December 25

Matthew 2:19-23, But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

This is one of the least known parts of the Christmas story, but a crucial one. Again Matthew points to the fulfillment of prophecy - that he would be from Nazareth. The upbringing in Nazareth points us to another chapter in the humility of Christ. Born in a manger, exiled for years, and now reared in one of the worst towns in the surrounding area. Nathanael said to Philip in John 1, “can anything good come from Nazareth?” It was a backwater town, but the place of God’s choosing, where the Lord Jesus would learn and grow. Here we see the angel of the Lord speaking to Joseph in a dream. From the texts we believe this to be an infrequent occurrence, and yet they obey the Lord’s commands through the angel every time. It is a demonstration of faith, a faith that we can embody.

This text is important because it is a landing spot for Jesus for about 30 years before he begins his ministry. It is a bridge that takes us from the birth of Christ, this great miracle of the Incarnation to the prolific ministry years of Jesus. They are a silent part of the story, save for a few comments from Luke about his study at the age of 12. But the anticipation is strong in the story - Jesus is preparing for his objective as Savior - he’ll study, fast and pray so that he can resist the temptation of the devil. He’ll heal, he’ll teach, and he’ll make clear his intentions to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

We don’t have to wait any longer - the day is here. Christmas is here. Rejoice, and again I say, rejoice! The Savior of the world has come to you so that you might have eternal life with him.

Hymn for Reflection: The Hallelujah Chorus of Handel’s Messiah. Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_RHnQ-jgU

December 24

Matthew 2:13-15, Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Again God is directing this story by angels, this time in a dream. As this is the central story in all of human history, God is taking control of it directly, speaking right to the primary players, fulfilling prophecy, and bringing to fruition his ultimate purpose in delivering a Savior to a weary world. What is difficult about these words from the angel is that the angel doesn’t tell Joseph how long they’d have to wait. Herod is in power for a few years after the birth of Jesus, and the text tells us plainly that they wait until Herod has died before they can safely return. Was the angel of the Lord offering words of comfort to Mary and Joseph during this time in Egypt? The text doesn’t tell us that, and based on the past rarity of angelic speeches, we can assume that they weren’t offered constant reassurance. Instead they would have to trust the Lord in this way. They would be a in a foreign place, raising a baby who was miraculously conceived, believing in a Lord who had not let them down. But does it strike you that Jesus was raised in Egypt as a child?

This fulfills the prophecy of Hosea 11:1 we are told, a text that refers explicitly to the rescue of Israel out of Egypt under Pharaoh. Why, then, does Jesus going into Egypt and then being pulled out of Egypt fulfill this prophecy? Jesus would identify with Israel every step of the way. He’d not only be called out of Egypt like the Israelites, he’d be called into the desert for 40 days to be tempted by Satan. Israel was pulled into the wilderness for 40 years after their Exodus - and they were tempted, too. But they sinned against God, they grumbled, they even wanted to go back to Egypt. Jesus would be tempted in the desert but would not give in. He would succeed where God’s people in Israel would fail - where we have sinned, he has remained righteous. Not only does he give his life as a sacrifice in our place, he also lived a perfect life in our place, and his righteousness is now our righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21).

Hymn for Reflection: Silent Night. Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BRVkgaIcaE

December 23

Matthew 2:10-11, When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

We’ve got to talk about these gifts. A very strange assortment for a baby, don’t you think? Like everything else in the birth narrative of Jesus, they are highly symbolic and highly theological. That doesn’t make them any less true, but as God has been organizing this story for hundreds and hundreds of years, we must allow the strangeness of these gifts to be absolutely what God had in mind when he thought of us reading it 2000 years after Christ’s birth.

They start off easy enough. Gold would be a gift made for kings, and we know the wise men were searching for a king of the Jews. In 1 Kings 10, when the Queen of Sheba brought gifts to King Solomon, an event that prefigures these wise men coming to seek the King of the Jews, she brought gold. it’s still strange to bring to a baby - a child cannot appreciate gold - but it does show that the wise men were thinking big picture here - he would a king forever.

The second gift is another repeat of the gifts brought from Sheba to Solomon - frankincense. This fragrant spice would be used in kingly rituals, but also primarily in the practices of priests in offering a fragrant offering to the Lord. In the books of Leviticus and Numbers in the Old Testament, frankincense frequently accompanied offerings to the Lord, to be part of sin offerings and grain offerings at the tabernacle, handled by the priest in his role. Jesus would be our great high priest who would offer himself as the sacrifice for our sins. He serves a dual role of both priest and sacrifice, as the one who could be the mediator between God and man (he would be completely holy and could then stand before God on our behalf), and yet he would also offer himself as that sacrifice to atone for the sins of God’s people. So the first two gifts, gold and frankincense, point to Christ’s roles as king and priest.

And lastly we have the myrrh. This is by far the strangest gift at the party. If you take a look at John 19:39, you’ll find a clue. Here we see again the person of Nicodemus, who featured prominently in the story in John 3. Nicodemus came to Jesus by night as he was afraid of being caught inquiring of Jesus, as he was an important Jewish leader. Now he does not hesitate to the take the body of Jesus, taken off the cross by Joseph of Arimathea, to bury him. This would have been done in public for all to see. But Nicodemus no longer fears the repercussions, and moves to bury the body of Jesus. One of the spices in his large, seventy-five pound mixture is myrrh; in fact, it’s the first spice mentioned. Myrrh was used for the burying of dead bodies. What this means is that the wise men brought to the birth of Jesus something indicating his kingship, his priesthood, and finally, his death. We cannot have the meaning of Christmas without the meaning of Easter. There is no question then what Jesus came to do. Jesus was born to die.

Hymn for Reflection: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear. Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WryWS6jj7x0

December 22

Matthew 2:7-9, Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.

The deceit of Herod is on full display here. Herod was known as a ruthless leader - and his terror is recorded in the Bible and in other historical sources. He would kill his own family members if it was thought they might be challenging some of his power. He has no intent to worship Jesus here, but rather intends to kill the child, as evidenced by the story later in the chapter, a fulfillment of yet another prophecy surrounding the birth of the Messiah. Ironically, Herod acknowledges Hebrew prophecy here in discovering the location fo the child’s birth. He believes there must be something to this, and yet, if it’s a challenge to his kingship, he’ll have none of it. He sends the wise men to Bethlehem, the place where the prophet said he would be born. The Lord’s protection over Jesus is seen here as well, as the wise men had to be warned in a dream not to return to Herod (v. 12). They went a different way home, escaping the clutches of Herod, and thereby exhibit even more faith in God.

It cannot be lost on us that children were killed at the birth of Jesus. Bethlehem was not a large village at the time, and so the number estimated to have been killed age 2 and under was about 20. Nonetheless, it’s an extraordinary tragedy, but one not unknown by God. Jesus comes into the world in the midst of death and devastation, to bring peace on earth. He is a light shining in the darkness - making a way that all death, pain, poverty, isolation, and sin can be done away, making absolute peace between God and those who trust in Him. As one theologian has put it, “there is not one thing in your life that you will ever face that the baby in the manger wasn’t prepared to deal with.” God knows pain, he would incur it himself, and he says ‘no more.’ I give them a way to eternal peace, and it’s through the blood of the cross.

Hymn for Reflection: Do You Hear What I Hear? Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f5cyiTH3KI

December 21

Matthew 2:1-2, Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

The wise men, knowing the prophecy of God’s people in Israel, have come to find the child and worship him. This is extraordinary and clearly by God’s leading - not happenstance, nor is it that the eastern astrologers had some special information about when the child would be born. Prophecy available to them would have said: a child will be born in Bethlehem, he’ll be a king, and there may be a star that indicates his arrival. Any other specificity: the year of his birth, time of year, etc., can only be attributed to the work of the Spirit who led these men to the Messiah. And it’s with God’s clear design that the first to hear the good news and come to worship him would have been of the lowest class in Israel - the shepherds. Next come the wise men from the east - men of the highest class in their society, and yet clearly Gentiles from far-off lands. They would have come some time after the birth of Christ, up to two years after his birth, given Herod’s proclamation to kill the male children two years and under. But the people worshiping the King of the Universe at the start of his life are poor, outcasts, or far outside of God’s people in Israel. This king and kingdom would care for them all, and gather worshipers from all stretches of society.

The movement of the wise men shows us extraordinary faith. There is nothing to indicate in the story that the star kept hanging over a particular place. Verses 9 and 10 indicate the star had appeared, disappeared, and then reappeared when they got to Jerusalem to search for the child. And they rejoiced exceedingly when they again saw the star. This is what stars do - they come and go, and if you are following the Lord in following the star, then you must be exhibiting strong faith while that star is gone. The same is true for us in our faith. We don’t always feel God’s presence, don’t always know he’s there, but we’re called to faith . Faith is in things hoped for, what is unseen (Hebrews 11:1). We must follow these wise men who showed they would trust in the promises of God when it was clear what was happening and when it was not.

Hymn for Reflection: Go Tell it On the Mountain. Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1RpUV2AQ24

December 20

Luke 2:33-35, And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Notice that these difficult words are directed to Mary, not to Joseph. Simeon is a prophet and knows that Joseph will not be alive when these words will fully come to pass. The words are for Mary, and they are difficult to hear at the birth of their precious child. The child will cause division in Israel, some will come to faith in him and others will hate him. This reality will come true in Jesus’ life and will continue far past the people of Israel, bringing about the most crucial questions in all history: who is Jesus, and what does he want with me? No more important words could ever be contemplated by any individual in the history of time. Though Jesus would be opposed, it would lead to his death and therefore, life for all who trust in him. That death of Christ would cause great pain in Mary. The word ‘also’ used here by Simeon is interesting, he must be thinking of two kinds of swords that will pierce, one piercing the heart of Mary at the loss of her son, and the other piercing the side of Jesus after his death.

But this kind of division that Jesus creates is extraordinarily purposeful: notice that it says that at this division the hearts of many will be revealed. Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Jesus will either exalt you, lift you up, show you your trust purpose as a human, or he will crush you, and there are no other options. That should put us all on warning - who is this Jesus? Is he God as he says he is? Or is he just another charlatan. Because if he is not God, then he is nothing. But because these witnesses would die for him, a faithfulness to a peasant carpenter like the world has never seen, then the measure of his greatness rings true. The birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus has caused a revolution in human history that is unparalleled, and that is undeniable, no matter what you think of him. He has caused a division and caused that question in every human heart - who is this child? He is your Lord and your Savior.

Hymn for Reflection: Little Drummer Boy. Here’s a Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzEX3QMuVPM

December 19

Luke 2:25-32, Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,  he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
    according to your word;
 for my eyes have seen your salvation
     that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel.”

Jesus was brought into the temple in his early days of life, as was the custom for the Jewish people. There in the temple was Simeon, who had been told he would see the Christ before his death. In beauty he raises the child in his arms and proclaims these wondrous words. His reaction to the Christ is peace, and it should be our reaction as well. No matter what comes, peace is possible - eternal peace. That means that Romans 8 is right: whether there is war or famine, sword or pestilence, marital discord, family drama, disease, car crash, or loss of job - eternal peace can still be yours. Jesus came to reconcile God and man - a separation that was the result of sin, and it’s a gulf that has been repaired because of the sacrifice of Christ. So no matter what happens - if you trust in the Lord Jesus, you will spend eternity in peace with him.

Now notice this shocking thing that Simeon says. Remember he is in the temple, the place for the Jewish people to come into the presence of God, a mediated presence - but a presence none the less. They were to worship him there, and Gentiles who had converted were to stay in the outer courts. But when Genitles converted, they became Jewish, so in that sense, the message of God’s care and provision for Jews was for all who were descendants of Abraham and the few converts who joined them along the way. But Simeon says here this message of the gospel found in the newborn baby is a “light for revelation to the Gentiles.” They are mentioned before the Israelites, following Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 9, who says that God made “glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.” Jesus would show that the physical temple is no longer necessary for God’s people, for as he says to the woman at the well in John 4, people will worship the Lord not in certain geographical spaces, but wherever they are, and they will worship in “Spirit and in truth.” Be grateful that you are a Gentile (most of ya), who have become the recipient of these far reaches of the gospel.

Hymn for Reflection: Silent Night. Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GUnfLPpjLs

December 18

Luke 2:16-21, And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

The nativity story has both moments of loud exuberance, like when the angels glorify God before the angels, and it also contains quiet moments like this one here, when Mary treasures these things up in her heart. The pattern must be the same for us - we outwardly proclaim the message of the gospel, we worship the Lord in song, and we rejoice together because of what Christ is done. But our faith is contained in our private moments as well - in our Bible studies, in our prayers, and in our private pondering as to what the Lord is up to within us. The shepherds returned to their lives, but they returned forever changed: they glorified and praised the Lord! While we inwardly allow the Spirit to work in us through our spiritual disciplines, we praise his name too publicly in worship, and thus fulfill this pattern of the internal and external life of believers.

They would name him Jesus, because he would save his people from their sins. Jesus, the name being the Greek version of Joshua, means “God saves.” Joseph and Mary following the will of God communicated to them from the angel follows the parents of John the Baptist who had to do the very same thing. Though the name “John” was not a family name, they rejected the ways of the world and followed God’s command in naming their son John. Names are important in the Bible - and carrying with us the family name Christian is also important to our identity. There is life in his name (John 20:31), being connected to that man Jesus and his name is the very reason we are acceptable to God at all. Our union with Christ means we share his record, his moral performance, his perfect obedience, even while he took on our sin and nailed it to the cross. Give thanks today for the name of Jesus!

Hymn for Reflection: Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFgS57vyQWw

December 17

Luke 2:12-15, “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

Though there was just one angel who declared this good news to the shepherds, after the good news is declared, the angel is joined by a multitude of angels, and they proclaim together these awesome words of praise! There are only three times when angels together praise the name of God in chorus like this: Isaiah 6, Luke 2, and in the book of Revelation. Because the instances in Isaiah 6 and in Revelation are visions given to individual people (Isaiah and John), then this is the only instance when an angelic host breaks into human history to proclaim the name of God. The only time that happens is right here at the birth of Jesus. That means this is a big deal! Along with the death and resurrection of Jesus, the birth of Jesus is the single most important moment in the history of the world. And that is no exaggeration: all of history up to this point has been pointing to this moment, and all events after will look back on that event. Think of how our calendars work now. Even time itself is measured around the life of Jesus. This is 2021 AD, Addo Domini, in the year of our Lord.

Also notice that the shepherds talk amongst themselves and decide to go to Bethlehem and see the Lord! They are shepherds, watching their flocks by night, they had an important job to do, and they left that job to go see Jesus. We don’t know anything about what they might have incurred as a result, but they left those flocks, and it didn’t matter to them if they lost their jobs as a result. When an angel says the Savior has been born, you go! Are you willing, too, to give him all you have, that you might sit at his feet and worship him?

Hymn for Reflection: The First Noel. Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJfjZeiRi3g

December 16

Luke 2:8-11, “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”

Notice how much the word ‘fear’ plays into the early parts of the gospel of Luke. It’s a commonly repeated word, and it has two meanings. Sometimes the command is “Fear not!” because we have worldly fears that get in the way of worshiping the Lord. But other times we find the positive command to “fear the Lord.” We’re replacing fear with fear in that way, and that is appropriate. When we read in Proverbs 1:7 that ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,’ it means that all of our interpretations of the world as we know it are based first on this question: what do you think about God? We can tend to have a kind of passive appreciation for God while not worshiping him. This is the danger of cultural Christianity. We like the morals that are connected to this ancient religion but we stop short of really calling Jesus Lord and Savior, and that’s a mistake. We should fear the Lord! That means that we have what Tim Keller calls “a joyful awe and wonder at the greatness of God and what he’s done for us.” We must become like children in our awesome, reverential fear of the Lord.

The angel declares, “I bring you good news.” This is where we get the term ‘gospel,’ it’s a word that means “good news.” The gospel is proclaimed to these lowly shepherds, who would have been the lowest in the social pecking order of the day. The gospel will go out to surprising places. Imagine who we have recorded in the gospels visiting the baby or infant Jesus: shepherds, some animals, and wise men from a Gentile region. No earthly kings, local leaders, journalists, or wealthy aristocrats. The gospel is for all - but goes to the heart of the humble, those who know they are nothing without him. Check your heart now for if you fear the Lord in the right way and if you are like these shepherds who just want to be near the king, no matter what it costs.

Hymn for Reflection: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence. Here’s a Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wl4u8lnDQs

December 15

Luke 2:1-7, In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

I contend that verse 2 in this text is the most boring sentence in the whole Bible: This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor in Syria. This is the story of the birth of Jesus! Why are little details like this in the story at all? Remember that at the beginning of Luke’s gospel, he promised to offer an orderly account of the life of Jesus to his friend, Theophilus. Luke is a proclaimer of the good news of Jesus, but he is first a historian of the life and ministry of Jesus. He, just like the other gospel writers, is a biographer. Details like this are important to the story because they are referential to things that the first audience would understand. Luke is saying, you remember this census?! He mentioned dates that make sense and places that are identifiable so that it can be cross-examined. If the story of Jesus is just a myth meant to inspire, details like this wouldn’t appear in the story. Luke not only wants you to be blown away at the power of the story of Jesus, he wants to confirm its historical accuracy so that your belief in Christ is grounded in absolute reality.

To be born in Bethlehem matches the prophecy in Micah 5:2 that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, and his birth in the line of David fulfills several OT prophetic passages. This small detail about the inn is the only reference we have to that place, but it would make sense that things would be unnaturally crowded during the time of the census - a number of people of people would have returned to Bethlehem for this event. To be born in a cattle trough fits in with Jesus' appearance in meekness, in a humble estate. He would come to associate with the humble, to eat with sinners and tax collectors, to rescue those who know their need of salvation. Consider these words from the prophet Isaiah (57:15):

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Hymn for Reflection: Angels We Have Heard on High. Here’s a Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtByTy_5jqI

December 14

Luke 1:76-79 -

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

This is prophecy from Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. The birth of John the Baptist runs in a parallel with the birth narrative of Jesus, as John the Baptist will pave the way for the ministry of Jesus. John the Baptist preaches repentance and baptized many in the acknowledgment of a need for cleansing due to sin. Jesus has already been called the Son of the Most High in Luke, and here we have John the Baptist called the prophet of the Most High. John the Baptist would be a very righteous man, a faithful preacher, a bit of an outcast, but other than that, he’s just like you and me. We can find our own title in this same formula, and in fact, we must: we are servants of the Most High, children of the Most High, disciples of the Most High. The inclusion of John the Baptist in the ministry of Christ is just another example of how the Lord in his graciousness uses ordinary people to accomplish his supernatural purposes. We are co-laborers in this mission.

This goal of John the Baptist to preach truth and make those ready for the coming of Christ is a magnificent activity. Look at his father says about him: he’ll “give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.” Every time we speak of Christ we are speaking life-saving words to the world, and opens the eyes of people to the tender mercy of our God. Consider these things: where do you fit? What’s your title today? How can you be “making way” for the Lord in the lives of others?

Hymn for Reflection: I Wonder as I Wander. Here’s a Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45khRvRfJOE&t=1s

December 13

Luke 1:51-55 -

He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

This is part of Mary’s song of praise, commonly called The Magnificat. Notice how many lines here start with ‘he.’ The focus is on the work of the Lord even though she will be the one with the privilege of carrying the Christ. Mary’s song fits the pattern of Christ not being born in some exalted state, but rather born in lowliness, so that he will identify with the lowly in heart. God loves those who come to him in humility and show their need of him. Whenever we read in the Bible of the Lord’s remembrance or that God remembered something, it’s never that God forgot, or could forget. He is of course all knowing. A paraphrase might be, “God acted according to his nature.” This is who he is - God is merciful, so of course, he has shown mercy upon his people Israel by sending the Savior, just as he promised he would.

This memory also emphasizes that the promises have come from long ago. Abraham was told in one of the most famous passages of the Old Testament, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3) Through this family line, through Abraham’s line, down through the line of David, every nation of the world would be blessed. Jesus would come from the people of Israel not just for the people of Israel - but for the whole world, for anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord (Rom. 10:9). God said he would do it - he would put forward an answer to sin - and he did, and his name is Jesus.

Hymn for Reflection: See, Amid the Winter Snow. Here’s a Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFDBS665HjE

December 12

Luke 1:26-33, “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Watch how all of these prophecies are coming together. The name Jesus means “God saves.” He is the Savior who is to come, and further than that, he’ll be called Son of the Most High. There is no doubt to the divinity of Christ and the purposeful humanity of Christ in this announcement. He will be that servant who is bound to suffer for the sins of his people, he would be the one who would bear our iniquities. But he is also the King who will sit on the throne of David, ruler of an everlasting kingdom.

If Romans 5 is correct, and of course it is, then we inherit sin by our natural descent from Adam. Every person is born of man and woman, and by that natural order, sin, first incurred by Adam, is transferred to every person. Jesus would be born of Mary, but she’s a virgin, he’s not conceived of in the natural order, instead the Holy Spirit has given her this child. Jesus then does not inherit our sinful natures - there would be no sin in him (1 John 3:5; 2 Cor. 5:21). That he would be born of a virgin shows that God is in complete control of this miraculous plan, but also that he would be both God and man. He’s the eternal Son of God, free from sin, but also very much a person, who ate food and breathed and slept and could feel pain. He would then be an appropriate sacrifice - he could die for man who was destined to die due to sin. That’s what makes his humanity so important: that he could die. But he could also live a full life - 30 years or so - being tempted, feeling pain, carrying our burdens, yet without sin and full of trajectory towards the cross.

Hymn for Reflection: Once in Royal David’s City. Here’s a Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT3cfXd3Shk

December 11

Psalm 72:10 -

May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands
render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
bring gifts!

Though this is a psalm of Solomon, son of David, it is clearly what is called a Messianic Psalm, a common category given to many of the psalms of David. It’s a psalm that makes sense in its original context regarding kingship, it clearly points to someone who is to come, whose name will endure forever (v.17). This king to come would have gifts brought to him from afar, from magistrates from the east - the place of Sheba and Seba. The Queen of Sheba famously visited Solomon in 1 Kings 10 after hearing of his wondrous wisdom. She was greatly impressed, and had brought the king gifts including spices and gold.

But Solomon’s star would fade of course. He would sin against the Lord and he would not be the one to whom Psalm 72 ultimately points. It’s hard to know of people who even know that Solomon was a king! So who is this that is a king in the line of David whose name would last forever, and through whom all nations would call him blessed (v.17)? That would be a true king who also received gift from lords of the east. The wise men were most likely astrologers, some of the most respected people in the ancient world within that culture - and they would bring the king gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We’ll get to what these gifts point to in a later post - but know that part of the prophecy of the birth of the Messiah includes this outstanding event. The prophecy points to the expanse of the blessing of God through Christ - a grace extending to the Gentiles, and the gifts point to his kingship and his ultimate purpose. The salvation found in Christ is a global one - not bound by borders, languages, or nations, for “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:12).

Hymn for Reflection: What Child is This? Here’s a Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90RpXqqBCcU

December 10

Isaiah 53:4-5 -

Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.

The prophet Isaiah’s work spans multiple decades, but doesn’t lose focus on the eternal hope of Israel. That baby who would be born, the one born in the line of David, would be this same suffering servant that we meet near the end of Isaiah’s book. He came with the purpose of carrying our sorrows, he came to take our sin and nail it to the cross. By his wounds, we are told, we are healed.

But go with me down just a few lines in Isaiah 53, to verse 10. It says “It was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief.” What does this mean? God the Father planned for Jesus, the incarnate one, to be killed as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). This is further elaboration of v. 4, he was “smitten by God, and afflicted.” There is a punishment for sin, it was declared all the way back in the Garden of Eden - because of sin, people die. There’s no escaping it - everyone sins, everyone dies. But the one man who came into the world as the perfectly righteous one, through him, this one man, new life would come to many (Rom. 5). Instead of death being the inevitable end of a life of sin, it instead becomes the pathway to eternity with God. He took the death that you deserved and lived the life you should have lived, and he did that in your place. His record is now your record, his righteousness now your righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). This Christmas, don’t lose sight of the holiday’s connection to Easter. Jesus was born so that he could die. And that is worth rejoicing over. He’s not the king who was just some cool example of how to live - he came as the Savior. And that for sure is good tidings of great joy!

Hymn for Reflection: O Come All Ye Faithful. Here’s a Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0YgwO_HMn4

December 9

Micah 5:2 -

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.

O little town of Bethlehem, you are the chosen place! It’s an insignificant place, a place not in any tourist guidebooks of the ancient world. And yet this is the place where God chose to bring forth the ruler of Israel, the king who would sit on David’s throne. It fits into the plan of Christ’s meekness, his upbringing in a poor family, born of a nobody in a nothing town. He wouldn’t come triumphantly, but with a childhood that matched his eternal purpose - to die as a substitute for sinners. When he would enter into Jerusalem in that final week of his life, he would do so with tremendous irony. Kings entered into cities on war horses, mighty steeds where patrons could look up at them towards the skies. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, a donkey that had never been ridden on before.

Micah writes the prophecy about 400 years before the birth of Jesus - God is carrying out his plan, a plan that goes all the way back to Genesis 3:15 - there will be an answer to sin, and he will be the perfect, spotless lamb, whose whole purpose would be to be the sacrifice. Micah acknowledges the length and depth of this plan when he says “whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” But it’s also true of Jesus, the eternal Son of God, he was with God in creation (John 1); he would make the wood for the trough that he would be born in, he would make the wood for the cross he would die on - and he did it all willingly for you, so that you could be saved and spend eternity with him.

Hymn for Reflection: Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Here’s a Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsinjDvpKQY

December 8

Isaiah 11:1-2 -

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

It’s good to hear the whole of chapter 11, as all of it speaks of the peace to come because of this child from the line of Jesse, who is the father of David. V. 6 tells us about the “wolf and lamb” lying together, the leapord with the young goat, and the lion and the calf together, and “a little child shall lead them.” If you imagine any of these pairs in the wild, we know that there would be no hesitation from the predator in destroying its prey. But The child who is born is bringing forth a comprehensive peace that is so strong that it is like a lion and a young calf just sitting together in absolute peace. It is the little child who will initiate this peace.

Notice that the Spirit will be upon this child, and we must never forget the Trinity at work in the life of Christ. We see it plainly in places like the baptism of Jesus, where God the Father says, “This is my Son, with whom I am well pleased.” At that moment the Spirit of the Lord comes down upon Jesus in the form of a dove. We shouldn’t think that the Spirit was not with Christ before this, but instead we see a symbolic picture of the whole Trinity functioning as it always has - Jesus saving, the Father planning salvation, and the Spirit working in the heart of Christ on earth, and in every believer who would follow him. The Father plans, The Son executes the plan, and the Spirit applies it to us - that is how it works.

Poetically, Isaiah the prophet gives us these extraordinary words in chapter 12: “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day - Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, and makes known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.”

Hymn for Reflection: O Little Town of Bethlehem. Here’s a Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grKx1YSeLr0

December 7

Isaiah 9:6-7 -

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Isaiah continues his astounding prophecy of the child who is to come. The chapter begins with a declaration that God’s purposes will extend in Gentile lands, the “land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.” “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light,” the prophet proclaims. This is now a universal principle - that everyone, Jew and Gentile, have walked in darkness, and we have been shone this great light amidst the darkness - and this is that light: “To us a child is born, to us a son is given.” And look at these names of this child - Mighty God, even! The child to be born is directly aligned with God himself, being called Everlasting Father and Mighty God.

The verse just preceding this prophecy in v. 6 speaks some tough words about wars that continue between the nations - this child is meant to come to truly be the Prince of Peace, to be the end of calamitous results of sin in the world. The earth will still groan (Rom. 8) because of sin - things are not as they should be, and yet, the way to peace, the way to reconciliation with the Lord is through this baby. There are no other routes - Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 10). The one true King, from the throne of David, is here - he will rule, and like a good king, he’ll know his people and he will care for their every need. Jesus our King knows our biggest problem - and that is sin; and he came to take it away. Praise him, our Savior and Lord!

Hymn for Reflection: The First Noel. Here’s a Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwG0emQTuY0

December 6

Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

The prophet Isaiah gives us perhaps the most startling and direct prophecies about the birth of the Christ. This prophecy from Isaiah 7 comes from one of the most horrific times in Israel’s history: the place is in complete disarray, and yet here we have this prophecy of a child being born to a virgin. That’s an outlandish miracle in itself, but then comes the name: Immanuel. Every Hebrew would know what this name means - God With Us. To call a baby God would have been unheard of, and yet what a wonderful prophecy they have received.

Immanuel tells you important things about the Messiah: He is God, for one, and that’s huge - but don’t miss this part: that God is with us. If anything was learned from the Genesis account of man’s first sin it was that God could not be with man. They were kicked out of the garden - away from the presence of God, though God used to walk with them in that place. Now the whole story of redemption is God drawing believers back to himself, making away for he, a holy God, to be in the presence of sinful people. The temple was one way, but had with me many regulations for coming into God’s presence. Only the high priest, cleansed and consecrated, could enter the Holy of Holies one day a year to make atonement for sin. That was how big this gulf would be between man and God, and yet God, in his mercy, made a way to be with his people.

But now we have this outstanding prophecy: God himself would be with us in human form, a baby - Immanuel, God with Us. Jesus is the temple, is the presence of God on earth, and made it possible for God and man to be reconciled.

Hymn for Reflection: The Hallelujah Chorus of Handel’s Messiah. Here’s a Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUZEtVbJT5c