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But this day was different

by | Dec 14, 2015 | Uncategorized

We move to the next scene, where we see in this story of Jesus, in Luke two verse thirty three a new character:
[Anna, a prophet, was also there in the temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four.
She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.
She came along as just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God.
She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.
When Jesus parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee.]
Isn’t it amazing how God uses older people? I find it both an encouraging and challenging thought.
Each one of them were beyond years of ministry yet God chose, to allow them to be a part of the story of Jesus.
Beginning with Zechariah, who was an old man, then Elizabeth, Simeon and Anna, God wanted all of them to play a part in this very special baby’s birth.
Anna was waiting for the chosen one also.
Just as Simeon was led to the temple that same day Jesus was there, Anna was nudged to go see, at that very same hour, something special for herself.
She had spent many days in this temple. But this day was different.
This day perhaps, there was an excitement, a holy ‘stirring’, the Messiah was here.
How very wonderful to include so many players and characters in this Holy story.
It is amazing to see that not only Mary and Joseph experienced this ‘miracle’ birth, but so many were also witnesses to it.
God did not allow his baby son, to be born in isolation or privacy.
He allowed this ‘Holy night’ orchestrated by the Holy Spirit, to be witnessed and proclaimed by many.
The spirit of Christmas is weaved all throughout this Christmas story.
As we continue to read and study it, we will see and remember how very special this time was for everyone.

That day the Spirit led him

by | Dec 13, 2015 | Uncategorized

In Luke chapter two we find another scene unfolding in the this story of Jesus.
verse 25 it says:
[At the time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon.
He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel.
The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
That day the Spirit led him to the Temple.
So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there.
He took the child in his arms and praised God saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you promised.
I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people.
He is a light to reveal God to he nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel.!”
Jesus parents were amazed at what was being said about him.
Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother,
“This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others.
He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.
And a sword will pierce your very soul.”]

We have to understand Simeon was a very old man who waited patiently day after day, for the baby to arrive.
The spirit of Christmas over shadows this very blessed man, and he sees the chosen one.
The one who will save many including himself. The day the Spirit led him was also the day he was released to stop waiting.
The Messiah was here and Simeon could allow his life to end and die in peace.

He was named Jesus

by | Dec 12, 2015 | Uncategorized

In Luke chapter two verse twenty one we find another scene for Mary and Joseph and their little baby.
[Eight days later when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.
Then it was time for the purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child;
so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord, so they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord, “either a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.”]
So much is happening for Mary and Joseph at this time.
They traveled so far and then they delivered a precious little baby.
She had to have recovery of some kind, and then they journeyed again to dedicate their son.
It was a precious time for them, but also very significant and also very necessary to follow the laws.
Even though this was a ‘chosen baby’, they still had to do what was required of them.
I am not sure how far they had to travel, but it couldn’t be an easy path since she had just delivered.
Anyone who has gone through that process, understands the first week or two of healing and discomfort.
Again I wonder, he could not have placed her on donkey to travel, and to walk could have been a hardship for her.
They did what was required. The baby was named and the rules were followed.
Jesus was presented in the temple, and it would be the beginning of the life changing experiences many would share in, over and over, starting in the temple.
Mary’s baby was born, dedicated and named. His was named Jesus, just as the angel told them.

Don’t be afraid

by | Dec 11, 2015 | Uncategorized

In the book of Luke chapter two verse eight we find a new scene to the story.
[That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flock of sheep.
Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them.
They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said.
“I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior-yes, the Messiah, the Lord-has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign; you will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others-the armies of heaven-praising God and saying.
“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
When the angels had returned to the heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem!
Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.
After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.
All who heard the shepherds story were astonished but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.
The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.
It was just as the angel had told them.]
When reading this the first thing we need to remember is the job of a shepherd.
They were social outcasts not really liked by most in the city.
They were fearless, they had to be so they could protect their sheep from any animal who may come to harm them while in the fields.
They were rough and tough and most likely not well kept as they were out in the fields most of the time.
They were not credible witnesses and not someone to be invited in ones home.
So we find these guys. These out of character guys, to be chosen to be a part of the story of Jesus.
Isn’t that amazing that God would show up and allow them to be given this privilege and even honor.
Can you even imagine these men who knew the night sky as they looked at every night.
These men who knew when something was different with the moon or stars, all of a sudden see radiance coming towards them.
It says they were terrified. We probably would be too, the brilliance and the glory was something no one had ever seen and it was noted that the angel told them not to be afraid.
The skies opened up and all of heaven sang. Wouldn’t that be amazing?
It would be breathtaking, startling, maybe even a bit emotional, for these rough and tough men.
Then it tells us they hurried to see the baby. That means they left their flock unprotected.
That is something no shepherd would ever do, but it was God who challenged them.
Can you imagine them standing or even kneeling near the tiny little baby.
Then they told others and they were believed. Making them credible witnesses.
Isn’t it like God to take an ordinary person, and change them into a ‘voice’ that others will listen to?
wow… it was just as the angel had told them. A baby was born.

Just as the angel had told her

by | Dec 10, 2015 | Uncategorized

The next thing we read about is Mary and Joseph entering into the city of Bethlehem.
Remember they are tired, needing rest, a warm bath and food.
The census is going on and there are a lot of people there and much chaos.
Many places to stay were full already, and I would imagine Joseph had a sense of urgency, as he searched for a resting place for Mary.
In Luke chapter one verse six it says:
[While they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.]
We are not told a lot about how that took place or whether she had help.
Joseph wouldn’t be too much help as she labored in the delivery process.
There could have been a midwife there close by or even an older ‘lady’ who could help.
One could imagine the isolation and sadness Mary would feel delivering her baby alone.
Anyone who has ever had a baby knows how hard it is, and how much pain it involves.
Even though He was a chosen child, and she was chosen to have him, that doesn’t mean she would have no labor pains or a hard extreme delivery.
Remember she was young and this was her first baby.
There was no doctor as far as we know, and only Joseph to help.
We are not really sure where they were when she delivered, some say it could have been a barn like the ones we
see in the nativities showing Mary laying on straw and or sitting with the baby in a manger.
We don’t know. Some opinions say it could have been in a cave on the side of a hill behind the inn.
What we do know, is a baby was born and He would change the world forever. In verse seven:
[She gave birth to her fist child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger,
because there was no lodging available to them.]
I have often wondered if she had seen this before and knew what to do, and I also wondered where the strips of cloth would come from.
Did Joseph take part of his ‘robe’ and tear it with his hands making strips for the baby?
Were they that prepared when they traveled the road to Bethlehem for her delivery?
They had to make wrappings of blankets, and maybe even using some of what was on the donkey for ‘warmth’.
Many things within this story we are not told.
She did not have a pretty little bassinet with soft cuddly onesies for him.
She had strips of cloth, torn and ragged, to wrap her baby in as she swaddled her tiny little boy.
The world was watching and waiting, for a Messiah and soon they would be able to meet him.
In verse twelve it says:
[You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.]
A baby was born. Mary’s baby…just as the angel had told her.
[Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!]