Final Study

Read: Luke 2:33-40

Sing: Your favorite Christmas hymn! One of mine is Prepare Him Room.

How do we wrap up this study? So much has been gained through the Word, so many truths about God and His faithfulness and Sovereignty. I have trouble knowing where and when to really digest it all. Christmas as the holiday we celebrate may have passed but the birth of Christ and what that meant for mankind obviously continues. It can be so easy to allow the Lord to be present for only this time and focus for but a moment as our thoughts already run rampant to New Year's festivities and activities. May I encourage you friend, rather thent he trend that has taken ladies by storm where you chose a "word," that you chose the Word this year. Be an avid student of the only Word that is spoken by God, that does not return void, that has the power to turn hearts of stone to hearts of flesh; and reveals to us the attributes of our Great God. Let us set the table for an unquenchable hunger and thirst than can not be satisfied with anything less than saturation of the Living Word, becoming not merely a partaker but a student and scribe this year.

We end this portion of Luke with a prophetess Anna. A woman 84 years old, worshiping with fasting and prayer day and night in the temple. She was able to witness the birth of the one she worshiped and longed for. What a marvelous and beautiful picture. We must not forget that she was faithful in this season of silence, decade after decade. Worshiping, waiting, longing for He who would dwell among them. 

So, as we wrap up, may we find ourselves with hearts like Anna, as we await the second Advent... Christ's return.

#23 A Weary World Rejoices

Read: Luke 2:21-35

Sing: See, Amid the Winter's Snow

The next two, really the last portion that we will be studying looks at two individuals who are faithful to the Lord. Today, as we read the encounter with Simeon, take time to think through his faithfulness. A man aged in years, whom the Lord did not forget His promise. Simeon would live to see the Lord's Christ. And he did. 

There is much to say on this, but the most value came through reading through the scriptures time and time again!

Blessings on your reading of the Lord's faithfulness.

A Weary World Rejoices #22

Read: Luke 2:8-20    

Sing: What Child is This?

This feels like such a climatic point of our journey. They babe has been born, and now an army of heavenly hosts break through the darkness of night glorifying God in the highest! Truth us, although we can feel the darkness break it is just the beginning. This journey will continue to the foot of a cross and to the empty grave. How marvelous in deed.

My mind goes directly to John 1 "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it." In the night, a light burst forth. It was not just night as the time but had been a night over man kind as they awaited the Messiah.

J.C. Ryle writes this, " The spiritual darkness which had covered the earth for four thousand years, was about to be rolled away. the way to pardon and peace with God was about to be thrown open to all mankind. The head of Satan was about to be bruised. Liberty was about to be proclaimed to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind. The mighty truth was about to be proclaimed that God could be just, and yet, for Christ's sake, justify the ungodly. Salvation was no longer to be seen through types and figures, but openly face to face. The knowledge of God was no longer to be confined to the Jews, but to be offered to the whole Gentile world. The days of heathenism were numbered. The first stone of God's kingdom was about to be set up (pg. 44)." 

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14." Absolutely remarkable. As we sing this morning, what child is this?  May we proclaim with the hymn and with the angels yet again, this is Christ the Lord.

Noteworthy to that point, is the proclamation of the angels to the title of the Son. These titles reveal the nature of the work. Reformation Study Bible notes, "Jesus is only called Savior twice in the gospels. Christ means, Messiah, and Lord is used commonly in the Septuagint as God's covenant name. 

"Glory to God in the Highest! the song begins. Now is come the highest degree of glory to God, by the appearing of His Son Jesus Christ in the world. He by His life and death on the cross will glorify God's attributes,-justice, holiness, mercy and wisdom,-as they were never glorified before. Creation glorified God, but not so much as redemption (Ryle, pg45)." 

May we too, today, and as this Advent season draws close, make haste like our shepherd friends of long ago, to share the good news of glad tidings and to worship Christ the Lord.

#21

Read Luke 2:1-8

Sing: Joy to the World

Today's will be short and sweet as we are spending time in the aftermath of our Christmas activities and festivities. As I was reading through the commentaries for this portion of scripture one point really stuck out. The thought that there was no room in the inn. We can always look at this as a bad thing. In Christmas places we see forlorn Mary and Joseph being turned away again and again. Then we bear witness to the final destination, a packed in and an inn keeper who offers them a stable. Yet,what we read as unfortunate in our Western modern eyes; was actually all a part of the plan. Mary gave birth within the sight of many. The town was packed. Multiple places were visited and multiple people saw a pregnant young girl and her husband. She gave birth not in secret where a story could have been fabricated and became one of myth and fable; but gave birth in a situation that would allow for public testimony. 

Keep in mind, there was no social media, nor newspaper announcements or photographic proof. Eye witnesses were a major portion of how people would know if something was true or false. What we might see as untimely, why a census, why when she was due...was perfectly orchestrated. Praise be to God for His perfect portion always.

A Weary World Rejoices (19 &20)

Read: Luke 1:57-80

Sing: Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming

Luke 1:57-66 Elizabeth gives birth to her son. After 9 months of silence from her husband, who has lived under the consequences of his unbelief, a child is born! On the 8th day when they went to circumcise the child, those gathered assumed he would be called Zechariah. Yet, Elizabeth and Zechariah in their faithful walks declare him name to be John. A beautiful moment is witnessed as we see the reconciliation of Zechariah. His last words 9 months ago had been marked with unbelief. Now his very first words, and words of blessing. From doubt to worship. From unbelief to faithful servant. Such a breath taking moment that Luke recorded for us to read. 

Luke 1:67-80 There is so much yet again in this passage. I will be linking again more sermons so that we may better understand the Word yet. Let us pause this morning though on the glorious last 3 verses of Zechariah's prophecy. Luke 1: 76-79, " And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace."

May we remember our roles as such this Christmas as well. May we be forerunners of grace of God, sharing with all the knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins. That we no longer sit in darkness because we have seen a great light. May Christ be the center of our worship this weekend. May the greatest gift we receive be the kindness and reminder that the babe born in the manger came to carry the cross, live a perfect life, die an atoning death, and rose again. He the babe in the manger is the Son of Man, our Mediator, our King. 

Merry Christmas.

Benedictus, God's Mighty Salvation

Preparing to Encounter Jesus

18

Read: Luke 1:46-56

Sing: Mary's Song

This passage is marvelous in many ways. In particular the worship heard and the knowledge of scripture that pours out of Mary's heart through her lips. I am including today on here Hannah's Song. Why you ask? Because it so closely models Mary's. Read Hannah's prayer and then write out Mary's in the column next to it. 

Also, here is a link to 2 sermons on this passage. We would do well to have a correct biblical understanding of the scene and ponder it in our hearts, just as we witness Mary do many times in her journey as the Messiah's mother. 

Believing God  -Chose this sermon on the page. 

A Teenager's Christmas- By: Sinclair Ferguson

Hannah's Song:

My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoices in your salvation.

There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.

Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth;for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength.

Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.

The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.

The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts.

He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them he has set the world.

He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.

The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven.

The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.

Mary's Song:(blank for you to write out!)

#17!

Read: Luke 1:39-45

Listen: Joy

Today's passage is always a particularly powerful, humbling, and beautiful one to come too. The thoughts that come to mind as Luke saw fit to record this most wonderful of conversations between 2 faithful women.

Mary came to Elizabeth. The moment her eyes laid rest on Elizabeth's stomach, must have brought an overwhelming sense of delight. The angel had told Mary that Elizabeth was with child, and so it was!

As Mary approaches Elizabeth, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, and the baby in her womb leaps with joy. Elizabeth proclaim's what is this that the mother of my Lord, should come to visit me? I could weep at such faith. In modern lenses it is easy to gloss over this passage. we liken it with the same familiarity as the ornaments we string on our tree each year, and save the passage for around now. BUT, Elizabeth is declaring the baby, the Messiah! The Promised One. Her faith has led her to believe and through the Holy Spirit she is able to proclaim the announcement of the One who was promised to come. She recognizes Him instantly. These words would be echoed again in years to come by the disciple Peter when Jesus asks him who he believes him to be. Peter will answer, 'You are the Christ.' Elizabeth, was neither asked nor given the privy to see the Lord in the flesh. She beautifully states in the truth of the knowledge of the Word and His promises from times past that what God said is to be.

We are told back in the first verses that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb. We are given the gift of this event to have our own faith strengthened. For the moment that the forerunner was next to the Promised One, he leaped in his mother's womb! How beautiful is this scene.

Finally, Elizabeth says, " and blessed is she that believed." I truly cannot help but cry here. The older barren woman speaking to the pregnant virgin girl. She is celebrating her belief that what God promised is coming to pass. Mary went to see Elizabeth, following the direction of Gabriel. There stood Elizabeth, much advanced in years, carrying the prophet John. There stood a young girl, who trusted in the promises of the Lord, holding in her womb, the Creator of all things.

Take time to meditate on this passage today. To delight in the stunningly beautiful moment shared by 2 women who faithfully trusted that what God says is true and who delighted in the law of the Lord. May our own hearts be filled with the knowledge of He who is able. Amen and Amen.