angelic choir appear to) or of young children, complete with tea towel headdresses, performing in a nativity play. Or perhaps, if like me you enjoy belting out carols, you think of “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night”.
Shepherds are a common Christmas theme but our passage today is not a typical Christmas passage. In this passage we read the words of the One that our familiar shepherds visited as a baby, now some 30 years later, telling us why He came.
We hear in the Lord’s own words: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
The baby whom we celebrate at Christmas, becomes the Good Shepherd. The one that willingly gave up His own life for His sheep. He knows us intimately, He is not some hired hand who will abandon us as we read here, but He loves and cares for us so much that He would lay down His life for us.
All this He has done willingly, He has the authority to lay down his life and He has the authority to take it up again.
Praise God that Jesus came, that He died for us, and that He rose again – and aLl this to save us, His sheep.
Kenneth D
24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
The events surrounding the birth of the Lord Jesus are certainly dramatic: angelic visitations, a star to follow, prophecies fulfilled and of course the virgin birth itself. And yet, as wonderful as these events are, they are just the start of a bigger, longer story.
These verses take us to the other end of the Lord’s life, just days before His crucifixion. We arrive in the middle of the story of the resurrection of Lazarus and Jesus is in conversation with Martha. She shows amazing insight as she understands that there will come a day when her brother will be raised from the dead. Jesus then makes one of His great “I am”statements: “I am the resurrection and the life”.
If our picture of Jesus is limited to a baby in a manger (as wonderful as the incarnation of the Son of God is) then we will miss out on the big story. Jesus did not come to show us what a good life looks like or to give wise teaching (although He of course did those things). His purpose was much, much bigger than that. The Bible tells us that our last enemy is death; it is the devil’s ultimate weapon in keeping us far from God. Jesus dies on the cross…but is raised to life. God prevails over sin, death and the devil and because Jesus was raised we have assurance that when the day of His return comes, we too will be raised.
So as we celebrate the first coming of Jesus, we look forward to his second. Maranatha!
Come Lord Jesus!
George C
53 Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
9 And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.
“He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.”
The Suffering Servant did not rely on looks to win people to Himself. As we proclaim the good news individually or corporately, we should be careful we are not tempted into believing that clever words or a slick presentation can in some way make Jesus attractive to the unbeliever. This is a task solely reserved for the Holy Spirit!
That is not to say that we should be satisfied to swim in the shallows of our gospel understanding – indeed there is always more to be learned at the foot of the cross; nor that we should content ourselves with poor quality or miserly evangelism - our Lord poured out His soul for us – our love for the lost should be equally lavish!
But take heart reader, you need not worry about attractive presentation as you give a reason for the hope that is in you. Whether you do so eloquently or in fumbling, tongue twisted utterances, once you have pointed to the cross, it is the Holy Spirit who reveals the beauty of the Saviour to those who would otherwise esteem Him not.
Ken K
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
In this first section of John’s gospel account, he records the astounding truth that God came into the world as a man – Jesus Christ - and lived alongside us….
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” v14
The question of the identity of Jesus is hugely important. Many consider Him to be a good man or a prophet - perhaps a bit better than most of us, but deny that God would ever take on a human body and humble Himself to a simple life as a carpenter from Nazareth. The sacrificial life and death of Jesus does not fit with what many expect from their god.
At this point I am reflecting on how and when I concluded that Jesus is God. I am thanking God that He planted this truth into my life from an early age and, as life goes on, all I know of Jesus strengthens my conviction that He is the Word and was with God in the beginning.
Who is Jesus to you?
Jesus came to minister “grace and truth” (v17) into the world – into the lives of individuals and He came to make visible the invisible God…” No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is in the closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” v18
Jesus Christ is totally unique – His life, death and resurrection satisfy all of God’s requirements for us to be saved. Our part is to acknowledge and accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Receive Him into your life today!
“..to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” v12
Ewen M