24 December 2010 – Christmas Eve, a look at Luke 2:8-14
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
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“…keeping watch over their flock by night…"
We do not know, of course, what time of day Jesus was born. We do know, however, that the angelic announcement to the shepherds came at night.
How fitting!
For as the Isaiah prophesied, "the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
And as it was said of John the Baptist, "He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light."
And as Jesus Himself said "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
And so, the angel came, in the middle of the night, dispelling the darkness with Heavenly light -- a foretelling of the Heavenly Light
that had been born into the world -- praise God!
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Questions:
1. Do you think it was with intent that the angel appeared at night?
2. Is there a significance to the 'glory' that shone around them?
3. What other passages about light does this remind you of?
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“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”
“… all people.”
The ancient prophecies of the coming Messiah were held in Hebrew texts -- from Hebrew prophets -- and was believed by many to be only for the Hebrews. He was after all to be the "King of the Jews".
But there is Gospel, there is Good News for the rest of us --
Listen brothers and sisters -- all brothers and sisters, be ye Jewish or not. Regardless of race -- regardless of your race, your heritage, your parents, your past religious beliefs, the color of your skin, where you were born or where you live -- these good tidings -- this great joy -- this Savior is for you all people -- this Savior is for you!
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Questions:
1. Do you think that this was with intent of the angel's message?
2. Might this have been the first inkling that the Messiah was for all?
3. What other passages confirm this idea?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
The physical presence of the angel and the glory of God was so overwhelming -- that I wonder if they thought it odd, at first, that this newly arrived King was a baby -- and was in a feeding trough in barn. I'm sure that Jesus looked different and was in a different place than anyone expected.
Hmmm -- methinks there is a lesson there.
Are we not often guilty of looking back at the shepherds and the Pharisees and everyone else, and clucking our tongues that they did not recognize this Messiah?
And yet, doesn't Jesus still look different than we think He should and show up in places that we don't expect? Pierced, tattooed teenagers praising God with confidence, one hundred million believers in China, Orthodox Messianic Jews, priests with collars and pastors in Hawaiian shirts -- pews full of three-piece suits and folding chairs filled with blue jeans and t-shirts. Beautifully adorned cathedrals, little frame churches in the middle of cotton fields, soup kitchens, with the homeless huddled under the freeway overpass.
That was not just a baby -- Jesus is never just anything.
He came in a way that was totally unexpected.
He still does.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Why do you think God decided that Jesus would arrive as a baby?
2. In what ways do you see Jesus today that surprise you?
3. In what places?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God."
The shepherds were a walk into town away from seeing the Savior, the Messiah, Christ the King.
But imagine the sight before their eyes at this moment! First, the angel and the Glory of God -- then joining the angel was a multitude of the heavenly host praising God! Can you imagine? These blessed shepherds got a glimpse into the Heavenly realms -- as it says in John's Revelation, "Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty… "
We often talk about the blessing they received by being among the first to see Jesus -- and I do not want to take away from that at all -- but imagine this scene -- as the Heavens opened and God's choir momentarily turned away from the throne to announce the arrival of the Son -- to herald the birth to these blessed few.
God bless the day when we shall all see what the shepherds saw!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Can you think of anyone else who saw a similar sight ?
2. Why, do you think, did God send the Heavenly Hosts along with the angel?
3. Beyond the obvious shock, what do you think was the shepherds response to this?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is much talk during this season, and this year it seems, in particular, about 'keeping Christ in Christmas'. Debates over nativity scenes on public property, Christian songs sung in public schools, store clerks being instructed to say "Happy Holidays" or some other generic greeting. Freedom of speech vs. not being offensive -- my rights vs. your rights. As with many issues, it looks simple from “my” side…
There is a place for public debate, and we as Christians certainly have rights, but,"…on earth peace, good will toward men."
Our ultimate goal as Christians is to bring as many people to Jesus as we can.
Jesus was pretty rough on the established church leaders, but kind and loving to those outside the body -- the tax collectors -- the prostitutes.
I'm not suggesting, ever, that we as believers roll over and let the world squash the church. There is a time to stand and fight. We must just make sure that we are fighting His battle and fulfilling His desires, His will, not our own egos. I do believe some of us are called to debate in the public arena. I also believe that the goal of such debate must be kingdom oriented -- centered, not on achieving civil rights, but bringing people to Jesus. We certainly don't want to be 'right', and drive people away from Him in the process.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How can we lovingly work at keeping Christ in Christmas?
2. What are specific ways we can do this, using Jesus' life as a model?
3. Does this perspective apply to the rest of the year?
Remember, as much as for anyone else in all of history, Jesus came for you. Merry Christmas, Pastor Jim
Friday, December 24, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
A Culmination of Amazment
Scripture: Luke 2:18a
...All who heard it were amazed...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is this entire story not amazing? And just as amazing today as ever.
Who in the Christmas story touches you?
The shepherds, called by the Lord from their work to see something more important than their work.
The wise men, the Magi, called by the Lord to travel a great distance, away from their home.
Zechariah, Elizabeth, and John, called by the Lord to prepare the way for Jesus' ministry.
Herod, called by the Lord with the opportunity to open the doors for the Messiah.
Joseph, called by the Lord to protect Mary and the Babe, to be a guardian of the Word.
Mary, called by the Lord to give her very self as a vessel, and to carry and nurture Jesus until His time.
All of these characters in the Christmas story had vital roles to play, as we have seen. I find it interesting that the lowly, the humble, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, faithfully followed their instructions. The one individual with the most Earthly power and authority, Herod, succumbed to evil.
With which one of these individuals do you relate to the most?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. (The shepherd question)
Do you ever have to decide between your work and the Lord's calling?
2. (The Magi question)
Has God ever called you out of where you are in order to see Him?
3. (The John the Baptist question)
Have you ever felt that your ministry was strictly in support of another?
4. (The Herod question)
Have you ever let your own personal desires get in the way of God's calling?
5. (The Joseph question)
Have you ever found yourself in a position to protect the Word?
6. (The Mary question)
Have you ever felt that your role was to nurture the Body, such as your church?
Merry Christmas! Blessed Christmas! Pastor Jim
...All who heard it were amazed...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is this entire story not amazing? And just as amazing today as ever.
Who in the Christmas story touches you?
The shepherds, called by the Lord from their work to see something more important than their work.
The wise men, the Magi, called by the Lord to travel a great distance, away from their home.
Zechariah, Elizabeth, and John, called by the Lord to prepare the way for Jesus' ministry.
Herod, called by the Lord with the opportunity to open the doors for the Messiah.
Joseph, called by the Lord to protect Mary and the Babe, to be a guardian of the Word.
Mary, called by the Lord to give her very self as a vessel, and to carry and nurture Jesus until His time.
All of these characters in the Christmas story had vital roles to play, as we have seen. I find it interesting that the lowly, the humble, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, faithfully followed their instructions. The one individual with the most Earthly power and authority, Herod, succumbed to evil.
With which one of these individuals do you relate to the most?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. (The shepherd question)
Do you ever have to decide between your work and the Lord's calling?
2. (The Magi question)
Has God ever called you out of where you are in order to see Him?
3. (The John the Baptist question)
Have you ever felt that your ministry was strictly in support of another?
4. (The Herod question)
Have you ever let your own personal desires get in the way of God's calling?
5. (The Joseph question)
Have you ever found yourself in a position to protect the Word?
6. (The Mary question)
Have you ever felt that your role was to nurture the Body, such as your church?
Merry Christmas! Blessed Christmas! Pastor Jim
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
ListenDaily – 22 December 2010: Christmas Surprise #10;The king's choice; everybody's choice
Scripture: Matthew 2:13-16
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Was Herod called by God to play a part in the Christmas story?
Certainly, if God led them from a far off land all the way to Bethlehem, He could have led them without a visit to Herod. Could it be, that Herod was given an opportunity to open great doors for the new Messiah? Might this have been a chance to bring Gentiles to an earlier understanding of this Jewish Savior? There were, after all, those in his courts who were aware of Hebrew prophecy.
But it was not to be.
Herod's goals were no loftier than his palace walls. The thought of this King, though only a Baby, was a threat -- a threat so great in his perception that it took him to murder.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you think Herod had a choice in His actions?
2. How might things have turned out, if Herod had accepted Jesus and followed through on his promise to worship Him?
3. What effect might that have had on Jesus' later ministry?
May we understand the exponential implications of not accepting Jesus. Pastor Jim
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Was Herod called by God to play a part in the Christmas story?
Certainly, if God led them from a far off land all the way to Bethlehem, He could have led them without a visit to Herod. Could it be, that Herod was given an opportunity to open great doors for the new Messiah? Might this have been a chance to bring Gentiles to an earlier understanding of this Jewish Savior? There were, after all, those in his courts who were aware of Hebrew prophecy.
But it was not to be.
Herod's goals were no loftier than his palace walls. The thought of this King, though only a Baby, was a threat -- a threat so great in his perception that it took him to murder.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you think Herod had a choice in His actions?
2. How might things have turned out, if Herod had accepted Jesus and followed through on his promise to worship Him?
3. What effect might that have had on Jesus' later ministry?
May we understand the exponential implications of not accepting Jesus. Pastor Jim
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
ListenDaily – 21 December 2010: Christmas Surprise #9; Now and Later
ListenDaily – 21 December 2010: Christmas Surprise #9; Now and Later
Scripture: Matthew 1:1-2, 9-11
The Visit of the Magi
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."…
…After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We discussed last time that the Magi were important, not only to the Christmas story, but to Jesus' early ministry as well. Did you wonder how? Some have speculated that the gifts they provided were saved by His family, and later used to finance His later endeavors. Makes sense to me, but I don't know.
That is not what I wanted to talk about though.
God provided the wise men a star to follow, which led them from their home to Bethlehem, and eventually “stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” Does that not make it sound like the star was not visible to them for a time, prompting them to stop and ask “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?”
Why would they lose track and regain sight of the star?
Could it be that God wanted that interaction? Maybe He wanted to create a stir, a buzz -- get people talking. Here were three non-Jews, strangers in town, talking about the fulfillment of the ancient Hebrew prophecies. How would those who heard them have responded? It had been four hundred years since God's last utterances through the prophets -- now this -- the King of the Jews is here? Now?
I believe, that much like our earlier discussion about the shepherds, that this talk would have spread. Others might have followed these strangers, if only out of curiosity. Would these people not have kept their eye on this family? Then, thirty years or so later, when Jesus proclaimed His Messiah-ship, would those same folks not have remembered their encounter with these men from the East?
If so -- would it not have given credence to His claims?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Who do you think these men talked to in Bethlehem?
2. Do you think news of who they were and why they were there would have spread?
3. What effect might that have had on Jesus' later ministry?
May we appreciate His vision. Pastor Jim
Scripture: Matthew 1:1-2, 9-11
The Visit of the Magi
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."…
…After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We discussed last time that the Magi were important, not only to the Christmas story, but to Jesus' early ministry as well. Did you wonder how? Some have speculated that the gifts they provided were saved by His family, and later used to finance His later endeavors. Makes sense to me, but I don't know.
That is not what I wanted to talk about though.
God provided the wise men a star to follow, which led them from their home to Bethlehem, and eventually “stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” Does that not make it sound like the star was not visible to them for a time, prompting them to stop and ask “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?”
Why would they lose track and regain sight of the star?
Could it be that God wanted that interaction? Maybe He wanted to create a stir, a buzz -- get people talking. Here were three non-Jews, strangers in town, talking about the fulfillment of the ancient Hebrew prophecies. How would those who heard them have responded? It had been four hundred years since God's last utterances through the prophets -- now this -- the King of the Jews is here? Now?
I believe, that much like our earlier discussion about the shepherds, that this talk would have spread. Others might have followed these strangers, if only out of curiosity. Would these people not have kept their eye on this family? Then, thirty years or so later, when Jesus proclaimed His Messiah-ship, would those same folks not have remembered their encounter with these men from the East?
If so -- would it not have given credence to His claims?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Who do you think these men talked to in Bethlehem?
2. Do you think news of who they were and why they were there would have spread?
3. What effect might that have had on Jesus' later ministry?
May we appreciate His vision. Pastor Jim
Thursday, December 16, 2010
When did the Magic Men Arrive?
Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17
The Visit of the Magi
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: " `But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
The Escape to Egypt
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape
to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son." When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A year or two ago, a national magazine, proclaimed one of the 'discrepancies ‘between the Gospels, is where Jesus was born. Their logic is that Luke tells of the shepherds visiting the manger scene, while Matthew brings the Magi to a house where the Baby was.
There is no discrepancy here.
In spite of our traditional Nativity scenes, with sheep, shepherds, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and the Three Wise Men -- the Magi probably did not visit Jesus and His family for some time. Note verse 16:
"When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi."
Verse 1 tells is that the Magi came after Jesus was born -- how long after we do not know. The jealous Herod, however, used the time the
Magi gave him and slaughtered all boys two years old and under. So it seems that, even if Herod was giving himself a wide margin of error, that a significant amount of time had passed since the birth.
In addition, if the start appeared the night Jesus was born, and they made the long trek from 'the East' (most scholars believe it was ancient Persia), then they certainly did not arrive in a single day -- more likely several months later.
Now, I would never be the Scrooge to take the Wise Men off the mantle or out of the children's Christmas play -- after all, they are a vital component of Jesus' arrival, and as we'll see tomorrow, of His early ministry. But when the world attacks the Word -- as in the case of this magazine article. --we must be prepared to faithfully, and intelligently, defend it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. When do you think the Magi arrived?
2. Is it important?
3. In what ways have you heard the Word attacked recently?
May we learn what He would have us say. Jim
A Poem by Susan Stone
O Lord,
You who lift us up in our time of need,
holding us tenderly in the palm of your hand like a parent cradling his newborn child,
teach us to remember your love,
to feel the joy of your presence,
to express the gratitude of our hearts at your faithfulness,
and may we remember you all the days of our lives.
Amen.
The Visit of the Magi
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: " `But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
The Escape to Egypt
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape
to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son." When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A year or two ago, a national magazine, proclaimed one of the 'discrepancies ‘between the Gospels, is where Jesus was born. Their logic is that Luke tells of the shepherds visiting the manger scene, while Matthew brings the Magi to a house where the Baby was.
There is no discrepancy here.
In spite of our traditional Nativity scenes, with sheep, shepherds, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and the Three Wise Men -- the Magi probably did not visit Jesus and His family for some time. Note verse 16:
"When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi."
Verse 1 tells is that the Magi came after Jesus was born -- how long after we do not know. The jealous Herod, however, used the time the
Magi gave him and slaughtered all boys two years old and under. So it seems that, even if Herod was giving himself a wide margin of error, that a significant amount of time had passed since the birth.
In addition, if the start appeared the night Jesus was born, and they made the long trek from 'the East' (most scholars believe it was ancient Persia), then they certainly did not arrive in a single day -- more likely several months later.
Now, I would never be the Scrooge to take the Wise Men off the mantle or out of the children's Christmas play -- after all, they are a vital component of Jesus' arrival, and as we'll see tomorrow, of His early ministry. But when the world attacks the Word -- as in the case of this magazine article. --we must be prepared to faithfully, and intelligently, defend it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. When do you think the Magi arrived?
2. Is it important?
3. In what ways have you heard the Word attacked recently?
May we learn what He would have us say. Jim
A Poem by Susan Stone
O Lord,
You who lift us up in our time of need,
holding us tenderly in the palm of your hand like a parent cradling his newborn child,
teach us to remember your love,
to feel the joy of your presence,
to express the gratitude of our hearts at your faithfulness,
and may we remember you all the days of our lives.
Amen.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Aunt Ruth???
Scripture: Matthew 1:1-16
A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab…
…Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are you familiar with the story of Ruth? If not, you should go read this short, but beautiful story, only four chapters long. In short, Ruth was a Moabite woman married to a Hebrew man, whose mother was a widow named Naomi. (click here to read Ruth online: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth&version=NIV)
Ruth's husband and his brother both died, leaving Naomi in a very unenviable position, having no men left in her family to care for her. She instructed Naomi and Orpah(her other daughter-in-law) to go back to their people. Ruth refused to abandon Naomi, and instead returned with her to Bethlehem.
Through a series of events, guided by Naomi, guided by God (!), Ruth met Boaz, who became their kinsman redeemer. What does this have to do with the Christmas story?
Ruth and Boaz married and had a son, Obed, whose son was Jesse, father of David. Yes that David -- as in 'from the house and lineage of David'; and so we get the “genealogy of Jesus”.
It may have looked, at times, as if the Jewish nation might never survive to bring the Messiah. But remember; while we make our way through the tall grass and can, at times, see only what is in front of us, the Lord God's perspective is from the mountaintop, where He sees all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Have you ever read the story of Ruth?
2. Do you find it incredible that the line to Jesus actually made it?
3. In what other ways have you recently allowed yourself to be amazed by God?
May we trust His plans and perspective above our own. Pastor Jim
A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab…
…Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are you familiar with the story of Ruth? If not, you should go read this short, but beautiful story, only four chapters long. In short, Ruth was a Moabite woman married to a Hebrew man, whose mother was a widow named Naomi. (click here to read Ruth online: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth&version=NIV)
Ruth's husband and his brother both died, leaving Naomi in a very unenviable position, having no men left in her family to care for her. She instructed Naomi and Orpah(her other daughter-in-law) to go back to their people. Ruth refused to abandon Naomi, and instead returned with her to Bethlehem.
Through a series of events, guided by Naomi, guided by God (!), Ruth met Boaz, who became their kinsman redeemer. What does this have to do with the Christmas story?
Ruth and Boaz married and had a son, Obed, whose son was Jesse, father of David. Yes that David -- as in 'from the house and lineage of David'; and so we get the “genealogy of Jesus”.
It may have looked, at times, as if the Jewish nation might never survive to bring the Messiah. But remember; while we make our way through the tall grass and can, at times, see only what is in front of us, the Lord God's perspective is from the mountaintop, where He sees all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Have you ever read the story of Ruth?
2. Do you find it incredible that the line to Jesus actually made it?
3. In what other ways have you recently allowed yourself to be amazed by God?
May we trust His plans and perspective above our own. Pastor Jim
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
ListenDaily – 14 December 2010: Surprises for Christmas! #7 s
ListenDaily – 14 December 2010: Surprises for Christmas! #7
Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17
The Genealogy of Jesus
A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife, Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is another miraculous story concerning Isaac -- not only his birth, but also the prevention of his death. We know the story from Genesis 17, Abraham taking Isaac up on the mountain, directed by God. He binds Isaac to the altar, and as he prepares to sacrifice his only son, and angel calls out and stops him:
The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.
One thing that happened here -- the line we spoke of yesterday, the creation of the Hebrew nation, and the lineage to the Messiah was created.
There is another picture in this story.
The world becomes blessed because Abraham did not withhold his son, his only son, and his son was spared. God did not require of Abraham, what he would later require of Himself.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son --
God did not withhold his Son, His only Son either -- and the world was saved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you ever consider the faith of Abraham as part of the Christmas story?
2. Do you think that God was providing an everlasting perspective; His sacrifice would be ever greater than what He asks of us?
3. Do you ever consider how your individual acts of obedience (or disobedience) may affect the world?
Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17
The Genealogy of Jesus
A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife, Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is another miraculous story concerning Isaac -- not only his birth, but also the prevention of his death. We know the story from Genesis 17, Abraham taking Isaac up on the mountain, directed by God. He binds Isaac to the altar, and as he prepares to sacrifice his only son, and angel calls out and stops him:
The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.
One thing that happened here -- the line we spoke of yesterday, the creation of the Hebrew nation, and the lineage to the Messiah was created.
There is another picture in this story.
The world becomes blessed because Abraham did not withhold his son, his only son, and his son was spared. God did not require of Abraham, what he would later require of Himself.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son --
God did not withhold his Son, His only Son either -- and the world was saved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you ever consider the faith of Abraham as part of the Christmas story?
2. Do you think that God was providing an everlasting perspective; His sacrifice would be ever greater than what He asks of us?
3. Do you ever consider how your individual acts of obedience (or disobedience) may affect the world?
Monday, December 13, 2010
ListenDaily – 13 December 2010: Surprises for Christmas! #6
ListenDaily – 13 December 2010: Surprises for Christmas! #6
Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17
The Genealogy of Jesus
A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife, Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Generations before -- fourteen generations before -- the birth of Christ, came another miraculous birth.
Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.
As with John the Baptist, as with our Lord, we have here a heavenly message, an unexpected child, a name bestowed by God Himself.
The first blessing, a son of a man and a woman, but made possible only by the hand of God. Not only was Isaac born...the nation of Israel was born -- and the lineage to the Messiah was begun. As this child was born, Abraham and Sarah must have looked with such love at this miraculous child, with a promised, but impossible to understand the miracle within him.
God must have also looked with love upon this child -- and on down through the centuries -- through Boaz -- and David -- past Solomon – to another miraculous Child, a second blessing -- a child of a woman, yet the Son of God -- the birth of a new people -- a new church – and on even further to the New Heaven and New Earth.
Questions:
1. Do you ever consider the faith of Abraham and Sarah as part of the Christmas story?
2. Is it important, as we mature in the faith, to look for these connections?
3. Do you ever consider how your individual acts of obedience (or disobedience) may affect the world?
May we obey and trust Him. Jim
"It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child Himself."
Charles Dickens
Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17
The Genealogy of Jesus
A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife, Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Generations before -- fourteen generations before -- the birth of Christ, came another miraculous birth.
Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.
As with John the Baptist, as with our Lord, we have here a heavenly message, an unexpected child, a name bestowed by God Himself.
The first blessing, a son of a man and a woman, but made possible only by the hand of God. Not only was Isaac born...the nation of Israel was born -- and the lineage to the Messiah was begun. As this child was born, Abraham and Sarah must have looked with such love at this miraculous child, with a promised, but impossible to understand the miracle within him.
God must have also looked with love upon this child -- and on down through the centuries -- through Boaz -- and David -- past Solomon – to another miraculous Child, a second blessing -- a child of a woman, yet the Son of God -- the birth of a new people -- a new church – and on even further to the New Heaven and New Earth.
Questions:
1. Do you ever consider the faith of Abraham and Sarah as part of the Christmas story?
2. Is it important, as we mature in the faith, to look for these connections?
3. Do you ever consider how your individual acts of obedience (or disobedience) may affect the world?
May we obey and trust Him. Jim
"It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child Himself."
Charles Dickens
Friday, December 10, 2010
ListenDaily – 10 December 2010: Surprises for Christmas! #5
ListenDaily – 10 December 2010: Surprises for Christmas! #5
Scripture: Matthew 1:1-2,16; Mark 1:1-3; Luke 1:26-28; John 1:1-5
A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers...the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. Matthew 1:1-2,16
The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" "a voice of one calling in the desert, `Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' Mark 1:1-3
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Luke 1:26-28
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1:1-5
All four Gospels do not tell the Christmas story. This 'Christmas surprise' may not be a surprise at all to many of you, but it may to some. After reading a hack job on the Gospels written in a popular weekly news magazine, I felt this is important.
Imagine four books on a table in front of you. One is the actual engineering diagrams for the construction of the vehicle. One is
a 'do-it-yourself' book for shade tree mechanics. One describes complete vehicle overhaul for professionals. And the last is the
user's manual.
Which book is correct? Which one is wrong?
Silly questions, right? They are all correct, they just have a different readership in mind.
And so it is with the four Gospels.
Matthew was written to the Jews. Note the genealogy. It's as if to say. 'Look, this Baby, this Man, fits in exactly with the teachings of the prophets, he fulfills all that we have been looking for!'
Mark, in contrast, was written to a largely Roman audience. The Romans of the time were interested in action -- think of the gladiators -- the games. The old Jewish prophecies meant little if anything to them. So Mark jumps straight in. They didn't want to know about babies and cattle stalls, they wanted action!
Luke's writing, which includes the book of Acts, was a contracted piece. He was commissioned to find the details of this Christianity business. His audience was primarily the philosophy discussing, logic seeking Greek pepole. As with the Romans, the prophecies meant little. But the details -- the details were the story.
John is a completely different story all together. John's audience knew the story. They were the early church...John was a 'how to live' book for new believers.
So these four books, all written about Jesus, are all true, all accurate, and without the so-called contradictions that so much of the academic and popular media world would put on them.
We, however -- we who are 'in the world but not of the world', have a responsibility to gain knowledge -- to know when the world is trying to dupe us, to weaken our faith, and to make unbelievers less open to the Gospel.
Questions:
1. Any new news for you here today?
2. What do you think of this perspective?
3. Why does the world treat the Word off God this way?
May we know what we should know. Jim
Scripture: Matthew 1:1-2,16; Mark 1:1-3; Luke 1:26-28; John 1:1-5
A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers...the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. Matthew 1:1-2,16
The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" "a voice of one calling in the desert, `Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' Mark 1:1-3
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Luke 1:26-28
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1:1-5
All four Gospels do not tell the Christmas story. This 'Christmas surprise' may not be a surprise at all to many of you, but it may to some. After reading a hack job on the Gospels written in a popular weekly news magazine, I felt this is important.
Imagine four books on a table in front of you. One is the actual engineering diagrams for the construction of the vehicle. One is
a 'do-it-yourself' book for shade tree mechanics. One describes complete vehicle overhaul for professionals. And the last is the
user's manual.
Which book is correct? Which one is wrong?
Silly questions, right? They are all correct, they just have a different readership in mind.
And so it is with the four Gospels.
Matthew was written to the Jews. Note the genealogy. It's as if to say. 'Look, this Baby, this Man, fits in exactly with the teachings of the prophets, he fulfills all that we have been looking for!'
Mark, in contrast, was written to a largely Roman audience. The Romans of the time were interested in action -- think of the gladiators -- the games. The old Jewish prophecies meant little if anything to them. So Mark jumps straight in. They didn't want to know about babies and cattle stalls, they wanted action!
Luke's writing, which includes the book of Acts, was a contracted piece. He was commissioned to find the details of this Christianity business. His audience was primarily the philosophy discussing, logic seeking Greek pepole. As with the Romans, the prophecies meant little. But the details -- the details were the story.
John is a completely different story all together. John's audience knew the story. They were the early church...John was a 'how to live' book for new believers.
So these four books, all written about Jesus, are all true, all accurate, and without the so-called contradictions that so much of the academic and popular media world would put on them.
We, however -- we who are 'in the world but not of the world', have a responsibility to gain knowledge -- to know when the world is trying to dupe us, to weaken our faith, and to make unbelievers less open to the Gospel.
Questions:
1. Any new news for you here today?
2. What do you think of this perspective?
3. Why does the world treat the Word off God this way?
May we know what we should know. Jim
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Christmas Surprise #3
ListenDaily – 08 December 2010: Christmas Surprise #3
Scripture: Luke 1:35-46, 56
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another very familiar part of this beloved story, is that of the shepherds. We know that the angels appeared to them and they rushed off to see the Babe in the manger.
Okay...but what then?
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
And what is the significant 'Christmas surprise' here?
It seems to me, that we have the idea that when Jesus began His ministry, some thirty years later, that He kind of came out of nowhere. Wild man John was preaching that the Messiah's time was near, but did anyone have any reason to believe him?
Well, maybe. You see, thirty years earlier, as much younger men, these shepherds had seen this glorious sight, and had been told, by angels, that this was the 'Savior...Christ the Lord'. And they saw that Baby with their own eyes. And 'they spread the word'.
So maybe, just maybe, they had spent the next thirty years waiting for Him. They had met Mary. They had met Joseph. So when Jesus revealed His identity, there was a group of old shepherds, and those whom they had told, who must have said "Yes! Finally! His time is here!"
Among a sea of doubters and unbelievers was a core of those who knew -- and their friends that they told, and their children that they told – and who were a gift to Jesus, from His Father.
Questions:
1. Have you ever thought about what these shepherds thought and did in the years following Jesus' birth?
2. What do you think of the perspective presented here?
3. Do you think Jesus began His ministry with a core group of believers?
May we continue to appreciate His plans and preparations for us. Pastor Jim
Scripture: Luke 1:35-46, 56
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another very familiar part of this beloved story, is that of the shepherds. We know that the angels appeared to them and they rushed off to see the Babe in the manger.
Okay...but what then?
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
And what is the significant 'Christmas surprise' here?
It seems to me, that we have the idea that when Jesus began His ministry, some thirty years later, that He kind of came out of nowhere. Wild man John was preaching that the Messiah's time was near, but did anyone have any reason to believe him?
Well, maybe. You see, thirty years earlier, as much younger men, these shepherds had seen this glorious sight, and had been told, by angels, that this was the 'Savior...Christ the Lord'. And they saw that Baby with their own eyes. And 'they spread the word'.
So maybe, just maybe, they had spent the next thirty years waiting for Him. They had met Mary. They had met Joseph. So when Jesus revealed His identity, there was a group of old shepherds, and those whom they had told, who must have said "Yes! Finally! His time is here!"
Among a sea of doubters and unbelievers was a core of those who knew -- and their friends that they told, and their children that they told – and who were a gift to Jesus, from His Father.
Questions:
1. Have you ever thought about what these shepherds thought and did in the years following Jesus' birth?
2. What do you think of the perspective presented here?
3. Do you think Jesus began His ministry with a core group of believers?
May we continue to appreciate His plans and preparations for us. Pastor Jim
Monday, December 6, 2010
ListenDaily – 06 December 2010: Surprises for Christmas! #1
ListenDaily – 06 December 2010: Surprises for Christmas! #1
Hi friends,
While reading and rereading the 'Christmas' story, it strikes me that there are many interesting stories within the story. So, let's take a few days and see what we can find. Jim
Scripture: Luke 1:35-46,56 (Highlight verse: 56)
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed:
"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We know this story, right? Two miraculous pregnancies. Elizabeth's, miraculous because of her advanced age, and her cousin Mary's, miraculous for her child's conception was from the Holy Spirit.
But was Mary there at the birth of John the Baptizer? Let's look at the time line; Gabriel appears to Mary, and among the wondrous things he tells her, is the fact that Elizabeth -- is in her sixth month -- then, Mary -- hurried to -- Zechariah's home -- where she stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. This time frame would have put Mary with Elizabeth at the time of John's birth.
Now, this is not amazing unto itself -- it would be common for a relative to help in the last stages of pregnancy, especially with an older mother-to-be. But what else happened here that might have significance? Consider this:
1. Mary saw, for herself, the miracle of Elizabeth's pregnancy and John's birth. Would that not give some confidence to a young girl facing such a tremendous miracle herself?
2. She received affirmation -- as soon as she entered the house and Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" So then, came a blessing, and a blessed response to lingering doubts Mary might have been experiencing.
3. She was able to spend those first difficult three months with family, and away from the accusing stares and whispers of her neighbors. Not that they would not come, but she had three months to prepare herself. Elizabeth knew the miracle surrounding Mary's condition and would have treated her with love and respect. She would have returned strengthened.
God was putting a tremendous blessing and a tremendous burden on the small shoulders of this remarkable girl.
Surely this time spent with Elizabeth and Zechariah was part of His plan to prepare her -- and prepare the world.
Questions:
1. Have you ever considered Mary being present at John's birth?
2. What do you think of the perspective presented here?
3. What other benefits might there have been in this visit?
May we appreciate His plans and preparations for us. Jim
God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life, that I may burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like You, Lord Jesus." -Jim Elliot
Hi friends,
While reading and rereading the 'Christmas' story, it strikes me that there are many interesting stories within the story. So, let's take a few days and see what we can find. Jim
Scripture: Luke 1:35-46,56 (Highlight verse: 56)
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed:
"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We know this story, right? Two miraculous pregnancies. Elizabeth's, miraculous because of her advanced age, and her cousin Mary's, miraculous for her child's conception was from the Holy Spirit.
But was Mary there at the birth of John the Baptizer? Let's look at the time line; Gabriel appears to Mary, and among the wondrous things he tells her, is the fact that Elizabeth -- is in her sixth month -- then, Mary -- hurried to -- Zechariah's home -- where she stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. This time frame would have put Mary with Elizabeth at the time of John's birth.
Now, this is not amazing unto itself -- it would be common for a relative to help in the last stages of pregnancy, especially with an older mother-to-be. But what else happened here that might have significance? Consider this:
1. Mary saw, for herself, the miracle of Elizabeth's pregnancy and John's birth. Would that not give some confidence to a young girl facing such a tremendous miracle herself?
2. She received affirmation -- as soon as she entered the house and Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" So then, came a blessing, and a blessed response to lingering doubts Mary might have been experiencing.
3. She was able to spend those first difficult three months with family, and away from the accusing stares and whispers of her neighbors. Not that they would not come, but she had three months to prepare herself. Elizabeth knew the miracle surrounding Mary's condition and would have treated her with love and respect. She would have returned strengthened.
God was putting a tremendous blessing and a tremendous burden on the small shoulders of this remarkable girl.
Surely this time spent with Elizabeth and Zechariah was part of His plan to prepare her -- and prepare the world.
Questions:
1. Have you ever considered Mary being present at John's birth?
2. What do you think of the perspective presented here?
3. What other benefits might there have been in this visit?
May we appreciate His plans and preparations for us. Jim
God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life, that I may burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like You, Lord Jesus." -Jim Elliot
Friday, December 3, 2010
"I am so weak that I can hardly write, I cannot read my Bible, I cannot even pray, I can only lie still in God's arms like a little child, and trust."
"I am so weak that I can hardly write, I cannot read my Bible, I cannot even pray, I can only lie still in God's arms like a little child, and trust."
ListenDaily – 03 December 2010: Trust = joy, peace, hope
Joy, peace, and hope -- do you have all you need of these?
Are you as joyful as you can be -- as you want to be? As peaceful? As full of hope?
You can be.
This Sunday, Lord willing, I will be presenting a message based partially on Romans 15:4-13. Each day this week we will look at a portion of that passage, today, verse 13:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.“
As you trust in Him, God stands waiting to fill you with joy; fill you with peace; overflow you with hope.
Filled to overflowing with joy, peace, and hope. Could you stand a little more of these?
Trust Him.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS
"Believe in Him and not trust in Him? You might as well say, the Jews did love Him when they nailed Him to the cross." Anthony Farindon
"I am so weak that I can hardly write, I cannot read my Bible, I cannot even pray, I can only lie still in God's arms like a little child, and trust." Hudson Taylor
ListenDaily – 03 December 2010: Trust = joy, peace, hope
Joy, peace, and hope -- do you have all you need of these?
Are you as joyful as you can be -- as you want to be? As peaceful? As full of hope?
You can be.
This Sunday, Lord willing, I will be presenting a message based partially on Romans 15:4-13. Each day this week we will look at a portion of that passage, today, verse 13:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.“
As you trust in Him, God stands waiting to fill you with joy; fill you with peace; overflow you with hope.
Filled to overflowing with joy, peace, and hope. Could you stand a little more of these?
Trust Him.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS
"Believe in Him and not trust in Him? You might as well say, the Jews did love Him when they nailed Him to the cross." Anthony Farindon
"I am so weak that I can hardly write, I cannot read my Bible, I cannot even pray, I can only lie still in God's arms like a little child, and trust." Hudson Taylor
Thursday, December 2, 2010
ListenDaily – 02 December 2010: Your King
ListenDaily – 02 December 2010: Your King
This Sunday, Lord willing, I will be presenting a message based partially on Romans 15:4-13 (entire passage below). Each day this week we will look at a portion of that passage, today, verses 10-12:
As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.”
Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.”
And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”
This is written to and about almost everyone reading this; if you are not Jewish - you are Gentile.
And, this is good news indeed! Look at the progression of this passage:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles...” First, members of God's chosen people have come among the rest of us, praising God. This happened in Old Testament times, and again in the time of the early church.
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” Then have been invited to join His chosen ones. The OT Israelites were called to this; the disciples of Christ's early church, all Jewish, and especially Paul. carried out the invitation.
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles..." Joined together, we are to begin praising Him.
"...let all the peoples extol him.” In perfection, Jews and Gentiles together!
“The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” The King who has come and is to come again will rule over all and He is our Savior!
In Him we have hope! And, "faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
INTERESTING THOUGHT
“The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” from The 1646 Westminster Confession
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.”
Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.”
And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
This Sunday, Lord willing, I will be presenting a message based partially on Romans 15:4-13 (entire passage below). Each day this week we will look at a portion of that passage, today, verses 10-12:
As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.”
Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.”
And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”
This is written to and about almost everyone reading this; if you are not Jewish - you are Gentile.
And, this is good news indeed! Look at the progression of this passage:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles...” First, members of God's chosen people have come among the rest of us, praising God. This happened in Old Testament times, and again in the time of the early church.
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” Then have been invited to join His chosen ones. The OT Israelites were called to this; the disciples of Christ's early church, all Jewish, and especially Paul. carried out the invitation.
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles..." Joined together, we are to begin praising Him.
"...let all the peoples extol him.” In perfection, Jews and Gentiles together!
“The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” The King who has come and is to come again will rule over all and He is our Savior!
In Him we have hope! And, "faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
INTERESTING THOUGHT
“The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” from The 1646 Westminster Confession
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.”
Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.”
And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Glory!
ListenDaily – 01 December 2010:Done any glorifying lately?
This Sunday, Lord willing, I will be presenting a message at my church, based partially on Romans 15:4-13 (entire passage below). Each day this week we will look at a portion of that passage, today, verses 7-9:
"For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy."
What a pre-Christmas message this is for us! Just look at these steps:
"For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews..." Jesus, the Son of God, ruling in Heaven, stepped down out of Heaven, willingly took on human form, first as a physically helpless newborn, then as a servant.
"...on behalf of God’s truth..." Because all God had ever said must come true.
"...so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed..." And all the prophecies fulfilled.
"... moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy." And that you and I might receive His salvation and glorify His Father.
I am overwhelmed at how often we take this word for granted; I am not sure the last time I glorified God. I have prayed to Him, preached about Him, and sung about Him. Have I glorified Him? Have you?
The 1646 Westminster confession stated: “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Have we seen to our "chief end"?
Paul repeats in this passage that we are to glorify God; what does that mean to you?
INTERESTING THOUGHT
“The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.”
Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.”
And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
This Sunday, Lord willing, I will be presenting a message at my church, based partially on Romans 15:4-13 (entire passage below). Each day this week we will look at a portion of that passage, today, verses 7-9:
"For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy."
What a pre-Christmas message this is for us! Just look at these steps:
"For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews..." Jesus, the Son of God, ruling in Heaven, stepped down out of Heaven, willingly took on human form, first as a physically helpless newborn, then as a servant.
"...on behalf of God’s truth..." Because all God had ever said must come true.
"...so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed..." And all the prophecies fulfilled.
"... moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy." And that you and I might receive His salvation and glorify His Father.
I am overwhelmed at how often we take this word for granted; I am not sure the last time I glorified God. I have prayed to Him, preached about Him, and sung about Him. Have I glorified Him? Have you?
The 1646 Westminster confession stated: “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Have we seen to our "chief end"?
Paul repeats in this passage that we are to glorify God; what does that mean to you?
INTERESTING THOUGHT
“The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.”
Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.”
And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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