DECEMBER 7, 2023 “On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.” (Haggai 2:23, ESV) A Chosen Predecessor of Jesus A small, worshipping remnant …
December 7 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. Micah 5:2 (ESV) Oh little town of Bethlehem,how still we see …
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. (Luke 2:7, ESV) What’s a manger? A manger is a feeding trough for animals. In the first century, a manger was often made of limestone, …
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 …
The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” (Psalm 110:1, ESV) Almost one thousand years before Jesus was born, King David spoke of our Savior in Psalm 110. He described the Lord God speaking to One who was David’s Lord. This One, later specified as Jesus Christ, …
“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:18, NIV) The words “joy,” “merry,” “peace,” and “celebrate” are common during the Christmas season—not the words “weeping” or “tears.” Yet the Gospel of Matthew records that, as a …
“And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.” (1 Peter 2:6, NASB) I grew up in a home with three brothers, three sisters, and a mom and dad, for a total of nine (with one bathroom!). We didn’t have much in the way of material possessions, but Christmas was always, somehow, a time of …
The next day he [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, ESV) When I think of Jesus being born in a manger in the little town of Bethlehem, my imaginary scene usually has a couple of lambs …
“The next day he [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29, ESV) When I think of Jesus being born in a manger in the little town of Bethlehem, my imaginary scene usually has a couple of lambs …
“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.’” (Matthew 2:14–15, ESV) Taking a trip to a foreign country with a …
“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end’” (Revelation 22:13, ESV). “Wooden Block Letters—and the Babe in Bethlehem” As a child you may have played with wooden blocks on which were carved the letters of the alphabet. You may have even tried, perhaps unsuccessfully, to spell …
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David” (Luke 1:68–69, ESV). When you think of “baby,” a synonym or an adjective that accompanies it is rarely, if ever, “powerful!” Yet, that is …
