Luke 1 ~ Because of the tender mercy of our God

A great deal of change occurs in 30 years. In fifty years, almost all things are noticeably changed, particularly in this life time.

And still for millenniums, there has been the Steadfast Love of Christ Jesus. God's Only Son. The Church was unknown when Jesus stood in Caesarea to tell His Disciples of the Church to come. After 2,000 years and 2 millenniums - Jesus is still King of Kings and the Church of Jesus is His.

Imagine Caesarea, 62 miles from Capernaum, Israel. Jesus was making a journey to make memories.

The longest surviving government in the History of the world - would fail. Jesus was going as close to Rome as He wanted to go to make this prophetic talk to His Beloved Disciples. No one would have really wanted to say that on the day Jesus spoke to them. This was bedrock. And Jesus was giving something far, far, far stronger - the news that the Church of Jesus Christ would exist and continue past the gates of hell. To the very Keys to the Gates of the Always Open 12 Gates of Heaven. And here we are today. What is the same?

Herod is long gone. We have the Scala Sancta - the stairs Jesus walked upon in Herod's Palace - and even Herod's Family Tomb. And the tomb of the man Herod employed to be in charge of the Herod Rebuild of the 2nd Temple.

Like Herod, most of this is long gone.

What is the same? The sky. The blue sky we believe keeps us safe from the vast empty spaces of the universe - the lid. The lid. Disappears at night and reveals the vast universe of God's Creation of All Things.

What the Heavens would tell us they witnessed. The Exodus was so magnificent to our Vast and Powerful God Almighty - He asked His Son to relive the Exodus.

The Heavens might tell us of Gabriel visiting Mary.

The Heavens might reveal seeing a worried Mary traveling to and from visiting Elizabeth and Zechariah.

We might learn of the Heavens witnessing the conclusion of Joseph's separation from Mary. And her relief. And their joy.

We might see a very uncomfortable Mary riding a Donkey

We might see the Heavens display the sight of the barn in Bethlehem the Shepherds found. This Light of the World. Zechariah witnessed of Jesus and spoke to us through the years until this is today:

Luke 1

Because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.

True God of True God. Light of Light.

When you look at the artists and visionaries discussion - their work - telling of their faith in the Birth of God's Only Son, they Proclaims this of God :

… Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1: 21

…His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The Might God,

…The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6

… God hath made that same Jesus… both Lord & Christ Acts 2:36

…Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world! John 1:29

…they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, the song of The Lamb Revelation 15:3

…Behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Revelation 5:5

..and the Bright & Morning Star Revelation 22:16

..and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life 1 John 1:1

…we have and advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ The Righteous 1 John 2:1

…whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us. Luke 1:78

…Before Abraham, I Am. John 8:58

…And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. John 1: 34

…are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25

…We have found the Messiah which, is being interpreted, the Christ. John 1:41

…I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

…through the knowledge of the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. II Peter 2: 20

..a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:16

…I am the Light of the World. John 8:12

…The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world… John 1:9

…I am Alpha & Omega the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come

The Almighty Revelation 1:8

Luke 2:10

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

What you will not really find easily ---- is an aerial of Jesus' birth. We might see from far away and want to see the look on Mary's face and the warmth, but not really an aerial.

Emmanuel - God with us.

1 John 3:5
You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

God's Beloved Son Jesus. God said to believe upon the One God has sent. This is His Beloved and Righteous Son in Whom there is no sin. The blind would see. The deaf would hear. The lame would leap and walk, The leper would be touched and healed. The Poor would Have His Good News.

Romans 5
More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.



Our Loving Abba,

You have given us Your Son. To raise our hearts to Eternity. Today. Jesus invites us to belong to His new Heaven and new earth. Receiving the God of Love to live within us, just in our asking and in our faith.

Live within us always Jesus the Lord. Forgive us for what we cannot do and what we should do and what we have failed to do. Thank You Your Heavens display how vast and magnificent You are. You have become one of us and teach us each day to cast our cares and hopes in Your Love and Mercy.

Only by Grace to we know in prayer and in some day, reality, we have access today to walk through the Heavenly Gate, past the shining waters to Your Throne and hold You knowing how much You Love me and all of Your Creation. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Jesus is Mine. Jesus is Yours. Alleluia.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Abba for so many answered prayers. To You be the Glory, the Majesty, The Awe, The Wonder. You are the God John walked with declaring God Is Love. Jesus is Love. You draw us near. You draw us to Love. Father You alone are God. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Isaiah 45:8-10 ~ Salvation bear fruit

Isaiah 45:8-10

Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, 

And righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it. 

9"Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker-- An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands '? 10"Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?'


Luke 1

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived




Luke 1

37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.


Psalm 37:3
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Father God,

We have Your Word for the Child of God,us, we grow toward Jesus.


The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 

Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. for I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We pray this blessing upon ourselves, our families, our friends, the People God has given. We pray for the health of those who pray for this. We pray for an easier Christmas and for things around us to halt in their brokenness and put on the harmony of Love.

We pray for the Nation. We rejoice around us in those in Good News. And believe God is in control of all things. We are covered in His mercy as we believe and put our lives in His Grace, Love and Mercy. We will look to Jesus, with hope. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Ephesians 3:20 ~ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us

Ephesians 3:20

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us



What did Mary think this would look like?

Probably not like this...

Sent to see the cousin for 3 months. We will never know what the voyage 70 miles looked like.

Did Mary see this as sent as a "Betrothed" to Bethlehem. Where no room was found at the inn. (Would Jesus think of His Parents and the donkey on Palm Sunday) - No one would ask a woman about to give birth to walk 70 miles.

Luke 2

4 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, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 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.

Joseph might not have been used to bringing a child into the world - any more than Mary. I really did not realize Mary was not Joseph's wife. Joseph had decided the Child was from God and wanted this to be remembered as God's Child. Joseph marries Mary after Jesus is born. Matthew 1:25

Surely this did not seem to them as a Holy Adventure now. Probably fairly scary. Where were the beaming grandparents? God Himself had given these young people an adventure many, many, many people could relate to through the millenniums. A very ordinary story of responsibility and worry and physical anguish.

God would provide. More abundantly than all they could ask or think.

Suddenly more than Joseph, more than Elizabeth and silent Zechariah - suddenly more people understood what Mary had been telling people about Emmanuel and Gabriel and God.

Suddenly many, many people had shared in what Mary knew of God as Jesus' Father. And as Mary understood how important this was - they knew how vast and impressive and stunning Jesus - a baby - Son of God is to the Salvation of the entire World. Light of Light. God of God.


Luke 2

17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 


20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

In true belief of a real. merciful God of Love - Mary and Joseph boldly and with confidence take Jesus and their betrothed status to the Temple. Where every boy born is seen to be Holy to God and in the Temple of God - Mary and Joseph encounter more people - who fully - understand - Jesus is God.

Simeon cradles the baby Jesus in his arms and proclaims with confidence his eyes have seen Salvation.

Anna began to speak of Jesus within the Temple for the rest of her life. This is, after all, this is, of course, God's Temple.

And this did not stop. Mary had journeyed for 9 months. Sometimes alone. Sometimes far. And suddenly the Wise Men arrived. Bringing gifts. An echo and a repeat of God the Father bringing the Children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt - with the gold and silver - to be used so support God's Temple.



Exodus 11:2
Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry.” 3 And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people.

God had not forgotten speaking to Moses. He had not forgotten His Great Signs. God had not forgotten His Promise of the Messiah. God had not forgotten borders cease and Egypt was His Country as well. Jesus would go to Egypt.

Luke 2

Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”


Father God,

Vast God, Creator of all things, with Whom are You Pleased with?

Those who do their best to keep the commandments and understand the true freedom in Jesus Christ. Those who Do the Will of God. Without faith it is impossible to please You, Father God, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek God.

Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

By the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

To love God with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength.

To walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

I delight to do your will, O my God.

Recognizing Jesus as the Messiah. true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

To know the Word of God is Authoritative. Say the word, and let my servant be healed. When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends.

Blessed be God to Cover Me in The Tender Mercy of Jesus. Blessed be the Lord Jesus to dwell within me. Jesus forgive me of all my wrong doing and Live within me always. I thank You always for Your Salvation. And lift all of my Loved ones and people You have given me into Your reliable Tender Love.

Covering us all in the Name of Jesus in Faith. Son of God. Amen. 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Proverbs 3:12 ~ as a father the son in whom he delights

We are lean to believing Mary told Joseph about Gabriel when she explained about being pregnant. And we all understand from the Bible, Joseph thought he'd move away from this trouble quickly.

The Lord draws near to people who want to be merciful and further away from us when we go our own path with our own ways.

Proverbs 3:12

For the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.


If everyone is moving as fast as they can each day, no real time for deep growth is going to occur. If you sit down to memorize the 10 Commandments, you realized the Commandments are orderly and start with GOD. This is important. We do not serve Google. Or a flowchart. We love a GOD who is interested in creation, in emotion, in the depth of our hearts. We love a God who says, I'm important, too. And that, is very admirable. And honest. And lovable.


So, we are working today our way back up to the top, reverse order. Joseph found mercy and God made sure Joseph was kept safely as the head of his house and family. Tender care from God the Father, to the merciful.

God of the humble, thinking of others.


Galatians 3:6

Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

Jesus, as baby, was swaddled - held snugly. Comforted with blankets. Covered. Numbers 6, the blessing God told to Moses in 1500 B.C. said we are covered to have peace - in the Name of Jesus. Ephesians 6 says when we are covered in the mercy of God, we are actually armed for safety. Saying we Are Strong in His Might. Joseph found God our Father ensured his safety.

Thank You Father God.

We think upon what the life of Joseph saw with his own eyes. 

And the You are the same Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. We rely upon our Father God. Lifting up our cares and loves and worries and work to Jesus and our Abba. Knowing You will cover us in the Name of Your Son Jesus.


As Our Father shows compassion to His children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who reverently Worship Him.

Malachi 3:17
"They will be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him."

 Amen in Jesus the Lord

Nazareth

And Jesus

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †