Luke 2
3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 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.
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 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. 10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is 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!”
Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem
15 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.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 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.
21 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.
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
25 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. 26 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. 27 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, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
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“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.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
34 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 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
We go so fast in life, if we don't stop and enjoy and say thank you for every blessing. Our blessings fly past us without being appreciated and our hearts do not melt and have times of joy. We just truly need to see the blessings in what is presented and unfolds around us. We need to open our ears and see with our eyes of expectation.
How deeply did Jesus Love?
Ok, sure we have every Sunday School Lesson we have ever heard. Remember Albert Einstein, a Jew, said he loved the Gospels and saw so much rich emotion in Jesus. These are the new eyes to the Gospels.
Luke's Gospel in the first Chapter closes with this beauty:
Luke 1:78-80
Because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall dawn upon us
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
And the child grew and became strong in spirit,
and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
Wouldn't you expect the Gospel of Luke telling us of the life of Jesus Christ, Son of God would explain Jesus and end explaining Jesus instead of John the Baptist? Jesus explains about his beloved John the Baptist. Running parallel to His life.
The Love continues for the second expected child in Luke 2.
His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Matthew 11:12
From the days of John the Baptist until
now
The Kingdom of Heaven has suffered violence,
and the violent take it by force.
Matthew 14 and Mark 6 congruently tell of the 5,000 fed as a response to a funeral is required. John the Baptist's life held vast meaning for Father God. Not just another man Father God could see gave his life. Truly.
Jesus said people in Heaven were greater than the living John the Baptist. Jesus knew something of going to Heaven and being utterly, astonishingly, completely and totally filled with the Joy of God revealed. Jesus was somewhat giving John grief for asking if Jesus really was the Messiah as John faced death, but Jesus was living in expectation of seeing the John the Baptist Live The Reality of The Kingdom of My Father and Yours..
2 Samuel 12:23
But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again?
I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.
John 16
23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name.
Ask, and you will receive,
that your joy may be full.
Did Jesus Laugh? Laughter and Joy go completely and fully in unity!!!
And Jesus comforts Himself by "not seeing" the disciples as he walks at night upon the waters and surprises them with His visit. Remember with me - Jesus says He is Life in all men. Life Abundant! Because Jesus sees the conclusion and expects Joy.
(Point to ponder! The mystics of the 14th century explain the star was not above Jesus until Jesus was born - almost as if Jesus' own Light created the Star. The mystics go on to say that the Light in Jesus Shone in the dark explaining why Nativity scenes have a halo glow to them. I would wonder, in awe of God, if Jesus walked upon the water letting His Light Shine Forth.)
Did Jesus mourn John the Baptist? See how lovingly John is spoken of for preparing a path for Father God and making a path for Jesus. John the Baptist opens in the Gospels of Mark, Luke, and John.
1 Thessalonians 4:13
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
Abba, Father,
Jesus spoke Your Word telling us always to Pray and Have Hope.
We lift up to You, Father God, our most pressing prayer request, knowing You have heard and answer.
Thank You, Father God,
and Blessed be the Name of Jesus the Lord.
Amen.
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