13 But the angel said to him: “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah: your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 “This will bring you joy and celebration, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 “He will be a great man in God’s […]
Jesus is the Light that Makes Life and Religion Make Sense
[1] But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. [2] The […]
Christmas is Like the Day of Midian, You Know?
[2] The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. [3] You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the […]
The Firstborn Of All Creation isn’t a Birth Announcement
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things […]
The Messiah Has Come and Simeon Knows How To React
[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 […]
Christmas is a Well-Fed, Peaceful, Childbirth
[2] The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. [3] You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the […]
Which Prophecy Did He Fulfill? All of Them!
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 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. And his delight […]
The Son of Man, Even the Name is Full of Power
While I was watching, thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His attire was white like snow; the hair of his head was like lamb’s wool. His throne was ablaze with fire and its wheels were all aflame. A river of fire was streaming forth and proceeding from his presence. […]
Look Who Wants to Come Over
The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into Light. >He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn’t even notice. He came to his own people, but they didn’t want him. But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed […]
Christmas in the Gospels Part 3: Luke
I taught from one of the Gospels for each Sunday of Advent. Luke is the most robust, of course, because his Christmas story was meant to fill in the details of what Matthew and Mark had already written.