Christmas 2024 Bible Study

MERRY CHRISTMAS

As I was praying, reading and thinking through how to best spend some time during the holiday, I knew that I wanted to write some type of Bible study or devotional about Christmas time. It was on Sunday morning in the quiet that God impressed upon me to write something that could be shared with others from the Bible’s many stories surrounding the birth and early days of Jesus.

No matter how commercialized the world may make the Christmas season, it is the job of those who profess Christianity to keep pointing to the Savior. About twenty years ago, I was a member of the local Kiwanis Club. Every year we, with the help of the students and staff of the local middle school, gathered toys to be distributed to needy families in our community. As our community grew, it became more and more difficult to meet all the needs that were there. Eventually, we began having discussions about how we could ensure that the families we gave toys to meet the requirements of being needy. As we were having this discussion one day, one of our members stood and said that we just needed to focus on what Christmas was about and pray that God would take care of the need. That member reminded us that we celebrate Christmas because long ago, we were given the gift of a Savior. None of us qualifies for this gift, yet the gift is available for all and came at a great price.

This is the spirit in which the following is written. It is intended to be a daily Bible study around Christmas time. It is my hope that studying and sharing God’s word is a blessing to you as it is to me. When we realize the gift we have been given, we should have the Spirit of Christmas within us throughout the year. This Spirit is the Spirit of the Living Savior, Jesus Christ.

DAY 1 – ZECHARIAH AND ELIZABETH – LUKE 1

The Bible is not clear about exactly when the first part of the Christmas story began. However, in Luke 1, we see the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. We know little about this couple except that they were both from the tribe of Levi (1:5), and that both were righteous in the sight of God and lived blameless lives according to the commands of the law (1:6). We also know that they were both getting beyond the age of childbearing and they had no children. Finally, we know that Elizabeth was somehow related to Mary, the mother of Jesus. While the word to describe this relation is translated cousin in the KJV, it could mean any type of family relation outside of immediate family.

Zechariah, being of the priestly tribe would have been expected to serve at times at the temple, which is what we find him doing when the story begins (1:8). While acting as a priest in ancient Israel would have been a high honor, his childlessness would have been a burden to both he and his wife during those times. In fact, being childless in ancient Israel would have been considered a sign of a “divine lack of attention, a curse, or a punishment that could only be reversed through fervent prayer.” Bible Odyssey – Barrenness. One can imagine that there were those in the neighborhood who wondered about which of these causes could have brought about the empty household of Zechariah and Elizabeth, and what role this played in their upright lifestyle. The Bible does not share these things with us. It just gives us these facts about them to digest.

On this day, Zechariah was not only serving at the temple in Jerusalem, but he had been chosen among all of those in his division to go inside the inner portion of the temple for the lighting of the holy incense. Exodus 30. This was a once in a lifetime experience in which the common priest was so close to the Holy of Holies, where the actual presence of the LORD dwelt. When Zechariah enters this inner area, he is suddenly confronted by an angel. More specifically, Zechariah meets a direct messenger of God. Please stop and take a moment to reflect on the many emotions that you would feel if you experienced this type of encounter. Zechariah was immediately filled with fear to the point of being terrified (1:12).

Of course, the angel’s first words to Zechariah are “Do not be afraid.” Good luck with that. But the angel goes on to tell him that his wife will bear him a son, and that they are to name him John. Yet, that is not even the best of the news. There will be joy and delight at the birth of John. The child will become great and be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. Most importantly, John will be like the prophet Elijah and will turn many people to the Lord their God. (1:13-17).

Zechariah had some trouble believing all of this, so the angel gave him a sign. Zechariah would be unable to speak until all of this had come to pass (1:20). So, when he came out of the temple, as the people were wondering what in the world could have taken so long, he made signs to them, and they decided he must have seen a vision. (1:22). After his time at the temple was complete, he was able to return home. Imagine his homecoming without being able to speak, and only being able to write to his wife about what he had experienced.

Elizabeth eventually became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for the first five months of the pregnancy. The text, again, does not tell us why, but you can imagine the many reasons as she says in 1:25, “The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people.” This is the only hint in the text as to the emotional agony this righteous couple felt in being unable to bring a child into the world.

In the sixth month, a now pregnant Mary travels to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth which is somewhere in Judah (1:39). We now know what the angel meant as he told Zechariah that John would be full of the Spirit even in the womb as the baby literally leaps in the Elizabeth’s belly at the entrance of Mary. Elizabeth was also filled with the Holy Spirit at this and gives a blessing to Mary (1:42). The Bible only recounts Mary telling two people about her pregnancy, Joseph and Elizabeth. It speaks to what Elizabeth must have meant to Mary and the trust between the two. It also gives further confirmation of the lives lived by this amazing couple. The righteousness described above did not just include following the letter of the law. It had to have been seen and respected by others.

Finally, the time for the birth of John came, and on the eighth day after was the all-important naming ceremony. (1:57-59). The problem was that Zechariah could not verbally tell anyone what the child’s name was to be. Elizabeth tried to tell everyone that his name was John, although everyone just assumed that this long-awaited child would be named after his father. So, everyone turned to Zechariah, and he had to ask for his tablet. Zechariah wrote the words, “His name is John.” All were amazed. (1:59-63).

Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened, and he was able to speak. He began by praising God. Fear came on all those around as they recognized the work of God. How many of these people had wondered what sin one of these people had committed before they recognized God’s work in their household. The chapter ends with the prophecy or song of Zechariah and a mention that John grew and became strong in the Spirit and lived in the wilderness until he appeared in public to Israel. (1:67-80)

There is a lot that we can learn from Zechariah and Elizabeth. We can learn not to make rash decisions about others when we don’t know their real hearts. We can learn that not everything that seems to be bad really is. We can learn from Elizabeth that being a trustworthy friend and confidant can allow us to share wonderful experiences with others. The thing that I really want to focus on, however, is trusting God. Christmas is a lot of things to a lot of people. Some have experienced great joy during this season and others have experienced great loss. We go our “merry” way during the season, wishing everyone a Happy Christmas, and telling everyone that all is fine, and I am great.

Whether you really are great, or experiencing the most difficult time in your life, trust God. He is able. What is it that he can do? Whatever he needs to do at any given time. He created the universe with a word, and he has given eternal life to even someone like me. Whatever you have, whether it be a lot, or nothing, if you have Him, you have more than enough. Thank Him for his presence and praise him for who he is. Share him with someone and be the Bible that they can see.

Tomorrow, we meet a couple more people who are not discussed a lot at this time of year. Simeon and Anna. Let’s see what we can learn from them.

DAY 2 – SIMEON AND ANNA – LUKE 2:21-38

We very seldom hear the story of Simeon and Anna, but there really is much that we can learn from only eighteen verses in the book of Luke. As with all first century Jewish boys, Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day of his life and at about a month old he was taken to the temple in Jerusalem for dedication. The Jewish law prescribed the sacrifice of a lamb for this ceremony, but poor people were allowed to sacrifice a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. This tells us about the financial condition of the family of Jesus as they came to the temple that day, so it is surprising that anyone would notice this young couple with their newborn baby boy.

Luke 2:25 tells us that Simeon was righteous and that he was looking forward to the day when Israel would be comforted by the coming of the Messiah. We are also told that the Holy Spirit was on him. The Spirit had told Simeon that he would see the Messiah before his death. Simeon was led by the Spirit as he entered the temple and approached Mary and Joseph and took the baby Jesus into his arms. As he did so he offered a prayer:

Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised. For my eyes have seen your salvation. You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples – a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Isael. vv 29-32.

That was not the end of Simeon’s words, however, as he blessed Mary and Joseph and told them that Jesus was destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and that he would be opposed. He then told them that a sword would pierce their hearts and that the thoughts of many would be revealed.

Anna was a prophetess in the temple and was of the tribe of Asher. Verse 36 tells us that she was the daughter of someone named Phanuel, but we have no idea who this Phanuel was, as we have no other information about him in either the Bible or history. The name itself means the face of God. We learn in verses 37-38 that she had only lived with her husband for seven years, and that he died, and she remained a widow for 84 years. She spent her time in the temple serving God day and night with fasting and prayer.

When she saw the baby Jesus, she began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking to the redemption of Jerusalem (v. 38). We do not read that she approached the family in any way. She may have simply heard Simeon’s prophecy and, as a prophetess herself, recognized it as true. She may have been shown the truth by the Spirit directly to her. The text does not tell us for certain. All we know is that she recognized Jesus as the Messiah, just as Simeon did and immediately went forth sharing the news with others.

These two can certainly teach us a great deal. They both were very old and had been looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. In the same way, we should be looking forward to the second coming of Jesus to redeem our fallen world. Let’s look specifically at how they each responded to meeting Jesus. Simeon, upon encountering Jesus looked to God and said, you can take me anytime you want now. I have seen your salvation. Do we look at our salvation with that kind of wonder and awe? This was a man that was prepared in his heart to meet God.

Anna’s response was more outward. Her encounter with Jesus caused her to share with others what she had seen and what she knew. She spoke about him to all that were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. She recognized that it was not through the Pharisees or the religious rituals of the law that redemption would come but rather through the person that had come in the form a small, poor baby. Upon seeing Jesus, she made sure that everyone around her knew who she had seen.

We have the opportunity every day to respond in the same way to our own encounters with Jesus. We can thank God and let him know that whatever his will is for us, we are good with it. Paul said to live is Christ and to die is gain. Phil. 1:21. As he allows us to live, we should go through our days sharing with others the experiences we have with him. There is no greater love than the love God showed in coming to earth and sacrificing himself for us. We should live in gratitude for that love every day until we go to be in his presence. That is exactly what Simeon and Anna did with their lives, and we can too.

DAY 3 – THE SHEPHERDS – LUKE 2:8-20

Sheep were very important in ancient Israel. Their wool was used for clothing, their meat for food, and they were also a primary animal in the sacrificial system. While shepherds have been given a bad rap by many historians, much of the negative historical discussion of shepherds comes from Aristotle, who lived in Greece, and from a few quotes several hundred years after Jesus. In fact, Abraham and David were both shepherds at one time. The Bible also refers to God being a shepherd (Psalm 23) and Jesus refers to himself as the good shepherd. (John 10:11).

When you read the shepherd story in Luke 2:8-20, it is truly one of the most exciting stories in the Bible. The shepherds were tending their sheep somewhere near Bethlehem. As they were going about their business that night Luke 2:10 says that an angel appeared, and the glory of the Lord shone about them. Imagine for a moment the darkness of night suddenly exploding into brightness of day, and someone suddenly appearing in gleaming white and telling you to not be afraid. This angel then gives the shepherds the message that the Savior has been born in Bethlehem and he is the Messiah, the Lord. He goes on to say that they will find him in a manger wrapped in cloths.

Then, even more crazy, a huge choir of angels appears and sings to the shepherds. Just as suddenly as it began, the angels then disappeared back into the heavens and the still of night returned. It is impossible to fathom the emotions that would be running through you if you experienced something like this. It caused an immediate response in the shepherds. They said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” (2:15). That is just what they did. Verse 16 tells us that they hurried to go and see Jesus.

History tells us that the time that the shepherds were staying with their flocks overnight would have been the time that the ewes were having their lambs. This was the livelihood of these shepherds. However, something of much greater importance had been told them, and it appears that all of them simply left their flocks and went to see Jesus. Verse 17 says that the shepherds shared this news with others and that the people they told were amazed at their story. Then verse 20 tells us that when they returned to their flocks, they praised God for the things they had seen and heard. It also points out that what they saw was exactly what they had been told they would see.

Many times we fail to learn the lesson of the shepherds. Life today is extremely hectic. It seems that every year some new electronic device comes out that is supposed to make life easier and yet it causes even more chaos. Our jobs take up at least 40 hours of our week and necessary activities take up even more. We spend several hours each week eating and making food to eat, and we sleep anywhere from 45 to 56 hours a week. This just describes what is necessary to sustain us. It does not include time that we need to spend with our spouse or children, or time that we need to use in service to others or sharing important things like the good news of Jesus.

On this first Christmas night the shepherds recognized the difference between something that was good and something that was great. It was good and important that they take care of their sheep. However, seeing the newborn Jesus was something life changing. How often do we let the busyness of our daily lives get in the way of the greatness of being a child of God? Do I get frustrated by interruptions in my day, or do I see those interruptions as opportunities that God has given me to share him with someone?

For many years one of my consistent prayers has been to let me be more aware of opportunities to share my faith. As I look back in time, I see so many of those opportunities that I missed. Usually, it was just because I was busy. Sometimes it was simply my own selfishness. During this Christmas, sit down by yourself and read Luke 2:8-20, and as you do so, put yourself in the place of the shepherds. Ask yourself if you would have left your flock and hurried to see Jesus. I am fearful that I would have said to myself, he is just a baby. I will wait until he is older and see him then. My duty is to my flock. We should never miss out on the great, even if we are doing the good. Those shepherds certainly did not regret it as they returned with hearts full of praise. So will you.

DAY 4 – THE WISE MEN – MATTHEW 2:1-12

The visitors to the baby Jesus known as the Wise Men were from somewhere east of Jerusalem. The predominant view seems to be that they were from the area of Babylon, but other sources have them coming from the Arab Peninsula. Regardless of their country of origin, it is interesting that the birth of Jesus would have been recognized by far away Gentiles. One source says that these men may have been descended from persons familiar with Biblical prophecies from Daniel of the Old Testament.

We have no idea how many there were, but in popular depictions they are put at three, probably either as a result of bringing three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, or from the legend of their being descendants of Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. There is even a cathedral in Cologne, Germany, that claims to house the remains of the three wise men, with their having died at the ages of 116, 112, and 109. While all these myths and legends are interesting, there are important truths about them shared in the Biblical text.

These men came from the far away east and learned of the birth of the new king by studying the stars (vv. 1-2). When they arrived in Judea, they went to the place where you would expect a king to be born in that area, Jerusalem. They were apparently important enough to meet with, and draw the attention of King Herod, who then questioned the chief priests and scribes, probably on more than one occasion, to learn that the birthplace of the Messiah was to be Bethlehem, which was about six miles from Jerusalem.

Herod then summoned the wise men and inquired of them when they had seen the star appear. This becomes an important point later in the story when Herod orders all the boys, two years old and younger in Bethlehem killed. It also tells us the approximate age of Jesus when the wise men actually made it into Jerusalem.

The text specifically tells us that they visited the baby Jesus in a house (v. 11), so they did not make it to the stable as we see in many Christmas plays. Upon entering the house, the visitors fell to their knees and worshipped this child and gave their gifts to him which were of great wealth. Although Herod had tried to trick the wise men into giving him the location of the baby Jesus, they were warned in a dream to return to their country without visiting Herod again, and they dutifully obeyed the warning.

This account being in the book of Matthew is most interesting. The word used to describe these men is Magi or Magoi. This word is associated in Biblical writings with the occult and astrology. It is the word from which we get the English word magic. The story is about a group of Gentiles with whom devout Jewish readers at the time would probably have refused to eat a meal with. This is written in close proximity in Matthew to the genealogy of Jesus, which specifically includes four women, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. Three of them were Gentiles, and one was an adulterer who was married to a Gentile. All of this in a book which was written specifically to a Jewish audience with distinctly Jewish flavor.

All the above is to say that from the moment Jesus came into the world, he came to the entire world. The message of the wise men seems to specifically point to Jesus’s mission to save people regardless of their race, ethnicity of place of origin. The wise men are a great example to us in that they came from a great distance and were willing to bend the knee, not to a powerful king with an army behind him, but rather to a baby who lived with a family that was so poor that they could not sacrifice a lamb at his temple dedication.

It truly does not matter where you come from or what you have. We have nothing that we can offer to the God that created the universe anyway. We simply come to him in humility, acknowledging that His love is the greatest gift ever given. In the song The Little Drummer Boy, the second verse says, “I am a poor boy…I have no gift to bring…That’s fit to give a king…Shall I play for you?” To me, this is like saying to Jesus, “I know I am poor and have nothing that you need. You are the true king. All I can do is offer my life. As poor as that is, I give it all to you.” That is the message of the wise men.

DAY 5 – JOSEPH – MATT. 1:18-25; 2:13-15; 2:19-23; LUKE 2:1-52

Imagine if you can your daughter coming to you and telling you she is pregnant but claiming that she has not had sex with anyone. If you say that you would believe her, you are much more believing than I am. This was what Joseph was faced with in the Christmas story. In today’s language we would say that Joseph and Mary were engaged, but in first century Israel, the betrothal was much more than engagement.

The husband to be would give the bride’s father a gift to seal the betrothal. This is the bride wealth or bride price. The groom would also submit a written or oral contract. The betrothal generally lasted about twelve months, but in real terms, the two were married without the marriage being consummated. There was a betrothal ceremony, and the two would have to be legally divorced at that point to be apart. The ancient Jewish marriage was more of a marriage between two families than just between two individuals.

This was the place where Joseph found himself one day when Mary came to him and told him she was pregnant. Matthew 1:18-19. The Bible does not recount the conversation, but Joseph’s first response was that he was going to obtain a divorce. Apparently, Joseph truly cared about Mary, so he was going to divorce her privately. This meant that he would not bring it to the local authorities, who still had the power to punish her unfaithfulness with stoning. However, God had different plans. Joseph was given a vision in which it was explained to him exactly what was going on with Mary. Matthew 1:20-21.

Joseph dutifully obeyed the angel’s message, and married Mary. However, contrary to Jewish tradition, they did not consummate the marriage on their wedding night but waited until after the birth of Jesus. We also see him protecting Jesus from Herod’s wrath by taking him to Egypt as a small child. Matthew 2:13-15. Joseph was again visited in a dream by an angel and told that he could return with his family to Israel. Matthew 2:20-21. The text tells us that he still looked out for the family’s safety by moving to Mary’s hometown of Nazareth because Herod’s family was still in power. We then move to Luke chapter 2, as Joseph and Mary take young Jesus to the temple for his dedication at about one month old. Luke 2:25-38.

The family had done all that the law required of them with the new child, so now it was time to return home and to life. Luke 2:40 tells us that Jesus grew and became strong and was filled with wisdom. Luke 2:52 says that he increased in stature and wisdom and in favor with both God and the people around him. The only other interaction we have in scripture with Joseph is when Jesus was about 12 years old. His family apparently went to Jerusalem to the temple every year for Passover. On this trip, however, Jesus did not return with the group that had made the trip, but rather stayed behind, unbeknownst to his parents. In fact, they did not realize it for three days! This must have been incredibly frightening and frustrating for Joseph and Mary. They traveled back and found him in the temple teaching the teachers. Everyone was astounded at him. This was the point at which Jesus said he was going about the business of his Father. The end of the story says that his earthly parents did not understand. Luke 2:41-50.

Tradition says that Joseph died peacefully in the presence of Jesus and Mary before Jesus began his ministry. We have no idea whether this is true, but we do know that Joseph is not mentioned anymore in the story of Jesus while Mary is. We also infer that Joseph had died when Jesus tells his apostle John to take care of Mary after he dies. If Joseph were still living, that would have been unnecessary. What was it like being the earthly father of the Son of God? We will never know. Was it wonderful to have a sinless son, or was it difficult to not be able to live up to the intellect, perfection and nature of one who was truly God and truly man at the same time? Please do not miss the humanity of the people that were involved in these real life events. They carried within them the same emotions that we have today. They were also flawed just as we are today.

When I think of Joseph, I think first of the man he must have been. His young bride becoming pregnant before they were ever together and yet being obedient to God. Raising this child that was not his own and being willing to move to another country in order to keep the child safe. Teaching Jesus to work and to be a man and wondering the entire time whether he was getting in the way of something God wanted in the young man’s life. There must have been moments from overwhelmingly good to amazingly frightening.

Then I think of his life apparently being ended as we would think, before its time. We do not see Joseph when Jesus performed his first miracle turning the water into wine. Joseph never saw the teaching and the miracles and had the blessing of sitting back as a proud parent and knowing that this amazing child had grown into the most successful man in history. Not successful as the world counts success, but in the ways of God.

Joseph’s story is like the person who works to build the building but never sees the finished product. This is truly a special person. In I Corinthians 3:6-9, Paul says that he planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. He tells us that the one who plants and waters will be rewarded according to their labor. We are co-workers in God’s service. We are not in charge. What we must keep sight of is that we have been enlisted to be workers in the service of the same God that spoke the universe into existence. That by itself is enough. We learned yesterday that we have nothing to offer to God. But for some reason God chooses to allow us to serve and to be a part of the process that causes things to grow. I don’t need to be in charge, in part because I never will be, but most importantly because it is so special to work for the one who is.

DAY 6 – MARY – MATTHEW 1:18-25; LUKE 1:26-56

Mary has become a rather controversial figure in Christianity. From the Biblical record, we know only that she came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was visited by an angel who told her that she would bear the Messiah. The Bible recounts that she took the news well and carried out the duties of being the mother of Jesus extremely well. The Roman Catholic church teaches that Mary was herself conceived miraculously and lived a life without sin, including maintaining her virginity throughout her life. They also teach that she did not die but was bodily assumed into heaven prior to her death. These teachings do not appear until at least the latter part of the second century. It is probably that the Catholic teachings have led the Protestant church to give Mary a bit less attention over the years.

However, we see in the Biblical record that Mary was quite an exceptional lady. Luke 1:26-38 records the visit of the angel to Mary to give her the news that she would be the one to give birth to the long-awaited Messiah. One would think that being betrothed to Joseph at the time, she would have some fear of what it would be like to tell him about her pregnancy. We have already discussed how that news did not go over well at first and that Joseph initially intended to divorce her. However, Mary’s response was that she is the Lord’s servant and let God’s will be done with her.

One of the most beautiful songs in scripture is written at Luke 1:46-55. It is commonly known as the song of Mary, in which she praises God for bringing this upon her and recognizes what an amazing thing she is experiencing. She acknowledges her humble life, and that such honor is not earned by her, but rather is simply the grace of God which he extends to the entire world. She is obviously very aware that the people of Israel have been anxiously awaiting the coming Messiah, and that they have been in bondage to one and then another foreign power for many hundreds of years. It is into this culture that the Messiah would come.

The end of Mary’s pregnancy with Jesus was anything but easy. During the latter stages of pregnancy, I cannot imagine there is any way to be very comfortable, and she made a trip of between four days and a week, either on foot or riding an animal. There would have been wild animals and bandits to watch out for on the road. Then when She and Joseph finally got to Bethlehem, there was no place for them to stay other than a stable. She would give birth in the stable, either a shelter or a cave, and use an animal feeding trough as a crib.

Mary continued to be a part of the life of Jesus all the way to his death. She makes several appearances throughout his ministry, but none more poignant than her presence at the cross when Jesus asks John to care for her after his death. If you have ever known anyone who has lost a child, whether at a young age or as an adult, you know that there is absolutely nothing that could compare to this experience. My own parents lost a son at age 45 and they never passed a day without thinking about it until their own passing.

While, more often than not, we picture Mary in her blue head covering, without a drop of sweat, both before and after giving birth under these circumstances, we may need to look a bit closer at this young lady and what she endured. She was probably quite young and the Bible makes clear that she and Joseph were not wealthy. She endured the stress of having to tell her husband that she was pregnant and that the child was not his, knowing that he would probably not believe her story. However, she trusted God to take care of all of that.

In our day, we think it is a hardship if we don’t have the food that we want to eat immediately available to us, and we expect to always have a home that is perfectly temperature controlled. As young people we expect to grow up and have the perfect spouse and two children, one of each gender, and to have our first home be what fifty years ago would have been considered a mansion. We wonder if God is mad at us if we have a flat tire on the way to work.

It should come as no surprise that when Mary’s second son, and Jesus’s half-brother, James, wrote his letter recorded in the Bible that he would begin verse 2 with the words, “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials.” His mother had experienced some of the greatest trials that one could encounter, and he was right there to witness it. James had personally seen in his mother that those trials could produce endurance, which leads to maturity. James was able to witness his mother growing in wisdom as God led this lady, who showed no doubts, through circumstances which would break most of us.

Mary knew great sorrow, but she also knew great joy. The angel told her in Luke 1:30 that she had found favor with God. This did not mean that she would live a life without hardship. We have recounted many of the hardships that she faced. It did mean that she experienced the presence of God in her life. This is the blessing that we need to seek in life.

DAY 7 – JESUS – JOHN 1

My favorite Christmas story is not found in Matthew nor in Luke. It is not a Christmas movie, although I do make certain to watch the 1948 Cary Grant movie, “The Bishop’s Wife,” every year. My favorite Christmas story is found in John chapter 1. While John does not recount the birth narrative that we see in the Christmas pageants that touch our heart strings, he does share the greatest story that has ever been told. There is no way that I could create words to compare to the inspired words of the Apostle John, so here it is:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was with God in the beginning.

All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.

In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify about the light.

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him.

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe on his name,

Who were born, not of natural descent, nor of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Please read those words again, either right now or when you finish reading this section. In these verses is described the greatest miracle that has ever occurred. It is a greater miracle than creation itself. The trinity of God is described above saying that Jesus is the very Word of God. He was both with God and was God and creation occurred with God saying, “Let there be,” and there was.

In the Word of God was life. Not the drudgery of life as we know it, but an abundant life in which the light that he brought to the world shines through the created ones who bear his image. It shines in the world no matter how dark this world may seem. We cannot imagine life without that light shining because it is not anything we have ever experienced. However, his own people, to whom the prophecies of long ago came, did not recognize him. They mistook his coming so badly that they ended up crucifying him and trying to make fun of him for telling them who he was.

The last verse says that Jesus “dwelt” among us. A more literal translation of this word is “tabernacled.” In the Old Testament, the tabernacle was the tent in which God met with the people of Israel in the wilderness. It was placed in the very center of their encampment as they crossed from Egypt to the Promised Land. It was where the sacrifices occurred. It was where atonement for sin was made. Jesus became the tabernacle for all time. The God of the Universe literally became a flesh and blood human being all for the sake of giving mankind the opportunity to become a part of the family of God.

These verses also tell us that it was the will of God that all of this happen just the way it happened. You see, God knew from the very beginning that man would rebel. He also knew that he had a plan to allow man to choose to be with him throughout eternity. Those who believe on his name can become the children of God. We can be part of the promise that was given in the garden to Adam and Eve. We can be part of the promise that was given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The promise that Isaiah gave so clearly over 700 years before Jesus would come into the world.

The miracle of Christmas, however, is not just that God became flesh and came to us. In the middle of these verses John tells us that John the Baptist came to testify about Jesus to others. In Matthew 28, Jesus tells us that it is our job to do the same. He wants to shine his light through us to the rest of the world. Jesus himself told us how in John 13:34-35, when he said, “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” This was not an emotional love that he was commanding just before his death. It was a sacrificial and serving love.

This command to love is all throughout the Bible, but it is so important that this was the “new command” that Jesus gave just before his death. He did not tell his disciples that they needed to memorize the scriptures, or that they needed to follow any list of rules. He told them that EVERYONE would know they were his disciples if they showed love. This is intentionality at its highest.

This portion of this study is being written on Christmas Eve. As usual, on this day, I found myself needing to go to the store and pick up a few last minute items. Also, as usual, the first store that I entered was out of some of the things that I needed. It was also packed. The parking lot was packed. Everyone was in a hurry. The problem is that I also knew what I was coming home to write. As I went through the store today, I tried to smile at people. I thanked those who helped me and I asked to be excused the many times I got in someone else’s way. I did not tell anyone about Jesus on my trip to the stores, but I hope that I let at least a little bit of his light shine on at least a few.

In Matthew 28, Jesus gave what we now call the Great Commission. The way we read it is to say, “Go into all the world.” However, a more accurate translation would be “as you are going into all the world.” You see, he calls us to carry that light every day. Not just on Christmas, but as we go to work, or school, or anywhere else, and anytime else. This is the Spirit of Christmas. This is what brings others to Jesus.

My prayer for you and me is that we remember to take Christmas with us everywhere we go and every day of our lives. We allow his light of love to shine through us so that others see him as we go throughout the world.