Luke 2:39-52  Here we get a brief look at the "boy Jesus".  The family had moved back to Galilee to Nazareth where they had many relatives. "And the Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him."  

The family would go up to Jerusalem as required by the Law "every year".  When Jesus was 12 years old they traveled with a caravan of family and friends up to the Passover Feast.  At the end of the feast the group started their journey back to Nazareth. We know the story... after traveling for a day Mary and Joseph realized that Jesus was not with them or their fellow travelers.  So, they go back to Jerusalem and search for 3 days until they finally found Him in the temple "sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions." 

Luke tells us that "they were astonished"!  Had they forgotten who He was?  They felt like He had treated them badly, ".. .why have you treated us this way?" Mary asked Him.  Perhaps it was a needed reminder to Mary and Joseph that Jesus was more than just a regular 12 year old boy.. "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?"  They didn't understand even His question!

Jesus went back to Nazareth with His family and "He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart." 

It is about 18 years or so before Luke takes up the narrative again.  Jesus grows up.. He gains wisdom and stature.  He gains favor "with God and men." 

Humanity.. and Deity..The Son of Man who is the only Begotten Son of God.. such a marvelous mystery! How can we understand.. when Mary and Joseph heard from angels..  watched Him grow up from a newborn Babe.. and couldn't understand Him either.  But.. by faith we come to believe.. and we trust in His Word.. and we grow in the knowledge and understanding that He grants us.. and one day.. one day we will see Him face to face!  O What a day that will be!

Father in heaven, we give You thanks and praise for You have given Your Son to be our Savior.  We need You, Lord Jesus to shine Your great Light into our hearts and minds.  We treasure these things in our hearts as we celebrate that day when You came into the world to overcome the darkness.  And we fix our eyes on You.. as we await the Day when You will come again. Amen. 

 Luke 2:21-40 Luke had "investigated everything carefully.. " so that he could tell the whole account of the life and death of Jesus.. so it is interesting that he chose to skip over the coming of the magi and the escape to Egypt that Matthew included in his gospel.  

However, Luke gives us this story about Jesus being circumcised on the 8th day and then taken to Jerusalem  33 days later  for the purification and atonement  sacrifices required by the Law of Moses. 

Luke tells us about the encounter with Simeon, a righteous man who was "looking for the consolation of Israel;"  This man was led by the Holy Spirit and had been told that he would witness the coming of the Lord before he died. When he saw Jesus.. he knew without doubt that the Lord had kept His promise. "Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy bondservant depart in peace according to Thy word; For my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel." 

Not only did Simeon affirm the identity of this Child.. but Anna, a prophetess, also was drawn to the scene "And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God and continued to speak of Him to all those who are looking for the redemption of Jerusalem." 

These two senior citizens.. had spent their lives seeking God.. seeking the Messiah.. waiting and praying and trusting the Lord for His promises to be fulfilled.  And, so we.. growing older.. are waiting, praying and looking for the Messiah to come again.. just as He promised.  

Father in heaven we lift our eyes and hearts to You, knowing that You will fulfill all of the promises You have given and that Jesus is coming again! We give You thanks that one day we will see Your salvation completed and we will be with You, fully and forever... in the Light of Jesus Christ our Lord. We pray again that Your kingdom come and that Your will be done.. in earth as it is in heaven. Thank You for the story of the birth of Jesus so many years ago.. a story we will still tell for all of eternity.. along with the story of His death and resurrection.. and of His coming again for all of His children.  Keep us walking in faith and righteousness.. waiting for that wonderful day, for it is in the grace and power of the Name of Jesus that we come. Amen. 

 Luke 2:1-20  This is the  Christmas story... read and taught and remembered through our lives.. if we have been blessed to have had a chance to hear it.  It is hard to think of anyone never having heard this familiar story... but many have never heard. 

The birth of Jesus as told so often , invokes a tenderness in our hearts.  Any baby.. a precious little one who brings us joy.. just at the sweetness of his face, the softness of his skin,, the little fingers and toes that just draw us to touch and hold and kiss.  But.. this baby.. brings us so much more and we respond to Him with more than just emotions.. but with awe and wonder.  For God has come.. "a Savior is born for you.." 

He came for us.  The One who is "Christ the Lord".. the Messiah.  The Eternal Son of God has humbled Himself... "who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2:6-7)

They came to Bethlehem, the "house of bread".  There was no room in a house.. so they camped in a stable.. a place for animals.. perhaps a cave.. and Mary went into labor.  And in this most unlikely place Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born.  Mary wrapped the child in "swaddling clothes".. strips of material used to swathe the Child. Exhausted.. she laid Him in a "manger" a crib.. a feeding trough.  These 2 things.. were the "sign" that the angels told to shepherds to look for: " And this will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger." (v12) 

I recently heard a sermon from my sister's pastor about this event.  There are details that he uncovered here that stirred my heart even more. According to his studies the most likely place was a cave used by the shepherds for birthing lambs.. lambs that would be used in Jerusalem for the atonement offerings. They would be perfect, without spot. The swaddling bands would have been used to protect the lambs from anything that would damage them.  The bands themselves were sacred for they came from the cloth of the  garments of retired priests.  There would be a light in the cave and the wick would come from the used cloth.  Everything.. everything that happened that night in Bethlehem.. pointed to Jesus, the Lamb of God, the Bread of Life, the Light of the world, the great High Priest.. the Son of God!

This Baby.  O so precious and amazing.. the Love of God.. the Word of God who was "with God and the Word (who) was God."  John wrote.   " In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it." ( John 1:1-5)

Father in heaven,  Holy and Glorious is Your Name. It is in Jesus that we come to You, for He has brought us salvation and we have become Your children.  Grow our faith.. increase our joy.. fill our hearts with Your Spirit.. with the Love and Wisdom and Grace of our glorious Lord.  May we know Him more and draw nearer to You this Christmas season and every day, may we shine brightly with the Light that overcomes all the darkness. We thank You in the Name of the Lord Jesus.Amen. 

 Luke 1: 57-80  The day came.. and Elizabeth gave birth to John. Everyone who heard the news rejoiced! Her neighbors.. her relatives.. "were rejoicing with her".... but, no one rejoiced  more than Elizabeth and Zacharias.  They knew that this child was more than just a regular boy.  He would be "the prophet of the Most High".  He would bring the people back to the truth. His ministry was to "go on before the Lord to prepare the His ways; To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God." (v76-78)

John 's name means-"Jehovah is a gracious giver".  What a gift John was to his mother and father.. and also to Israel, the people of God. From before his birth John was appointed as "the prophet of the Most High".  His ministry was to "give knowledge of salvation".  He would show people what was needed to find "remission of their sins."  This is the message we all need to hear... there is forgiveness and pardon.. there is release from the bondage of sin.. there is deliverance.  John would teach it.. and Jesus would bring it in person.. in His Personhood as He came into the world.. lived, died, and rose again. 

John preached repentance.  He practiced baptism.. "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;" (3:3)  He announced the coming of Jesus.. "... One is coming who is mightier than I.."  He warned those who would not repent that judgment was coming if they did not take the message of salvation seriously. 

"And the child continued to grow, and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel." ( v 80)  Born only a few months before Jesus,  John would have been taught the ways of the priesthood because of his heritage.. but something happened.  Ever wonder what happened that John went to live in the desert?  Matthew tells us that John came out of the wilderness wearing  "a garment of camel's hair, and a leather belt about his waist; and his food was locusts and honey." (3:4)  John writes this " There came a man from God, whose name was John. He came for a witness that he might bear witness of the light that all might believe through him. He was not the light but he came to bear witness of the light." (John 1:7-8) John may have been born into the priestly line.. but he was meant for a far greater purpose..to bear witness of the Messiah, Jesus Christ! 

John records the testimony that John the Baptist gave and affirmed:

 In John 1: 20 - He says.. " I am not the Christ". 

 In verse 23 He says " I am a voice of one crying int the wilderness , 'Make straight the way of the Lord' " 

In verse 26 He says "I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know." 

In verse 29 He says, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"  

Vin verse 32 He says, "I have beheld the Spirit descending as dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him." 

And in verse 34  he says, "And I have seen, and have borne witness that  this is the Son of God." 

Father in heaven, we thank You for sending Jesus Christ to come and take away the sins of the world. May we hear the message of John's testimony and exhortations. May we repent and find forgiveness by the "tender mercy" that You have shown to us who have heard this great news!  Teach us how to be voices that call out the Good News so that others would come to know the Lamb of God.. the One who came to take away the sins of the world.  How we need You, Lord God!  Jesus, our Redeemer and King, we come to ask in Your Name.. that the Word of God will fill the earth more and more.. spread rapidly and be glorified for the salvation of souls. Amen .

 Luke 1:39-56   "Now at this time Mary arose and went with haste to the hill country, to a city of Judah."  Nazareth, a city in Galilee..  to Judah's hill country.. possibly Hebron, one of the cities of refuge given to the Levites.. is not a quick trip.  Hebron is even further away than Bethlehem.  It is doubtful that Mary would travel by herself, but we are not told of anyone else going along.  

Elizabeth would have been 6 months pregnant or 7, depending on how long it took for Mary to get there.  But, as soon as Mary entered the room.. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and the babe in her womb "leaped"!  She knew in an instant that Mary was "the mother of [her] Lord".    John- still in the womb of his mother  "leaped.. for joy"!   How incredible these words are.. the world we live in doesn't even want to recognize and unborn baby as human... while John was aware, filled with God's Spirit and leaping for joy months before he was born!

Mary must have been so encouraged by the reception from Elizabeth!  "And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord."  

Mary's song of praise speaks of God's grace and favor.. she rejoices that God has blessed her even though she is just a humble girl. She magnifies the "Mighty One".. telling of His holiness, His mercy, His power, His justice, His provision, and His help.  

As we come before the Lord in prayer this Christmas season we can learn much from this humble young woman...

Father in heaven, we exalt You and we rejoice in You, our God and Savior.  We are thankful for the grace that You have shown us.. bringing us into fellowship with Your Beloved Son who came to save Your people from their sin.   You have done great things for us.  You have shown mercy to us and upon our families.. those that came before us and those who have come after.  You have done mighty deeds.. bringing down those who are evil and exalting those who humble themselves before You.  You fill the hungry with "good things".  You have helped Israel and You have helped us too.  We give You all praise and glory, with hearts of thanksgiving  and joy. You are precious to us, and we come to adore You today and throughout this blessed Christmas season.  Jesus Christ is Lord and King forever. Hallelujah and Amen. 

Luke 1:26-38  Luke's investigation into all the events "from the beginning"  brings out details of the birth of Christ that none of the other gospels give us.  Did Mary herself inform Luke of these events?  Who else would know that the angel Gabriel visited Mary that day? Who else would report his words "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." 

Mary found "favor with God".  He knew her heart.. He knew that she would receive this Word and surrender herself.. her womb.. her reputation.. her relationships.. so that the will of the Father would be done. 

Luke gives us the first glimpse of Mary's Son.. "And behold you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end." 

This is the promise given to Mary and to us.. the Day is drawing nearer when this will be perfectly complete.  We wait patiently with great anticipation for that blessed day!  Meanwhile we give thanks and rejoice in the greatness of Mary's son... Jesus Christ the Son of God who is coming again!

Father, we are turning our eyes now to Jesus.. looking beyond the "seen" to that which is "unseen". We rejoice in the promise given to Mary.. Jesus will reign over an unending Kingdom and we will be with Him forever!  Lord, haste the day when our faith will become sight and we will know the joy of Heaven in a way we can't ever imagine with our mortal minds. Thank You for coming to save us, Jesus!  Prepare our hearts today for the Day when You come again to take us to be where You are!  Amen!

 Luke 1:1-25   Luke wanted to know and share the whole story of "the things accomplished among us". He talked to eyewitnesses,  he "investigated everything carefully".. he wrote it all down in "consecutive order".   This man became a close friend and companion to Paul the apostle.  Paul calls him the "beloved physician".  It is thought that Luke was a Gentile.  He gives us the perspective of an educated Greek man who believed that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah.. 

The first thing that Luke included in his investigation was the birth of John the Baptist.  He tells us of Zacharias and Elizabeth. We see that both Zacharias and Elizabeth were descendants of Aaron. Zacharias was of the priestly division of Abijah... one of the 24 divisions established by David.  More than that, they were "both righteous in the sight of God".  At the right time, Zacharias was chosen by lot to "enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense."  As others prayed outside, an angel appeared to Zacharias.  He was given the good news that his barren wife would have a child.. even though they were both "advanced in years." 

Not only would Zacharias and Elizabeth have a child, he would be a very special son and they would call him John.  He would be raised like one under a nazarite vow.. never touching wine or liquor.. but filled with the Holy Spirit.. from before he was even born.  John would serve the Lord in a way that none other could. He would "turn back many of the sons of Israel to the Lord God".. and he would "make ready a people prepared for the Lord." 

Zacharias wanted a sign to know that this would happen and the angel Gabriel called this "unbelief".  But..  Zacharias had a sign that could not be ignored.. he could not speak another word until the birth of his son. Elizabeth conceived and rejoiced in the gift that God granted her.. a son. 

Our Father in heaven, You raise up men and women to serve You now, even as You raised John to serve You back in that day. May we also be messengers of good news, helping others to turn back to You and to help others be prepared for the day that Jesus comes again. May we be continually kept full of Your Holy Spirit that we might fulfill Your purposes in us.. according to Your will and for Your glory.  We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord, Amen.